Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone!

Well the time is drawing near for my big move to MA! This is the first time I've moved out of state so I need some advice.

I have several snakes and lizards that are coming with me (I would never leave my babies behind). So, here's the situation and my delimma:

#1. I'm afraid to ship my animals in TX summertime. It's well up in the 90s every day now and unless I find a break of rain real soon (within the next 2 weeks) then I'm paranoid about shipping them in this weather. Most of my animals are under 4' in lenght, man are neonates (hence they would roast quicker). I've shipped many times without any complications in shipping via UPS or VedEx, but...I'm just worried.

#2. My boyfriend and I will either be driving just my car up north and having all the cages and belongings transported via a moving company, or my car attached to a UHaul and doing it ourselves. If I have keep my herps in the cabin with me where it will be climate controlled to not get too hot or cold and have all my babies packed as if they were for shipping but with extra room so they are not cramped....would this be alright for them? Keep in mind, this will be approx a 3 day journey.

So here's what it comes down to. I can ship them all and just hope for the best like we all usually do. Or, I can keep them with me in the cabin where I know they will be nice and safe.

I do plan to ship out the ones who stress easily (which is only two neonates) and the one adult who has been fasting and just started back to eating. My friends receiving them have offered to take these guys in until my arrival.
Here's my concern though. Regardless that my cabin will be climate controlled and I can let them out for roaming time when we stop to "camp" for the night (no pun intended), is it likely they will stress for a three day trip more than the risk of shipping them in the heat? I know that's an odd comparison but I guess I'm asking, when faced with this decision, what would you do?
Bare in mind, all but the adult that fasted and the two neonates that are still adjusting attitude-wise, my animals are supherbly docile and laid back. I take almost all of them with me to educate the public with and so they are used to car rides and going out and not one of them has ever changed their placid attitudes during these field trips. However, 3 days is a lot longer to be in a vibrating car than a few hours ya know? In thinking that they are all that laid back....do you think they'd be fine with climate control and daily handling to know I am there (almost all of my snakes recognize me and seek out my shirt to wander through, many sleep with my previously worn t-shirts and refuse their hides so they can stay in the shirt, lol!)?

Any and all thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I'm just really paranoid about shipping them in TX heat when I've never done that. I don't wish to stress them out but again, these animals don't stress easily (even though yes, it can be difficult to see if a reptile is stressing or not).
Please bare in mind what I mean by "they don't stress easily" is that they've never gone off feed or not been "regular" with their defecation or shed cycles and their activity levels and attitudes have never changed really. When I moved into the house I'm renting now, only two stressed because they smelled squirrels in the attic...pretty annoying dodging all those feeding responses. LOL!

Anyhoo I'd love to hear advice, opinions and experience from anyone else that has moved. I want to do what's easiest and best for the animals maximizing their safety.

Hugs and thank you,

Amanda Rose

Hey,
How many animals are we talking about? I would use a styrofoam cooler and pillow cases and some tupperware containers, to transport. Make sure the cabin is kept cool and not hot, and or too cold. They should be fine other wise. Keep a digital thermometer in the cooler and keep track of the temperature. Don't leave any herps in the hot car if you are going to be gone from it for long. (Keep windows rolled down if you do). Take all animals into the room at night with you if you are staying in motels or hotels which ever the case maybe. Otherwise, shipping is your only other option. And it sounds too hot for that.

Here's another idea, you can create a false bottom in the cooler, by placing some ice filled plastic containers in the cooler, and then placing a board or some egg crate on top of the ice filled containers to keep the herps from making contact with the cold containers. This will keep the herps cool if it gets too hot in the cabin of the car or truck. The cooler will not get too cold, but will keep the herps cool should the temperatures get too hot. Good luck!

-Angel
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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

Hey,
One more thing, always park in shade if you have that luxury, and never in open sun.
-Angel
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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

Thanks! I love getting all the ideas I can. Pretty much, everyone is giving the same ideas of the essential stuff for the safety of the herps. Ice packs, heat packs (should it get cold, doubtful but never hurts to have them), misting bottles for their evening drinking time once we hit a hotel, etc.

Thank you so much for your input.

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

On the number of herps? Around 20 (that's because I have 21 but I'm not sure who all will be able to ride with us and who MUST be shipped due to high stress levels).
I figure if the adult hogg I have eats two more meals without hesitation or needing help, then he's back on track to eating and can ride with us. We'll see. I don't wish to throw him to the heat in shipping but at the same time, I don't wish to stress him for a three day ride just when he's finally come off his 8 month fast.

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

Hey,
By Hogg, I take it you mean, Hogg Island Boa! Sweet, all the best with the move. I know it can be stressful on you and the herps equally. Take care!
-Angel
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"Until we lose our self, there is no way of finding our self."
-Henry Miller.

I have four hogg isle boas (two yearlings and two adults).
I love them and I have been working for over 8 months, exhuasting all efforts to get shim to eat. I'm just so jazzed he's/she's finally eaten I don't want ot disrupt that.

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

I try to most of my driving at night. I am unfortunate in that I do not have air conditioning in my truck. I also use the cooler trick and a digital thermometer. As far as being in small containers...they should be okay. I can't wait until I have to move...I have quite a bit of herps myself.
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10 Leopard Geckos 4.6.0**
1 Gimpy Leo 0.1
1 Stub Tailed Leo 0.1*
2 Tokay Geckos 2.0.0*
1 Black Kingsnake 0.0.1*
1 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 1.0.0*
2 Gray Ratsnakes 0.0.2
3 Dekay's Snake 0.0.3*
1 Bullsnake 0.0.1*
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum*
1.1 Green Tree Frogs (H. cinerea)*
1.1 Gray Tree Frog (H versicolor)*
Approximately 20 gray treefrog tadpoles (collected)

*indicates possible breeders
**have bred