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

Hi, maybe i missed it, but what kind of Herps you moving? I am guessing snakes, but what kind and how many?

I just moved from Minnesota to Central Florida with over 30 Ball Pythons and 4 Corns and a green tree Python and turtles and so on. Even brought my mouse colony along. Only thing to die was 3 mice out of close to 30.

My trip was a 4 day trip with Budget truck hauling 1 car on a trailor and wife driving another car. Also had 2 dogs and my daughter plus household goods.

All are safe. So let me know, i can give you advise on what worked for me. thanks... John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

"and I can let them out for roaming time when we stop to "camp" for the night"

Let them out where? In the cabin of the vehicle? I wouldn't. Snakes can get into places you may not get them back out of easily... Or where else where you referring to?
-----
"Isn't sanity just a one-trick pony, anyway? I mean, all you get is that one trick: rational thought.
But when you're good and crazy, man, the sky's the limit!"

1.0 BP Rescued from street
1 Double-yellow headed Amazon
2 Tiels
7 cats (rescues)
1 Cocker (rescue)

I did a move and there is no time to have snakes roam. That is crazy. They are snakes and do not know what is going on other than lots of bumping and noise.

I think this person is taking their herps to the max and treating them like people. They are animals and have no idea who someone is.

The trip is hard enough without taking snakes for walks. They will turn a 3 day trip into a 10 day trip. Silly, silly, silly... John
-----
0.1 Albino
1.0 Pastel
1.0 Orange Ghost
1.0 (F1)Banded Ball
1.1 100% Het Piebald
1.1 100% Het Butterscotch Ghost
1.1 100% Het Yellow Ghost
2.19 Normal Balls

Please do not take me for anything you said. It's obvious you do not know me (please again, don't take that as being rude, just stating a fact).
I know my animals are "just animals" and that yeah, they probably don't "know" me, but it is proven they can recognize their keepers at least by scent. Mine most certainly do. In my educational outtings in letting others hold them while I talk with them about proper husbandry and such, I've consistently had my snakes "lean out" and try to get to me every time. It doesn't matter where I stand and yeah, this still might not be grounds to prove this theory but it's just off personal observation. I've seen this reaction with some of my other friends and their herps. It's just amazing to me.

Please also don't think I meant I'd be taking them out for roaming time every two hours or something silly like that. For the most part, I'd just check on them when we stop at a hotel at night, to mist everyone down, offer water and make sure everyone is alive and well.

Yes, I do treat my animals like people. They are magnificent and beautiful creatures and are as important to me as my family. Just as most keepers are very fond of their collections and protect them from harm and like to play with them, so do I.

Please don't take offense to anything I've said here and please don't mistake me for a newbie. I'm just trying to see how everyone else did their moving experience as this is my first big move (so yeah, I'm a newbie at moving but not with my scaley kiddos. ;D

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

I meant when we stop for "camp" by, when we stop to get into a hotel. I can bring their bins in with me, check on everyone and then we'd head back out the next morning.
I'm paranoid enough about moving my little darlings, so yes, I will be extremely careful with handling them in unfamiliar places and making sure no one escapes. I've had personal experience with one of my snakes getting under my seat in the car. Took us a couple hours to get him out. LOL! That was because SOME one was supposed to be watching him. hahaha!
Turn your head for a second, and they're gone. ;D

Hugs!

Amanda Rose