Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my fist retic today. It is around eight feet long and I got her from Frank Kincade in NY. He sent her airborne next day AM delivery to Florida on Monday. To make a long story short... Airborne (DHL) lost the box after it was scanned in Ohio early Tuesday morning. It didn't show up to my local DHL office until 7:30 this morning (Friday)! Frank had done a great job in packing her and had included one heat pack, which was good, but worked for only the first day I'm sure.

When I opened up the box, I gently poked her and she didn't move at all. I picked up the pillowcase with snake (weight of 12 pounds) and she still didn't move. I figured she was dead, so I just put her in the back of my jeep, and then she suddenly flopped over by herself. I then cut the knot off the bag and put her in a large Rubbermaid box for the 40-minute drive home.

I put her in a temporary tank with a large water bowl, uth and ceramic heat bulb at one end. She became fairly active and then I noticed a nose rub that had taken off the forward most two scales under her nostrils. I wanted to dab some Neosporin on it but I didn’t want to stress her out anymore, or get bit myself. Also, I noticed she was wheezing, but her mouth wasn’t open, and no bubbles coming from the nose. I talked to my reptile vet and he said to keep the hot end of her cage around 93 degrees, and throw a wet towel in there to keep the humidity up. He said her natural immunity should kick in soon, but if not bring her in.

I attached a picture that Frank had used in the advertisement for her. Isn't she beautiful. Any idea on locale?
Wish us luck!!!

Mike Miller
Brevard County, Florida

I would never ship a snake that big with airborne. I ship babies with airborne but a snake that big I only ship with Delta, same day delivery. Good luck with her I'm sure she will be fine.
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Mark Kennedy Reptiles
web site

I am curious as to why you would only shipped babies with Aiborne but not adults?

Very nice retic. I have a similar one and she always gets oooh and ahhhhs from anyone who visits the house.

I've had a shipping mishap myself, though not the courriers fault.

About 7 years ago I purchased a Tiger Retic from a very well known and respected breeder who was a pioneer in this aspect of the hobby yet will remain unnamed as to not start a war here. To make a long story short, snake was shipped and arrived as scheduled. However, upon arrival was hard as a rock(frozen).

Packing was as follows: A cardboard box(a fish box w/o the styro), about a handfull of shredded paper, and the snake in a cloth sack. There was a heat pad, but what good is that if there is nothing to act as an insulator?

If I said who it was I purchased this snake from, no one would believe me provided the packing job I described. I couldn't believe it either as I elected not to use my regular(NERD) and use this other person b/c of this particular mutation. I expected as good of packing and shipping as I had received from NERD as this person was as respected, if not more than NERD, especially 7 years ago.

Anyway, I called, talked with the second in command, explained I had a iced tiger and why I felt it came that way. I was told I would be contacted shortly when #1 got back from errands and to hang tight.

I took said frozen retic, who was a baby, and seeing as I was in my robe I sat down and watched the price is right, placed this snake under/between my thighs and by the time that show was over I had signs of life. For a couple of hours I let my body heat warm him up and he made what appeared to be a full recovery from being hard as a rock, no doubt with plenty of ice crystals having formed in his cells. When I received my call I explained the snake was indeed alive, and if I had any problems I'd get back with them.

4 years later I lost that retic to what seemed like sudden unexplainable death. I think his episode with being almost frozen solid contributed in some way though.

Said breeder has not had my business since.

I hope she gets well soon. Shame on DHL!

Good luck!

>>I hope she gets well soon. Shame on DHL!
>>
>>Good luck!

As of yesterday (Wednesday), I could no longer hear wheezing, so I think the respitory infection is gone. Her nose rub looks awful, but I put Neosporin on it the first two days I had her, and it doesn't look infected, so I hope it scales over after a couple of sheds. Both times I caught her sleeping so I didn't get nailed when I touched her nose... what a relief LOL.
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1.1 Diamond X Carpet Cross
1.1 Brazillian Rainbow Boas
0.1 New Guinea Water Python
1.1 Okeetee Corns
0.1 Yellowhead Retic

DHL SUCKS!!! They have to be the worst carrier for anything, I would never trust them to ship LIVE animals. They are the CHEAPEST and thats why lots of people use them, but when you are purchasing a new reptile, why not spend an extra $20 and ship it threw a better company. I ordered a baby turtle that was 24 hours old, and the breeder sent it DHL, and it was lost in a wharehouse for 3 days, it was shipped OVERNIGHT EXPRESS, and I didn't get him till 3 days later, NO heat pack, and no insulated box, luckly he survived and pulled through, All I can say is:

"DO NOT USE DHL!!!!"