Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey sooo i sold my first guy yesterday and I need to know how to ship it. I have recieved all my snakes through Delta Dash and I thought i could use them but i dont ship 10 times a year and i dont met there requirements for me to open an account. Sooo i need to know how us little guys ship snakes.. i would love to be able to ship it overnight to his door is that possable? Any help would be Great... Also i could use some packing information.. i want to make sure he's welll taken care off on the trip... thank you guys in advance for all the great suggestions!!! thanks!

Sincerely,
Rose

UPS does overnight, you will need some supplies though. Here is a good site for supplies...
Click Here

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~~~ Krystal - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! Specalizing in Ball Pythons and Leopard Geckos ~~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~~

UPS will ship Reptiles??? That might be the easiest way to go... Thanks for your help...

Delta pretty much doesn't seem to want the business, at least not from little guys.

I'm pretty sure UPS doesn't officially ship snakes. Some mark them as lizards or turtles and some local UPS people know and don't really care when it comes to some bigger customers. Although plenty of people do it I don't think it's officially on the up and up and if the snake dies it is tough luck. Still, since UPS is quicker and probably less likely to loose it than Delta it might actually be better for the snakes and should be much cheaper of not quite legit.

Never knew. All my snakes (thus far) were shipped UPS. I have 6 more comming (on hold waiting for thermostat) and looking for one more, we will see how they get here LOL.
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~~~ Krystal - Future breeder of Pythons, Geckos, we'll see what else later! Specalizing in Ball Pythons and Leopard Geckos ~~~ www.geocities.com/krystal19_85 ~~~

Why do these places not ship snakes? I am assuming its because people are scared they will escape or something like that but im just asking.

Rob Woods

Last time I tried to ship Delta (over 5 years ago) they told me something like they couldn't expose there employees to the risk of inspecting snake shipments so they only take them from known shippers they don't inspect. Hard for us to remember that lots of people actually fear snakes and I guess they have a union.

Good point Randy.

I would use FedEx Overnight or Priority Overnight. I have received snakes from them and think their service is excellent (I have also heard that they are gentler with their packages than UPS - but that's just what I hear). If you go to the FedEx website, you can get shipping rates for all their services: www.fedex.com. Their policies are the same as UPS - technically snakes are not allowed to be shipped, but it happens all the time. Whatever you do, don't ship via USPS, as it is illegal and can get you in big trouble!

I've shipped lots of snakes in the past 10 years..

Overnight shipping is great BUT not this time of year, it is WAY TOO HOT right now, your precious little hatchling can and MOST likely will cook in a box (Yes people! even a styro box) this time of year.

Best time to use overnight shipping is spring and fall.

If your customer won't wait till proper weather, then offer a no guarantee on live arrival. Spring and fall can be guaranteed 100%. he/she should understand this

And as far has UPS not shipping snakes ! they will ship just about anything! ever get mail order supplies...wink, wink...

Thank you everyone for all the great advice!

I am going to ship Fedex I think they are going to be better for the time of year and it will be a afternoon drop off and a early morning arrival before 8:30 or the shipping is free!! Nice little added bonus.. Seeming as im in CA and the box is going to KY i think that time will be the best for him. It is cool here in the evenings and it should be a cool night trip and then arrival before 8:30 is awesome because it wont be to hot yet and it should be just perfect for him... Ill let you know how it goes and i want to again make sure everyone has been thanked properly for all the helpful advice. and Ill keep everyone posted....Thank you again!!!

Sincerely,
Rose

Ive recieved snakes from all of the major shippers in the US. I dont like how UPS operates, they are rough with the packages and dont seem to care about deadlines too much. Fedex is good except you have to wait at your door all day because you never know when they are going to arrive. My best experience is definately with AirBorne Express, they delivered a package from Arlington Texas to my doorstep(Niagara Falls NY) in under 16 hours. It was there in the morning when i woke up at 7 AM and everything was perfectly intact. They get all of my business now even though i have to drive a few extra miles.
Joe

9. Live birds, mammals, snakes, lizards, bees, or other animals except for those which may be shipped subject to paragraph C of this rule.
(above)this was on the airborne prohibited list

this is what i found on airborne site. But you have sent snakes via airborne?
How do ya do it, so i can also?
do you declare your snakes as something else, trying to find a good shiping alternative to delta.

Airborne actually officially accepted snakes one summer, I think it was about 94 or so. I'm not sure why they decided to back out and leave the business for Delta. Seems to me that if it was worry over liability then all they have to do is put the insurance rates high enough and the big ticket items will still go Delta and they can get about all of the many inexpensive snakes, which would probably be an even higher percentage of shipments than it already is if they would ship them officially.

I shipped with Airborne a few years back, I guess I just had a cool local agent as I told her they were snakes. I don't like shipping unofficially though. Actually it didn't turn out that well for me since one of the three shipments did die (worse for the poor snakes I guess). I should have waited until fall but the party at the other end assured me the weather was nice there but then he apparently didn't stay home that day and they ended up on the porch in the sun. Not so much Airborne's fault though. Should probably have them shipped to a business or somewhere that you are sure someone will be to receive them the first time.