Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know all these post get really annoying after a while but I know there are some folks out there that love to help. If I have a snake business with only internet sells I have a few questions. So shipping questions are who do I use to ship (DHL, UPS, FedEx), I don't have an airport around me to do stuff like Delta Dash or whatever that is. Also how do you pack your snakes for say real hot months or real cold months and stuff like that.

I am also curious as to what type of warranties folks have for their animals like if they arrive dead or sick. Any information that you think is important is great. I am just really curious and want to know as much as I can about this kinda stuff.

If it is easier to email me then just send me an email at msubigdawg@msn.com

Thanks a lot for any help you can give me.

The only carrier that will knowingly ship snakes is Fedex - and you need to get certified to do it through them. You do get a nice discount on shipping tho. You can ship them through DHL and UPS but you cant tell them what you are shipping - which brings up the other issue - theres a law called the Lacy Act (or something like that) that states if you are shipping a live reptile you need to appropriately label your package if not its a federal violation for shipper and receiver - most people dont label - I do:

Live Harmless Reptile
Scientific Name: Python Regius
Common Name: Royal “Ball” Python
Quantity: One (1)

Shipping when it's either too hot or too cold is not recommended make sure your temps are even over 50 less than 90 - you can add hot or cool packs to help - be sure to ship in an insulated box. I guarantee live arrival on first delivery - after that I'm willing to negotiate depending on the situation.

Buy appropriate packing materials - don't try to skimp. I always try to pack them a little tight so they don't bounce around a lot - don't ship right after they've eaten better to ship on an empty stomach then to have it loose it's lunch in the process.

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope it helps.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

theres a law called the Lacy Act (or something like that) that states if you are shipping a live reptile you need to appropriately label your package if not its a federal violation for shipper and receiver - most people dont label - I do:

That's what the Lacey Act says? I'm not an American, but I always understood the Lacey Act to be a piece of legislation whereby the US honors the animal's country-of-origin's wildlife laws (ala Australia). I had no idea it also governed the shipping of snakes?

All the major airlines ship snakes, so FedEx isn't the only shipper to carry live reptiles.
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Signature file edited; [phw 9/26/04]

From what I understand The Lacy Act requires appropriate labeling of all wildlife including herps sent (interstate) via any commerical shipper.

Yes - airlines do ship snakes - but he specifically said he could not do it through the airport - which leaves Fedex.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Okay. The Lacey Act.

There are a few ways to label shipments of live animals per the Lacey Act:

1) All shipment packages MUST be conspicuously and legibly marked with (a) shipper name and address, (b) receiver name and address, (c) species scientific name, (d) quantity of species, and (e) whether the species is venomous or nonvenomous.

-or-

2) The shipment package MAY be conspicuously and legibly marked with only "WILDLIFE" or "FISH" (whichever is appropriate) given that an invoice/packing list is attached to the outside of the package for ease of inspection. The invoice/packing list MUST clearly and legibly state (a) shipper name and address, (b) receiver name and address, (c) total number of packages in shipment (d) species common name, (e) quantity of species, and (f) whether species is venomous or non-venomous.

Regarding Subpackages:

In the case of subpackages within a larger package, only the larger package needs the appropriate markings as list above. EXCEPTIONS include:

(A) All subpackages marked with a label or number must have a matching label or number included on the invoice/packing list.

(B) All subpackages containing venomous species must be conspicuously and legibly marked as such.

There are a few other little tidbits, but those do not concern the majority of forum members here.

Chris
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mean people suck

When you ship through Fedex - they don't insure live animals - actually if you ship through UPS or DHL they'll tell you the same thing usually you'll hear something like this " we don't ship live animals - and if you dare to try to ship them thru us we certainly wouldnt insure it" You can get insurance through the airlines but from what we've heard it's not very easy to try to collect on it.

So if your animal dies in transit - you take the hit on it. Which is kind of an inportant point I forgot to add.

Someone should open up a service designed to ship live animals - talk about cornering a market.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.2 frogs rescued from pool skimmer