Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,
You guys helped me out before so I'm back for seconds. Again, still a new owner but i'm gonna be facing one helluva problem down the line. I'm a college student and am currently going to school in upstate NY, however my home and where I have a job lined up this next summer is 3000 miles away in southern california. For winter break I can have my friend take care of my python but I need to figure out some way to take him back with me for the summer. I've yet to think of a good solution so I'm asking all you guys what you'd do in my situation. I think the plane would be too cold, let alone them even letting me take him as a carry-on. Same goes for putting him in the back, and I don't think i can ship him safely? Lookin for any suggestions / common solutions.

Thanks much,
-Eli

You shouldn't have any problems taking him on the plane - just make sure you tell them what's in your carry on when you are going thru security check - My sister took one of my snakes with her out to Colorado a couple of months ago - she took it carry on - I put it in snake bag that could be easily opened, then put the bag inside a critter keeper with a heat pack and some packing to keep the snake from bouncing around too much. She didn't have any problems. Alternatively - you can just ship him to yourself next day air and he'll get there the day after you do.
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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

I wouldn't take Tosha's advice without checking with the airlines first. Most of them do not consider snakes domestic animals approved for carry in the passenger compartment. Some airlines will accept such a carry-on but charge a fee. Others will downright turn you away and not let you through security due to airport or specific airline restrictions.

I personally had a problem with transporting a hedgehog on an airplane a few years ago (pre 9/11). I was told that it was a rodent and was not a domestic animal per their approved list. My solution was to hide it well and go through another security lane after being refused at one gate.

Your best solution is to ship it via an overnight carrier. Find a local breeder that has experience shipping reptiles if yo uare unsure of how to do it safely. I'm sure you will be able to find someone to help you out.

Good luck,
-Jason

There is always a bunch of discusion about this with dart frogs as well. The real thing you need to watch out for it the security that will go through your bags is NOT assoiated with the airline company. You may make it through security just fine, but if you tell the airline you have them I almost assure you it will not be on that plane. You will be lucky to make it through security. If they check your bags, just say you didnt know... but then you will have a real problem because unless someone is standing by to get the rejected snake you might miss your flight.

I would say shipping is a much better idea. Snakes are hardy. Thats why it comes up with dart frogs so much, if they miss the overnight delivery, they will die. I have never gotten a late box with live frogs. I have gotten several snakes that got lost for several days.... not during cold weather though.

Good luck!
Ben

Thanks again all,
And yeah, that's my another of my concerns. I know snakes are obviously cold blooded, and seeing as it dips to about -20 some days here during the winter how long can they survive in that temp? I'm not gonna throw him outside, but i figure running w/ him in a carrier from my dorm to a car and from a car into a house would be ok? hehe. Also, if my best bet is shipping him (not during the winter, it'd be during the summer so no worries there) i'd still be really anxious as after years of getting packages beaten to hell by UPS and FedEx i'd fear for his life; is it really safe? Asking a local breeder was mentioned, how would I go about finding one? Again, i'm in upstate new york so i'm not sure how many snake breeders there are here... Call me paranoid about his saftey, but again given their long lifespans I'd like him to be around and happy for a looong time.

Thanks again,
-Eli

LOL - I guess it is better to err on the side of caution - apparently you have to be a hot 16 year old girl in order to get anything past security. Seriously tho my sister didn't have any problems - but thats not to say that there might not be any at your airport. Shipping is fairly safe as long as they are packaged properly.
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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

getting snakes through security. WIth small snakes I usually carry them through security in my pockets and make sure I have 0 metal on me. On one particular flight I had 4 baby pink toe tarantulas in film containers in one pocket, a macklots python in a tube sock in the other, and a 5' boa and an entire clutch of bp's in my backpack. I've probably taken herps in carry ons for more than a half dozen flight and never encountered trouble, but then again, things may have changed.

Cole Maas

Whats really frightening, is 99.9% of the time they didnt used to check. I fly about every 2 months. I would say my wife and I get searched head to toe, every bag, nook, and cranny, about 30% of the time. We dont look odd (I hope not anyhow), nor do we act weird. They do a random search of every some many people now. I wouldnt chance it personally, but thats me. When I was 13 I took (shhhhh, dont tell anyone!) a she box full of toads carry on. I didnt even put it in a suitcase, or even tape the box shut. I just put it through the x-ray, and picked it up on the other side. I dont know if I would have the guts to do that now.

Ben

Ya know the funny thing is - that she walked up to the machine and put her backpack thru - asked they guy if it was safe to put her snake thru - he had her take the snake bag out of the critter keeper - he looking in the bag sent the critter keeper thru x-ray she picked it up on the other side put the snake back and went to her gate - got on the plane and flew home - no one said anything. It wasn't like she was trying to hide it or anything. Grant it - I didn't know what kind of problems she might have and we were ready to take the snake back and ship it to her later - but there was no need. Maybe the guy just didn't know or was being really cool?!?! But for some reason I've had considerably less problems at our airport than most of the others I've gone thru since 911. Who knows.
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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

Wow, those are some crazy stories and methods which i prbly wouldn't have the balls to do, especially considering if I missed my flight my parents would prbly flay me alive. I'll contact my airline and see what their policy is but i'm pretty sure once i say "snake" or worse "python" they'll freak and tell me "hell no". Which is why shipping is prbly what i'll end up doing. Later on when the issue becomes more and more important i'll post again w/ questions about specifics as to how, but it still right now is making me feel reallllly uneasy shipping him, because if i got the box at home, opened it up and saw he hadn't survived it'd be horrible.

Thanks again everyone,
-Eli

If it'll ease your mind any, although I've had only two shipments come in to me, they were simply marked "Fragile" on all four sides and both came in unharmed.

Quig

I don't think I'd risk a cavity search ;o)