Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just about to do my first shipping. I have the insulated box, solo cup and I am going to get heat packs. Few questions, I have used the heat pack in the past and found it wasn't really all that warm but it was just while waiting for someone to make a local pick up so it wasn't in a insulated enviroment.

so how many do you usually use? next do you tape it to the solo cup or do you just leave it in the box and it heats up the box? Just want to get this right the first time instead of making errors.

any tips? I will be using shredded newspaper for filling by the way.

From the inside out: make sure that your snake is not packed too loosely or in too big of a cup - the sliding around during shipping will be really stressful. Then make sure that the cup is packed realatively tightly inside the box - you don't want that sliding around too mcuh either. Heatpacks - depends on the temperatures on both ends during shipping I usually do just one for a small box - two for a larger box or if it's going to be really cool - those things heat up to something like 110 degrees so be careful you don't pack too much heat. I usually tape them to the bottom of the box fill with paper and then pack the snake and any paperwork. Label the box appropriately (per Lacey Act) - but if you are shipping without certification (or with a carrier that does not accept snakes) they may not accept your package.
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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

whats does Per Lacey Act mean? does it stand for anything?
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Under a dead ohio sky,
Eleven has been and will be waiting,
Defending his light,
And wondering...
Where the hell have I been?
Sleeping, lost, and numb.
So glad that I have found you.
I am wide awake and heading home.
TOOL

The Lacey Act states:

"Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, no person may import, export, or transport in interstate commerce any container or package containing any fish or wildlife (including shellfish and fishery products) unless he/she marks each container or package conspicuously on the outside with both the name and address of the shipper and consignee. An accurate and legible list of its contents by species scientific name and the number of each species and whether or not the listed species are venomous must accompany the entire shipment."

So basically

1 Name/Address of shipper.
2 Name/Address of receiver.
3 Species scientific name.
4 Quantity per species.
5 Whether species is venomous/nonvenomous.

It is also illegal to label packages with FRAGILE/PERISHABLE only. This is viewed as an intentional and deliberate avoidance of the above requirements.

My labels read:

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

Yes - even captive born snakes fall under the heading "wildlife" Most people don't bother with Lacey labeling - but if caught both the shipper and receiver are in violation. Fines are pretty steep from what I've heard. Lotsa people ship by carriers that don't accept snakes so they don't label - lotsa people think if you label the box carriers will be afraid to deliver and there will be hold ups and dead snakes so they don't label, some people are afraid of getting the snake stolen out of the box durring shipping if they label - so they don't.

Anyway hope this 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

...actually it is a address string,so yah gotta copy and paste...

http://arbreptiles.com/shipping/index.shtml
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Charles Glaspie

Tanstaafl:
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch".
An acronym created by my favorite author Robert A. Heinlein.