Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I am moving to Wisconsin from Minnesota, which is about a 5 hour drive. What is the best way to trasport herps for long distances in the winter? Any ideas? Any help will be much appreciated... thanks!!

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1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger & Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)

Hey,
First off as a fellow Wisconsinite I welcome you to our cowful state... what part of wisconsin you moving to? Anyways my personal suggestion for transporting the animals is on the seat of your vehicle with the heat on of course but put them in an insulated box with some herp heat packs.

WElcome and good luck
Jason

How about buying an A/C adapter for the cigarette lighter and rigging ur some head rocks, rope or tape? If it were done carfully, I think it would be fairly safe.
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CANADIAN CHAMELEONS

Thanks for your welcome... I will be moving to downtown Madison. As for herp heat packs... where can I get these? And when you say an insulated box, do you mean like a mini foam cooler or a box lined with styrofoam?

Sorry for questions that even Captain Obvious could probably answer, it's just I've never had to do this before so I really have no idea.

Thanks!
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1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger & Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)

I live in NH and it seems that Luna alwayas had to go to the vet in the winter. I devised a way to transport her - economically and safely. I posted this in another thread whihc was geared to a vet trip but you could do the same. I would not bother with the expensive shipping heat packs, plus you don't need them to last 48 hours. I used hand a feet warmers. I copied the "directions" form other post. You will need to make some adjustment, but I think you'll get the idea. The homemade insulated box worked great:

*warm up the car for 10 minutes
*find a large box and a smaller box to fit inside with an inch or so in between
*place bubble wrap, padded envelopes, styro peanuts - any of that packing material between the two boxes so you have a layer of insulation
*buy handwarmers in the Outdoor section of any discount store (Wal-Mart, etc.) You can usually get 6pax for about 2 dollars. It's only a vet trip so you don't need the 48 hour heat packs used in shipping)
*put a towel or blanket that is non-terry (no loops to get his claws stuck) and a comfy branch into the box.
*close the box and he will either sleep or at least be pretty mellow by the time you get there.

hope this helps!
lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

You may not even have to buy heat packs for that short a trip. Get a plastic water bottle and fill it with hot water. Wrap it in a towel and put next to or inside the outer box. If you take a break or get gas you could ask a convenience store to let you heat up the bottle again in a microwave or refill with faucet hot water. Or, try those microwavable hot packs for sore muscles.

you have helped so much!!! Thank you, and I hope you all have a great holiday!
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1.1.0 Leopard Geckos (Booger & Gimp)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Lucutis)

same to you! Hope the move goes smoothly and everyone does OK! Keep us posted

lele
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info

0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.1 Mad. Hissers and she is on the loose!
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet