Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone, I just sold some panther chameleons I have and will be shipping them to their new homes Monday. I have never shipped any animals before and was wondering if any of you might have some advice? I have received some chameleons before and kept two of the packages (which I will be using). The boxes have styrofoam pieces on the in-sides of the box. I think I will place the lizards in a plastic container with holes punched in it for air circulation. Then maybe some news papers stuffed around the container for cushion. I am in Florida, where it is still warm, but some of my recipients are farther north where it is cold. So should I put a hot-pack in the container? Any information will help! Thanks! - Tyler

The boxing setup sounds good. To provide some humidity you can put crumpled moist paper towels in with the cham. It will also serve as a cushion in case he gets bumped. I've wedged a stick in the plastic container to give them something to grip onto. As for the heat pack be careful. If the outer box isn't much larger than the inner plastic container it can get too hot inside an insulated box. You can test it...put a heat pack in the box just as if the cham was being sent and also put in a min/max thermometer and close it up overnight. Then check the temp to see just how warm it got. I haven't sent chams using an overnight shipper but have done it by Delta or other airline aircargo. Costs more to ship an unaccompanied animal by air cargo, but as the receiver goes to the airport to get them they don't spend time driving around in a delivery truck where the temps can really change.