It's important to keep in mind that some things like size of container for the animal, box for shipping, and heating elements are all variable depending on from where you are shipping to where you are shipping, and what exactly you are shipping. ALWAYS check origin and destination weather, as well as your provider's website for any possible holds or warnings. The goal is for the animal(s) to arrive safely and in a timely manner and if that means waiting is best, then that truly is the best decision you can make. As you will see in the below walkthrough, we ship through Reptiles2You and will highly recommend their services to anyone. The customer service is unmatched. Plug over, time for the fun.. As you can see, the above photos reference building the box, taping the seams, and fitting the foam blocks inside. This may not be necessary for you to do if you have ordered a complete shipping kit from one of the many possible supply sites. If it is, you only need one of the larger foam squares for the time being, as this serves as the bottom insulation of the box. The four smaller pieces fit alongside the walls. Use a ballpoint pen or screwdriver to ventilate the box. I aim for 4-6 holes that completely clear the foam insulation. These are incredibly important, especially when using a heating pack for temperature regulation as a functional heating pack will consume oxygen to operate. The Lacey Act label can be placed later, but I usually add it at this point, making sure the label is fully taped down so if it is exposed to the weather it doesn't get ruined. All Lacey Act labels must include:
Because we ship from Florida and our temperatures are so variable and often disjointed from the the rest of the country we find a small bit of solace in shipping with Cryopaks (Phase 22). I've found the below section from the Reptiles2You page quite efficient at explaining these products: "These packs are not only high quality but also HIGH TECH! They are designed to undergo "phase change" (begin freezing or melting) at 71.6°F (22°C). If you think the temp inside your box might rise ABOVE this, use a frozen Phase 22 pack. It will absorb the heat energy in your box as the pack changes from solid to liquid, thereby keeping the contents of the box cooler. If you are concerned that the temp inside your box might dip slightly BELOW 71.6°F (22°C), use an un-frozen pack. It will release its heat energy inside your box as the pack tries to "phase change" from liquid to solid, thereby keeping the contents of the box slightly warmer. HOWEVER - note that the warming properties of this process are NOT as powerful as true Shipping Warmers (Heat Packs)." It is also important to note that these can be deadly if punctured or leaking so it's always best to place the Cryopaks in a sealable plastic bag just in case. Renarin, our yeti male, happily volunteered himself as an example of how to prepare your snake for travels. In most instances we ship our animals in deli cups that have been pre-punched. Make sure to use a shipping substrate appropriate for your animal and the container involved. There should be enough to cushion the animal in the event the box was shaken. Make sure the lid is fully secured and taped down. As you can see, Renarin is thrilled. We generally put the second Cryopak ontop of the deli before we package with junkmail advertisements as cushion (Yay free packaging material!), but as long as the delicup fits pretty snugly inside you're good to go. This cushion helps to reduce any potential harm to the snake in the case that the box is shaken in transit, but there is no need to fill every nook and cranny. Top with the final piece of foam to complete the insulation. Make sure to seal all seams on the top of the box and affix the appropriate label. If you don't use label pouches make sure to tape down the label fully in the event of weather or rough shipping.
No one's schedule is entirely flexible and sometimes you do what you must, but the later you drop off at an appropriate FedEx location, the better. The less time the animal is in these scary confines, the better.
2 Comments
Nacho Peral
7/27/2021 02:20:38 pm
I'm looking for a MOCHA green, GAVERTH GREEN or WOMA green. Can you help me?. Greetings and sorry for the inconvenience.
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I like that you suggested taping the label of the package to keep it from getting ruined by the weather when transported. I wonder if construction tape can be used for that matter, since it might be needed for one item we have. We needed to send it to my brother in another state to help him with some items he can't afford after buying a house there.
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AuthorAs the owner and primary customer service associate for Ectotherm Empire I frequently handle questions about Hognose care. People want to learn and generally want to do what is best for their animals. I don't profess to know everything. There is no way to do so. What I've done is taken my experience working with these animals, my research and understanding into their lives in the natural world, and combined it with help from fellow breeders to construct a relatively comprehensive set of documents. Yes, some things may be missing, or may not fit your situation, but I've done my best to aid in what ways I can. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Comparing products by their features, customer reviews, and prices is easy, however, Amazon was chosen almost entirely for uniformity. Nearly everything we use can be found on Amazon. If it can't be, then substitutes are almost always available. All product links in these guides will be found in this color. Thank you for taking the time to look through my wordy ramblings and I wish you happy reading! Categories |