Shipping Tips

PACKING THE ANIMALS

1. MOST REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS ARE BEST PACKED INDIVIDUALLY IN A CUP OR BAG TO AVOID ANY INJURY DURING SHIPMENT.
2. SMALL LIZARDS, FROGS, SNAKES, AND TURTLES SHOULD BE PACKED IN CONTAINERS, IT HELPS PROTECT THE ANIMALS AND ALLOWS EASY INSPECTION AND LABELING. THE LARGER REPTILES SHOULD BE PACKED IN CLOTH BAGS.
3. A LITTLE BIT OF LOOSE BEDDING OR SHREDDED NEWSPAPER SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CUPS OR BAGS TO HELP ABSORB ANY ANIMAL’S WASTE DURING THE TRIP.
4. AMPHIBIANS ARE BEST PACKED WITH MOIST MOSS IN PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH NO STANDING WATER. (AVOID USING A WET PAPER TOWEL ON THE BOTTOM)
5. DO NOT PLACE THE ANIMALS IN AN OVERSIZED CONTAINER DURING SHIPPING, ESPECIALLY TURTLES AND TORTOISES. MORE THAN LIKELY, THE BOX WILL BE DROPPED SEVERAL TIMES AND MAY BE PLACED IN ANY POSITIONS OTHER THAN RIGHT SIDE UP. THIS WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE IMPACT TO THE ANIMALS WHEN THE BOX IS DROPPED.
6. CAREFULLY PLACE THE CONTAINERS OR BAGS IN AN INSULATED SHIPPING BOX AND FILL ANY VOID SPACE WITH CRUMBLED NEWSPAPER.
7. PUNCTURING THE BOX FOR VENTILATION IS NOT NECESSARY.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HEAT PACK

1. THERE ARE 20, 30, 40, 60, AND 72 HOUR HEAT PACKS.
2. BESIDES THE DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIME THAT EACH TYPE OF HEAT PACK LASTS, THEY ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT PEAK TIMES AND TEMPERATURES, AS WELL AS ACTIVATION TIMES.
3. 20 HOUR HEAT PACKS ACTIVATE QUICKLY (5-10 MIN.), GET HOTTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND REACHES PEAK TEMPERATURE IN APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS. IT IS GOOD FOR TROPICAL FISH BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE TO HEAT UP WATER THAN AIR. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO USE IT ALONG WITH THE OTHER HEAT PACKS FOR REPTILE SHIPMENT ORIGINATING FROM A VERY COLD CLIMATE TO ACHIEVE A MORE EVEN TEMPERATURE THROUGHOUT THE TRIP.
4. 30 HOUR HEAT PACKS ACTIVATE IN APPROX. 20-30 MINUTES. THE ACTUAL SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE HEAT PACK MAY REACH 115 DEGREES AT ITS PEAK WHICH IS NOT AS HOT AS 20 HOURS BUT NOT AS MILD AS 40 HOURS. IT PEAKS BETWEEN 12 TO 14 HOURS.
5. 40 HOUR HEAT PACKS ACTIVATE IN APPROX. 40-50 MINUTES. IT IS THE MOST POPULAR TYPE FOR REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, AND INSECT SHIPPING. THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE IS APPROX. 110 DEGREES AT ITS PEAK. IT RELEASES A STEADY TEMPERATURE AND PEAKS BETWEEN 17 TO 19 HOURS.
6. 60 AND 72 HOUR HEAT PACKS ARE SIMILAR TO THE 40 HOURS EXCEPT IT LASTS MUCH LONGER AND REACHES ITS PEAK TEMPERATURE AT APPROX. 25 TO 28 HOURS. IT IS GREAT FOR EXPORT SHIPMENT OR SHIPPING VIA USPS PRIORITY MAIL.

USING THE HEAT PACK

1. THE IDEA OF USING THE HEAT PACK DURING THE SHIPMENT OF LIVE ANIMALS IS NOT TO ACHIEVE THE OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE BOX BUT TO KEEP THE TEMPERATURE FROM FALLING TOO LOW THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE ANIMALS TO BE VERY STRESSED OR DIE.
2. IF TESTING IS NEEDED BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX, OPEN THE VACUUM SEALED PLASTIC BAG AND ROLL IN A LAYER OF NEWSPAPER OR PLACE IT IN A SMALL SPACE LIKE A LUNCH BAG OR IN THE SHIRT OR PANTS POCKET, THEN GIVE IT TIME TO HEAT UP. DO NOT SIMPLY PLACE THE HEAT PACKS ON THE TABLE AS YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NOT FEEL ANY HEAT RELEASED BECAUSE THE AIR VOLUME SURROUNDING THE HEAT PACKS ARE MUCH GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT OF HEAT BEING RELEASED IN THE INITIAL STAGE.
3. THERE ARE 2 SIDES TO THE HEAT PACK. THE SIDE WITH THE RED STRIPE, WHICH HAVE MANY TINY PERFORATIONS, MUST ALWAYS BE EXPOSED TO AIR. DO NOT LAY THE RED STRIPE SIDE FLAT ON ANY FLAT SURFACE OR TAPE IT DOWN IN SUCH A FASHION THAT IT MAY OBSTRUCT THE AIR FLOW INTO THE PERFORATED HOLES.
4. IN A CUBIC FOOT INSULATED BOX, THE FIRST HEAT PACK WILL RAISE APPROX. 12-16 DEGREES AND EACH ADDITIONAL HEAT PACK WILL RAISE APPROX.10 DEGREES MORE. THE TEMPERATURE RANGE OF 60 TO 75 DEGREES IS VERY SAVE FOR MOST REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS DURING SHIPMENT.
5. IF THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SHIPPING BOX IS ALLOWED TO FALL BELOW 32 DEGREES (FREEZING POINT), THE HEAT PACK MAY CEASE TO WORK BECAUSE WATER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN INGREDIENTS OF THE HEAT PACK, MAY BECOME FROZEN.

SHIP LIKE A PRO

1. OFTEN TIME, THE PRICE OF THE FREIGHT CAN DETERMINE THE DECISION TO PURCHASE THE ANIMALS.
2. FOR UPS AND FED EX AIR SHIPMENT, THE FREIGHT CHARGE IS DETERMINED BY THE DIMENSIONAL WEIGHT OR THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE PACKAGE, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. FOR REPTILE SHIPMENTS, THE ACTUAL WEIGHT IS ALMOST ALWAYS LESS THAN THE DIMENSIONAL WEIGHT.
3. AIRLINE CARGO USUALLY HAS A FLAT RATE PER BOX AS LONG AS IT IS NOT AN OVERSIZED BOX (2*L+2*W+H IS MORE THAN 108”). SO BOXES MAY BE TAPED TOGETHER AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT EXCEED 108”
4. USPS USES ACTUAL WEIGHT FOR CHARGES AND DELIVERS ON WEEKENDS BUT THEY DO NOT ACCEPT SNAKES. IT IS HARDER TO LOCATE THE PACKAGE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG AND THEY DO NOT OFFER MORNING DELIVERY.
5. UPS AND FEDEX OFFER BEFORE 10:30 AM DELIVERY TIME WHICH IS NICE DURING THE SUMMER HEAT.
6. IN EXTREME HEAT OR COLD, IT IS SAFER TO HAVE THE BOX HELD AT THE LOCAL HUB OR POST OFFICE, THEN CALL THE CONSIGNEE FOR PICK UP.