transporting snake

[Cerberrus]

hi there am selling my snake and the place i am selling it to is about a 7min bike ride away. I was wondering if it would be okay to transport her in a like food bag with installation like door dash bag or if it would cause problems for her. its around -1c here if not i can get a drive there

[Bogertophis]

It's ALWAYS best to put a snake in a cloth bag (or pillow case) that's secured, then put that in an insulated ice chest of appropriate size (an insulated lunch box is fine if the snake fits). If it's too cold (& yes, below freezing is too cold), you want to include a source of heat, like a small water bottle with hot water in it. Or better yet, just get a ride there. Reason being, there is ALWAYS a possibility (no matter how unlikely) of a vehicle breakdown enroute (including a flat tire or other accident while on a bike or in a motor vehicle)- then what happens to your snake?

[Cerberrus]

okay perfect so put her in a cloth bag i still have the one she came in then inside the thermal bag with a hot water bottle

[Bogertophis]

okay perfect so put her in a cloth bag i still have the one she came in then inside the thermal bag with a hot water bottle

Well I'd test that out first- & by all means take the temperature of the water that you put in the bottle. Don't overheat- don't overwhelm your snake in a confined space, as that can kill them- when they have no room to get away from excessive heat. That's why I prefer to transport snakes in a larger "ice chest"- the snake shouldn't be right next to a heat source, & unable to get away, as when they're stuck in a bag.

If you do use a thermal bag, where the snake is very close to a warm bottle, it needs to be wrapped for protection of the snake & the water should only be about 84* at most. See what I'm saying? I'll never forget- years back a guy on another snake forum had his favorite snake in a bag on the floor of his truck for transport- it was a several hours drive, & he never stopped to check on the snake- it died, because it got too warm & couldn't escape (thermoregulate properly).

Even if a snake doesn't die, being excessively warm can cause irreversible nerve damage in snakes. Better for a snake to be too cool than too hot.

[Cerberrus]

Well I'd test that out first- & by all means take the temperature of the water that you put in the bottle. Don't overheat- don't overwhelm your snake in a confined space, as that can kill them- when they have no room to get away from excessive heat. That's why I prefer to transport snakes in a larger "ice chest"- the snake shouldn't be right next to a heat source, & unable to get away, as when they're stuck in a bag.

If you do use a thermal bag, where the snake is very close to a warm bottle, it needs to be wrapped for protection of the snake & the water should only be about 84* at most. See what I'm saying? I'll never forget- years back a guy on another snake forum had his favorite snake in a bag on the floor of his truck for transport- it was a several hours drive, & he never stopped to check on the snake- it died, because it got too warm & couldn't escape (thermoregulate properly).

Even if a snake doesn't die, being excessively warm can cause irreversible nerve damage in snakes. Better for a snake to be too cool than too hot.

okay perfect i will use the thermal bag but leave it open a bit for air flow and get a little bit hotter then lukewarm bottle wrap it in platic wrap. like i mentioned it is 5-6min walk so i will be there in no time i was more worried about the sudden shock of cold

[Bogertophis]

okay perfect i will use the thermal bag but leave it open a bit for air flow and get a little bit hotter then lukewarm bottle wrap it in platic wrap. like i mentioned it is 5-6min walk so i will be there in no time i was more worried about the sudden shock of cold

Don't wrap a warm bottle in plastic wrap- use a terrycloth towel preferably, or even newspaper/or a paper bag to insulate. Plastic wrap doesn't work well for that- it won't "soften" the heat.

And actually, you said it was a 7 minute bike ride, which is a much greater distance than a 5-6 minute walk, but whatever.

[Cerberrus]

Don't wrap a warm bottle in plastic wrap- use a terrycloth towel preferably, or even newspaper/or a paper bag to insulate. Plastic wrap doesn't work well for that- it won't "soften" the heat.

And actually, you said it was a 7 minute bike ride, which is a much greater distance than a 5-6 minute walk, but whatever.

okay will do and yes sorry bike ride

[Bogertophis]

I just want you & your snake to get there safely-

[Cerberrus]

me aswell thank you very much for the tip