shipping

[Emilio]

I was wondering at what tempature does it begin to be a risk when shipping? Or what temp is to low? Does fed ex heat their cargo area or fuseloge , cause from my understanding it's much colder at 30,000 ft.

[jglass38]

Generally, cargo areas are pressurized and heated on all planes. I would expect it is the same on FedEx planes. As far as shipping temp, the main concern has to be the outside temp and the temp in the back of the trucks. Some breeders only ship when the temps is in a range acceptable to them and some ship year round. From what I have been told, with the proper precautions (insulated boxes, proper packing, heat packs) it is safe to ship during any weather.

[jglass38]

Now that I think of it, FedEx uses the whole plane for cargo so I am sure they are completely modified and the entire thing is pressurized and heated.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Now that I think of it, FedEx uses the whole plane for cargo so I am sure they are completely modified and the entire thing is pressurized and heated.

That is correct.

When shipping air cargo, some of the airlines use smaller planes to get into smaller airports that have unheated cargo areas but they usually account for that when booking your shipment.

-adam

[Gurgie]

I had BAD luck with a private BP purchase back in February. I specifically told the guy to ship it overnight delivery, and told him to get a therma-care heat wrap. they last about 8 hours or so and put that in the box as well, but not directly on the snake...ya know, like a box inside the box type of thing.

well...I dont know how many of you have ever had the pleasure of experiencing a winter in Minneapolis (or farther north) but February is C-O-L-D!!

the guy shipped my 2 male BPs UPS second day air, and put in a few paper towells in the smaller box with the snakes in it, and a couple tea towells in the outside box.

I'm assuming the one died in route cause to think that someone would have willingly shipped me a dead snake is just too wrong to think about. the one I was able to save was SO close to death I couldnt even tell if it was in fact still alive.

the snake I have left, whose name is Nag, must be some supersnake or something cause this little guy went through SO much in those few days of his young life, I cant believe not only did he survive, but is flourishing.

I'm sure there are folks in here who have LOTS more experience shipping snakes, but I wanted to tell my story in hopes that no more snakes will die at the hands of someone who doesnt know what they are doing....and by those who really just dont care.

[jglass38]

I had BAD luck with a private BP purchase back in February. I specifically told the guy to ship it overnight delivery, and told him to get a therma-care heat wrap. they last about 8 hours or so and put that in the box as well, but not directly on the snake...ya know, like a box inside the box type of thing.

well...I dont know how many of you have ever had the pleasure of experiencing a winter in Minneapolis (or farther north) but February is C-O-L-D!!

the guy shipped my 2 male BPs UPS second day air, and put in a few paper towells in the smaller box with the snakes in it, and a couple tea towells in the outside box.

I'm assuming the one died in route cause to think that someone would have willingly shipped me a dead snake is just too wrong to think about. the one I was able to save was SO close to death I couldnt even tell if it was in fact still alive.

the snake I have left, whose name is Nag, must be some supersnake or something cause this little guy went through SO much in those few days of his young life, I cant believe not only did he survive, but is flourishing.

I'm sure there are folks in here who have LOTS more experience shipping snakes, but I wanted to tell my story in hopes that no more snakes will die at the hands of someone who doesnt know what they are doing....and by those who really just dont care.

This doesn't sound like bad luck to me, but rather a guy who didn't know how to properly ship a BP and unfortunately you didn't have the proper info either to help him out. Combine that with cold weather and you have a problem. Thermacare heat wraps won't get the job done. They heat up very quickly and in most cases won't even last 8 hours (and I am going to guess the snakes were in the box for much more than that). The standard heat packs that most breeders use (20/30/40/60 hour) heat to a much higher temperature than something for human use, allowing the air temperature in the box to rise enough to keep the reptiles safe for the trip. Also, insulated boxes are a must. For future reference, here is some info on heat packs used for shipping from our friends over at Superior Enterprise (a great place to pick up all your reptile shipping needs!):

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HEAT PACK

1. THERE ARE 20, 30, 40, AND 60 HOURS HEAT PACKS.

2. BESIDES FROM THE DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIME THAT EACH TYPE OF HEAT PACKS LAST, THEY ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT PEAK TIME AND TEMPERATURE AS WELL AS ACTIVATION TIME.

3. 20 HOURS HEAT PACK ACTIVATE QUICKLY (5-10 MIN.), GET HOTTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND REACH 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 ACHEIVED A MORE EVEN TEMPERATURE THROUGHOUT THE TRIP.

4. 30 HOURS HEAT PACK 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 HOURS HEAT PACK 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 STEADY TEMPERATURE AND PEAK OUT BETWEEN 17 TO 19 HOURS.

6. 60 HOURS HEAT PACK IS SIMILAR TO THE 40 HOURS EXCEPT IT LAST MUCH LONGER AND REACH 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 TEMPERATUE FROM FALLING TOO LOW THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE ANIMALS TO BE VERY STRESS 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 NEWS PAPER OR PLACE IT IN A SMALL SPACE LIKE 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 RELEASES BECAUSE THE AIR VOLUME SURROUNDING THE HEAT PACKS ARE MUCH GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT OF HEAT BEING RELEASE IN THE INITIAL STAGE.

3. THERE ARE 2 SIDES TO THE HEAT PACK. THE SIDE WITH THE RED STRIPS, WHICH HAVE MANY TINY PERFORATIONS, MUST ALWAYS BE EXPOSED TO AIR. DO NOT LAY THE RED STRIPS SIDE FLAT ON ANY FLAT SUFACE 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 ALLOW 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.

[MARCUS ANTONIUS]

Wow! Thanks for the info on heat packs, Jamie!! I was very curious about this and I was actually just about to post some questions about them until I saw this. Thanks alot!

[frankykeno]

Excellent information Jamie! Thanks for sharing this valuable stuff as I'm sure I'm not the only one who wasn't sure exactly when these heat packs reach max temps and so forth.

Gurgie, I wouldn't say you had "bad luck" other than to do business with a breeder who apparently doesn't know how to ship during certain weather conditions. Sorry to hear about the needless passing of the one snake but thrilled to hear that against the odds the other one has survived and thrived.

[jglass38]

No problem at all. We are all here to learn and share information. Shipping can be done safely in almost any weather with the right preparation.

[Gurgie]

This doesn't sound like bad luck to me, but rather a guy who didn't know how to properly ship a BP and unfortunately you didn't have the proper info either to help him out. Combine that with cold weather and you have a problem. Thermacare heat wraps won't get the job done. They heat up very quickly and in most cases won't even last 8 hours (and I am going to guess the snakes were in the box for much more than that). The standard heat packs that most breeders use (20/30/40/60 hour) heat to a much higher temperature than something for human use, allowing the air temperature in the box to rise enough to keep the reptiles safe for the trip. Also, insulated boxes are a must. For future reference, here is some info on heat packs used for shipping from our friends over at Superior Enterprise (a great place to pick up all your reptile shipping needs!):

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HEAT PACK

1. THERE ARE 20, 30, 40, AND 60 HOURS HEAT PACKS.

2. BESIDES FROM THE DIFFERENT LENGTH OF TIME THAT EACH TYPE OF HEAT PACKS LAST, THEY ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT PEAK TIME AND TEMPERATURE AS WELL AS ACTIVATION TIME.

3. 20 HOURS HEAT PACK ACTIVATE QUICKLY (5-10 MIN.), GET HOTTER THAN THE OTHERS, AND REACH 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 ACHEIVED A MORE EVEN TEMPERATURE THROUGHOUT THE TRIP.

4. 30 HOURS HEAT PACK 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 HOURS HEAT PACK 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 STEADY TEMPERATURE AND PEAK OUT BETWEEN 17 TO 19 HOURS.

6. 60 HOURS HEAT PACK IS SIMILAR TO THE 40 HOURS EXCEPT IT LAST MUCH LONGER AND REACH 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 TEMPERATUE FROM FALLING TOO LOW THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE ANIMALS TO BE VERY STRESS 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 NEWS PAPER OR PLACE IT IN A SMALL SPACE LIKE 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 RELEASES BECAUSE THE AIR VOLUME SURROUNDING THE HEAT PACKS ARE MUCH GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT OF HEAT BEING RELEASE IN THE INITIAL STAGE.

3. THERE ARE 2 SIDES TO THE HEAT PACK. THE SIDE WITH THE RED STRIPS, WHICH HAVE MANY TINY PERFORATIONS, MUST ALWAYS BE EXPOSED TO AIR. DO NOT LAY THE RED STRIPS SIDE FLAT ON ANY FLAT SUFACE 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 ALLOW 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.

ok, I had no idea that kind of stuff was even out there. good to know for future reference though. thyanks so much...now if I do ever order another snake online, I'll know how it should be done. or better yet, maybe i should just say I'll order from folks on this web site specifically.
anyone got a baby female for sale? *grin*