Shipping

[adizziedoll]

Well - the time is coming closer and closer for me to HAVE to ship an animal out. I've already gone through the Fedex process, that was easy. It is absolutely nervewrecking to think i'm going to put a live snake into a box and put it onto a plane going to somewhere in the US.

At this time of year, what do I do regarding heat packs or ice packs, and at what temps? How hot does it get in that cargo area? Im really nervous I am going to put too much ice or too much heat.

And where on earth can I get insulated boxes, besides online? Dont fish get shipped petstores in those styrofoam boxes? Could those be put into cardboard boxes and then addressed?

And about fedex's rule of shipping live animals only to a business...have any of you shipped to a personal home address?

I am scared. Really, really scared. Help a newbie shipper out pleeeaassee!!!

[SPJ]

I have shipped to homes many times without a problem. The only problems have been with apartments when the drivers leave it at the wrong number. I mark the signature required but they still just leave the package.

If the weather is going to be very hot you will want to use a cool pack. No heat packs at this time of year.
The boxes from petstores are usually pretty well beaten up but I did ship a pair of bloods one time by putting them in bags inside those boxes and then putting those boxes in a new one with packing peanuts around it.
Depending upon the size of the snake, the little Glad disposable food containers work great. Melt air holes around it with a soldering iron and you're all set. For larger snakes, use a bag and newspaper or packing peanuts around it.
You can get the boxes, bags, heat/cold packs, basically everything you need from this place.
http://www.superiorenterprise.com/

Just keep in mind that Fed Ex charges dimensional weight when estimating shipping. The 7x7x6 box will be billed at 2 pounds and the 12x9x6 box will be billed at 4 pounds no matter what it really weighs.

The first time is nerveracking but it gets easier the more you ship.......................Oh who am I kidding. It's always nerveracking shipping an animal.