Moving

Is there any fee involved with getting FedEx certified?

Well, since you plan on flying instead of driving cross-country, my experience in moving wouldn't really relate to the topic. But I'll talk about it anyway because I like to hear myself type. :P


Granted, my experience was with a gopher snake rather than a more temperature sensitive bp, but I would feel pretty comfortable moving with a bp as well, now. Even though Caesar is in a 20gal long normally, I got a shoe-box sterelite to transport him in. I put his usual substrate in the bottom of it (compressed cocunut-husk shavings) and his little coconut hide fit in there as well....but he's growing and our next move may be done without the hide.

Of course, I'd previously soldered air holes into both ends of the box and the corners of the lid. Once he's in there and the lid is secure, I wired the lid shut so it couldn't accidently get bumped off. He stayed nice and comfy in that little box until we got to our new house and we found the box that had his real home in it.

He rode in the car with me. Both our moves were in the summer time and you have to be super-careful. We never stopped for lunch at a regular sit-down restaurant, but would do a quick drive-thru. Restroom stops were done VERY quickly and a stretch-your-leg stop was always done at a time when someone could babysit the car while the AC continued to run, or at night.

Hotels were no biggie since it was just a quick check in, crash to sleep, and back on the road first thing next morning...they'd never know there was a snake in the room.

When I move with a bp, I'll skip the fluffy substrate and put the snake in a pillowcase and put that in the snuggest sterelite he'll fit in, along with some heat packs and a thermometer to make sure temps don't go to either extreme.

I also brought a bearded dragon on those two moves....but that's a whole 'nother story! :D

ANYway.....sounds like you have an excellent plan to have someone ship the snake ahead of you. Lucky you have someone there who can take care of it for you! But hopefully my little story will help someone someday.

The whole FedEx certification process for me took less about 2-3 weeks from start to finish.


My rep walked me through the process, sent me a link about getting my packaging approved, I shipped the test box exactly as if shipping a snake, box came back approved a week latter, contacted my rep, faxed me the contract, signed, faxed it back, done.

I think your local rep could make a huge difference (positive or negative), luckily my rep liked snakes and had a Burm!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Is there any fee involved with getting FedEx certified?

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It's use to be no charge, not sure now.
The only thing you had to pay was the shipping of the test package to the testing facility. They use to reimburse you back this cost, not sure if they do anymore, ask your rep.

Just make sure that test package is exactly how you would ship a snake.
Deli-cup marked "Harmless Reptile", I used a 12X9X6 insulated box clearly marked "Harmless Reptile" on the side and top, shipping peanuts protecting the deli-cup, include a heat pack and all.

Oh Dawn I'm so danged excited about your move! I know this is what you want and are going for it....you rock girl!

Okay back to shipping lol. When I ship the big BCI out this spring to Becky in Texas I'm using a breeder in southern Michigan whose certified and experienced already. I just felt it made more sense to do that then try my first shipping experience with a very large snake like Rauri.

I need to get on that Fedex thing myself though....*sigh*...yet another thing on my Top 1,000 Things to Think About List!


~~Jo~~

There is no fee to be certified. Your fedex account rep will give you an internal fedex account number to ship the test box under so they pick up the tab for it.