Shipping question: heat packs?

Ok so I'm having all my reptiles shipped out to join me here in Georgia all the way from Colorado. This is my very first time shipping anything, and I have some questions about the packaging itself, especially about what kinds of heat packs I should use.

I would buy some 40 hour ones, but I'm concerned that while they'll be helpful for the first leg of the journey in so-cold-Colorado, it could make things too hot later on once they get to the second half of their journey in a-lot-warmer-Georgia. The only shorter length heat packs I could find were the 8 and 16 hours ones which are specifically hand warmers. Would those work perchance?
Or a better question, do I even need heat packs at all if the final destination is warm enough?

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Originally Posted by Caskin

Ok so I'm having all my reptiles shipped out to join me here in Georgia all the way from Colorado. This is my very first time shipping anything, and I have some questions about the packaging itself, especially about what kinds of heat packs I should use.

I would buy some 40 hour ones, but I'm concerned that while they'll be helpful for the first leg of the journey in so-cold-Colorado, it could make things too hot later on once they get to the second half of their journey in a-lot-warmer-Georgia. The only shorter length heat packs I could find were the 8 and 16 hours ones which are specifically hand warmers. Would those work perchance?
Or a better question, do I even need heat packs at all if the final destination is warm enough?

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i live in georgia and at this time of the year the temps are up and down so wild one day its 30 one day its 60 so yea you need a heat pack for ga my two cents,but i just my first reptile the other day so don't quote me on it

What are the temperatures?

What species are getting shipped?

If you end up using heat packs, no, DONT use hand warmers, use the appropriate heat packs.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

What are the temperatures?

What species are getting shipped?

If you end up using heat packs, no, DONT use hand warmers, use the appropriate heat packs.

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Temperatures at Colorado origin average at highs of 38 and lows of 4.

Temperatures in Georgia average high 62, low 41... predicted weather for the next weeks range from the 50's-60's... to 30's to 40's

But of course I'll be watching the forecast like a hawk for the best week to ship.

Species will be leopard geckos, crested gecko, and gargoyle gecko in one box... and depending on how much room the boxes have, another box of ball pythons, and another box for a rosy boa and sand boa.

If there was an appropriate heat pack which was under 10 hours, I would use it. However, I can't seem to find any.

You'd be best to use the 40hr packs, they take a bit to warm up, but keep a nice steady temp for a long time.

The smaller lower hour rated heat packs, hand warmers included, get hotter faster, get hotter overall, but burn out quickly.

God forbid anything happen during transit, but I'd rest easier knowing if it did, that they had heat packs that would keep them warm for a longer time frame.

So don't think they would make it too hot at all when they arrive in Georgia? i know it's been getting pretty nice during the day time here.
How much heat do the 40 hour packs generate?

If it's in the 60's in Georgia....

I think I'd still use a heat pack.

They dont kick out a ton of heat.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

If it's in the 60's in Georgia....

I think I'd still use a heat pack.

They dont kick out a ton of heat.

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Ok, sounds good :)

Thanks for the help!

Thing is, you have to figure in what the temps are fro where your shipping the packages from....

Where the hub is located they're going to pass through and the temperature there....

Actually being in Georgia is only a PART of the trip.

Shipping without a heat pack simply because it's destination is warm doesn't mean you shouldnt use one.

And again, what if the package had a problem and sat for a day in Colorado without a heat pack?

Hope this helps

You also dont want the snake directly on the heat packs. They should have some newspaper in between. The pack should heat the air in the box and not the snake directly. If it is in the 60's the packs shouldnt get the box any warmer than 90 so you should be fine. You are shipping overnight right?

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

You also dont want the snake directly on the heat packs. They should have some newspaper in between. The pack should heat the air in the box and not the snake directly. If it is in the 60's the packs shouldnt get the box any warmer than 90 so you should be fine. You are shipping overnight right?

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Yup, most definitely overnight. I've received quite a few reptiles, and heavily researched things, so I know how the whole process works, this will just be my first time packing them up... actually scratch that, it will be my Mom packing them up, since I'm the one out in Georgia, so I'll have to coach her through it (egh, I'm soooooo nervous).

I think I'm just terrified of accidentally cooking my reptiles because of over-compensating for temperatures that will only be at the point of origin. I'm not sure where the hubs are exactly (guessing Denver, and then another midway in the country), but I know for sure that every other point along the route is guaranteed to be warmer then where they're coming from, which is right in the middle of the freezing cold mountains.

have her watch this video

http://www.shipyourreptiles.com/en/g..._your_reptile/

If you want to be safe, use the 60 hour heat packs--if there is a delay in shipping, you want the animals to be protected for more than just one day. 40 hour heat packs will not stay warm for 2 full days (obviously).

If you are going Fed Ex(thats what I prefer) I believe the hub will be Memphis.

I thought the same thing

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

If you are going Fed Ex(thats what I prefer) I believe the hub will be Memphis.

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