Moving 2600 miles..with 11 snakes

It's looking like I will be moving from Vermont to...Arizona. With 11 snakes, a dragon, 4 amphibians and 3 cats. And my boyfriend.

I've moved my snakes small distances, a few miles at most. Usually already had their new home already set up, or they are out for 2 hours, max.

This time it's very different. Driving 2600 miles is an entirely different story. It's going to take anywhere from 5-9 days (Uhaul's can't go 90.) to get from here to there. They won't have new houses set up there, and there is no way that I'm shipping them - I don't have anyone that I know well enough that knows how to take care of snakes that I can ship them to.

I'm really looking for the easiest way to move them without too much stress. I'm probably not going to be able to keep their temps at normal for the whole trip - though I already do have tons of chemical heat packs, the ones used for shipping.

I've got a couple ideas, but none of them seem very comfortable.. :/

I've got months to plan for this - to figure things out and try to make it as secure as possible. If anybody has any ideas, I'd be ever so grateful.

oh lord, um, i would say rubbermaid totes, the kind used in rack systems, with a heatpack, lots of ventilation, water at every stop only if they take to it, um, i would say obviously no feeding, towels over all of them for security, im no expert, so ask someone else but thts my 2 cents.

This is problematic--where will you be spending your nights? You will need to find hotels or motels that are willing to accomodate your animals, or you'll be spending the nights in your vehicle. You cannot leave them in the vehicle unattended (legally, or safely).

As for how to transport them--just pack them up as though you were going to be shipping them, and then give them some time in a tub each evening, to get a good long drink of water. They'll do well so long as they're kept warm and hydrated.

This is a reptile forum, though, and there are folks everywhere in the US here. Perhaps some folks along the route would be willing to offer crash space, if no motel will accept them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

This is problematic--where will you be spending your nights? You will need to find hotels or motels that are willing to accomodate your animals, or you'll be spending the nights in your vehicle. You cannot leave them in the vehicle unattended (legally, or safely).

As for how to transport them--just pack them up as though you were going to be shipping them, and then give them some time in a tub each evening, to get a good long drink of water. They'll do well so long as they're kept warm and hydrated.

This is a reptile forum, though, and there are folks everywhere in the US here. Perhaps some folks along the route would be willing to offer crash space, if no motel will accept them.

---

I won't be sleeping in the car/uhaul. And I definitely won't be leaving my pets in the car without someone being with them. I'll be staying with friends in some cities and try and find a motel before hand that will allow cats/reptiles in others.

That does sound like a pretty good idea. Not sure how I'll do that with my bigger kids though.

Styrofoam coolers with a couple of air holes could do the trick for larger animals, if you don't have big shipping boxes.

I feel your pain.

I just made the move from Ohio to N.Carolina.

Along with 12 Ball Pythons, 3 Boas, 2 Dogs, 2 African Grey Parrots and some turtles, toads and rats.

One thing I can tell you to invest in is snake bags. Their life savers!

Good luck with your move:gj:

I moved from MA to CO about two months ago with a few balls and a big Borneo stp and I just packed them in plastic containers with heat packs. The La Quinta hotel chain:gj: is pet friendly although I did cover them up when I brought them inside because as we all know some people can be scared of them. We took it slow and arrived on the 4th day without incident.

Thanks for the help guys.

I didn't know La Quinta was pet friendly! Definitely good to know :)

MazAnth - Snake bags - just expensive pillowcases? And did you put them in something else, other than the bags themselves?

I moved from NJ to AZ with almost 100 snakes and 2 cats but I used an RV. We stayed at RV campgrounds so we never had to move the animals...worked well and no issues. I even moved two clutches of eggs. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dave Green

I moved from NJ to AZ with almost 100 snakes and 2 cats but I used an RV. We stayed at RV campgrounds so we never had to move the animals...worked well and no issues. I even moved two clutches of eggs. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

---

:) Thanks Dave. I find it very amusing that I'm moving the two babies I just bought from you back to where they came from.

I was considering doing what you did, with an RV. But I would have to drive the RV back to the owner, then fly back down. It's definitely looking like a very good idea.

Congrats on moving the eggs, that would be a feat in and of itself!

Did you make special racks in your RV for the snakes?

You can rent the RV one way, we used Cruise America and we then stayed at KOA campgrounds. It only took five days I think but we were pretty anxious to get here. I sold my car as I had a black leather interior which wouldn't work well here in Phoenix and we had my wife's car shipped.

I bagged up the adults and used deli style cups for the babies. I then boxed them up in the largest shipping boxes Superior Enterprises sells. I would check them each night once we stopped. I used heat packs in the incubator and was able to plug it in once we stopped. It was August so I didn't have to worry about heat as I was more concerned with over heating.

Actually, the two cats were more of a pain then the snakes.

If it were me, I would move them in about 15qt - 30qt tubs (depending on the size of the snakes) with lots of air holes drilled in. You can put a wash cloth on the bottom and a 40 hour heat pack under the wash cloth. Then get a very lightweight hide, even a pillowcase rolled to make a kind of "burrow." I did that for my girl, moving her a much shorter distance, but it works. Gives them something to hide in that can't hurt them in any way if you have to slam of the breaks for something. :O Then I would just check on everyone at stops, and every night when you are no longer moving, give them a water bowl. That will give them hours to get a drink if they want when everything is still and quite and they calm down a little.

Of course, with your cats and other pets you need a pet friendly hotel, but I would go with a "ask forgiveness, not permission" policy with the snakes. Throw a sweatshirt or blanket over the tubs when you move them from the car to the room. They make no noise, no mess, who needs to know they were there? The thing with snakes is they are completely non-disruptive and nondestructive, but they weird people out. *eye-roll* A "pet friendly" hotel may still not be friendly to snakes, so just don't tell them :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Emily Hubbard

If it were me, I would move them in about 15qt - 30qt tubs (depending on the size of the snakes) with lots of air holes drilled in. You can put a wash cloth on the bottom and a 40 hour heat pack under the wash cloth. Then get a very lightweight hide, even a pillowcase rolled to make a kind of "burrow." I did that for my girl, moving her a much shorter distance, but it works. Gives them something to hide in that can't hurt them in any way if you have to slam of the breaks for something. :O Then I would just check on everyone at stops, and every night when you are no longer moving, give them a water bowl. That will give them hours to get a drink if they want when everything is still and quite and they calm down a little.

Of course, with your cats and other pets you need a pet friendly hotel, but I would go with a "ask forgiveness, not permission" policy with the snakes. Throw a sweatshirt or blanket over the tubs when you move them from the car to the room. They make no noise, no mess, who needs to know they were there? The thing with snakes is they are completely non-disruptive and nondestructive, but they weird people out. *eye-roll* A "pet friendly" hotel may still not be friendly to snakes, so just don't tell them :D

---

I like that, "ask forgiveness, not permission," lol.
It's kinda like when people say that they're "animal people" and I'm like oh what about snakes or spiders?And they get freaked out and say no way! Then you're not an animal person lol!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike41793

I like that, "ask forgiveness, not permission," lol.
It's kinda like when people say that they're "animal people" and I'm like oh what about snakes or spiders?And they get freaked out and say no way! Then you're not an animal person lol!

---

Actually, when people tell me they are an "Animal Person" I ask them if they like snakes, lizards or frogs. When they say no I tell them that they are a Mammal Person, not an Animal Person. Either that or I invite them over to my house for a drink, and laugh when they scream at seeing my big girls in the living room :)

I'll look into that Dave, that looks like it may be one of the best options. I am definitely seeing how at least one of my cats is going to be a serious PAIN IN MY BUM to get down there.

And I agree with the permission thing. It may be easiest to just ask about the cats and hide the snakes. Not like I'll be there more than a few hours anyways.

Omg you're going to have such weather shock! Say goodbye to winter as you know it.

I'm thinking snakes in bags. In boxes. With heat packets. Obviously in bigger boxes with more than 1 snake per box. Almost like you're shipping them just not all taped up. Then when you're at the hotel for the night...

...is "ask forgiveness, not permission" a Gibbs Rule? As in NCIS?...

...move everyone into tubs on top of heat pads set on low? Or maybe ontop of the heat packets? And offer water

I'm thinking you should be able to drive it in 3-5 days? I would think they'd be ok in that situation for that relatively short amount of time.

Somebody correct me if I've left something out or have a major flaw in my design. I'm purely speculating as I have only moved 2 snakes an hour. Our next move, however will be much more chaotic...

So here's a solution.
When driving you can use similar packaging as if they were being shipped, or snake bags (use a breathable pillow case as substitute), this is good for two (2) things, 1. It makes everything compact if there's limited space, 2. Keeping them out of sight even when moving into a hotel or motel (looks like luggage :) ), travel with tubs which they can be transferred into when you stop for the night, this makes for a fast portable setup.

Hydration is important since you'd want to also refrain from feeding unless absolutely necessary.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xotik

MazAnth - Snake bags - just expensive pillowcases? And did you put them in something else, other than the bags themselves?

---

Actually the opposite, you want low thread count pillow cases, they need to be able to breath through it so 200 thread count or lower if possible.

Haha. "Ask forgiveness, not permission" is my policy for most things in life. It is my current policy for my own snake ownership. My landlord has no idea. Why would I ask, my snake isn't hurting anything? haha.

Best of luck with your move! Moving is stressful no matter what, but all the more so with pets. I found that I drove like a saint with my snake in the car, all of the sudden, you become so aware of every turn and vibration. I was like, "Does my car ALWAYS vibrate like the engine is about to fall out?!?" All that matters is that you are taking the time to make the move as easy on your pets as possible. Everyone will be stressed, but that's just the way it goes. Snakes are pretty hardy. As long as you make sure their temps are adequate and they get the opportunity for a good long drink every day, you should be fine no matter what method you choose.

Good Luck, It will be a long and hard trip. My thought are with you

I've made many, many long, cross-country trips with critters like that. It takes some forethought and planning ahead, especially for one so long, but it's quite do-able with minimal stress for both you and the animal.

As already pointed out, La Quinta is always animal-friendly...and they're also very affordable and easy to find. Plan out your route ahead of time and figure out where you need to stop for each overnight. Find your hotels long before you start driving. If there is no La Quinta where you need to stop, call around to all the hotels just off the freeway. High traffic hotels that cater to cross-country travelers are often pet-friendly.

Don't mention the reptiles...just keep them covered when you carry them in. Don't plan on staying long enough to worry about being caught by house keeping. :P If you DO need to stay for two nights, just put up the "do not disturb" sign and skip having your bed made by the maid.

It sounds like you'll be moving in the summer? If so, you will NOT need heat packs. Even if moving in the winter, I probably wouldn't use them because it's very easy to keep the car (or hotel room) warm enough, and that's where they'll be staying. It'd be too easy to overheat them with heat packs in such a controlled environment.

When I had a beardie, I packed him in a shoe-box sized tub with paper towels, holes in the sides, and the lid secured. The snakes go into snake-bags or pillow cases (turned inside out so you can check the security of the seams and make sure they don't get tangled in any lose threads). The snake bags go into one tub. If you have any baby snakes or really small animals (geckos or whatever) put them in deli cups rather than bags. They can go in the same tub with the bagged snakes and won't get squished. Or put all the small bagged snakes in one tub and the larger bagged snakes in another tub.

With the beardie, I had one big, deep tub that I'd cut out the center part of the lid and replaced it with hardware cloth. I carried a heat lamp as well. The tubs of snakes, the beardie's tub, and all the assorted lamps and water bowls, extras paper towels, and stuff...all went into that one big tub. When we stopped, everything came out...paper towels went down into the big tub...water bowl...beardie hide...and the beardie got to stretch out in the big tub with the heat lamp over it. The snakes came out of the bags and got placed in individual tubs just big enough to hold them and a very small water bowl.

In the morning, pack it all back up. You may need multiple tubs that can nest together if necessary...you have more animals than I did. But not a lot more. Mostly, it just takes a little common sense and creative planning ahead.

You can leave the snakes bagged overnight if you need to...for one night. But the beardies will need to stretch out and have some water. I would not feed any of them during this trip. They'll all be fine. Try to maintain ambient temps near 80 in the car and hotel rooms and you won't have to worry about things like heat mats and such. Helps if you carry a little digital thermometer with you.

Make sure the travel tubs in the car are kept out of direct sunlight. A place on the floorboards in the back seat is good. If you have to run the heater though, be careful because the floor can get warmer than you think. I don't think that'll be an issue for a summer move, though.

Hope my ramblings help some. Shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions I can help with. Been there, done that! :D

And I LOVE Arizona. Miss it very, very much!!

PS -- I can't help with the amphibians. I have no experience moving with those. There are a number of amphibian-specific forums I could point you to if you can't find the help you need here.

Amphibians = moss and deli cups. That should be relatively simple, just need to keep the temperatures in a tolerable range for everyone.
I would actually recommend using heat packs to keep the animals warm, rather than trying to drive for 5 days at 80F. I think that might put a strain on any relationship, lol.

Wow JLC, thanks! :)
You guys have all been so helpful!

The Amphibs already have their own little travelhouse :P They are alllll set :)

The absolute earliest I'm moving is October, and any time after that until well..Forever, pretty much. It depends on if my boyfriend and I can get the $$ together by October to move. After that it will be whenever we get what we need together. Pretty much it could be warm, it could be frigid, I really don't know yet.

you could leave them with someone who can ship them to you after you get to your destination.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

you could leave them with someone who can ship them to you after you get to your destination.

---

That is the EXTREMELY backup plan. I want to avoid shipping at all costs.

This thread is extremely useful. I would love to reference it in the future! :)

Thanks to everyone who posted. Even though I didn't ask the question, I appreciate y'all's answers.