Moving Cross Country

Hello, I am not sure where to post this so if the admin could relocate this post to the proper forum, I'd appreciate it.

We are moving cross country and we have about 100 snakes (mostly balls and some boas) from CA to MD in April. I am looking for ideas, tips, or if you have done this before, I would like to know how you did it. My original plan was to get a power inverter hooked up directly to the battery (I own a box truck) but I recently learned that the alternator will not be able to support that much watts so that's out. Running the heat will not work because it is a box truck (think u-Haul truck).

Help? :)

M

There are a few different methods, none of which I am experienced with to be able to provide detailed instructions.

I WOULD however suggest that you look into renting a vehicle which can be temperature controlled. That is a long drive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anicatgirl

There are a few different methods, none of which I am experienced with to be able to provide detailed instructions.

I WOULD however suggest that you look into renting a vehicle which can be temperature controlled. That is a long drive.

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I agree with Anicatgirl even though I have no experience as well.

Keep in mind that going through the Southwest in April at certain times of the day that the "box" may get too hot. A climate controlled box may be the way to go. Styrofoam coolers for each snake sounds cost prohibitive.

Sure would like to hear from those with experience and your solution.

I think April is the perfect time to go because it is not too hot or too cold. I would go right now but it is too cold and too risky. I figure April is reasonable.

Would a portable generator be something you could use?

I think instead of a box truck I'd use a conversion van instead, that way you are in the same environment as the snakes if you haul them in the back, so you'll know quickly if there's a problem with the temperatures. Run the inside of the van at 82 to 85*F.

Put each snake in its own small tub on newspaper with a small undumpable water dish and stack them up. Take them all into the hotel at night with you and crank up the heat in the room so the snakes are comfortable.

Make sure the tubs are the type with very secure latching lids.

How about packing the snakes with heat packs like you were going to ship them? That is probably the route I would take.

Here's an article I wrote awhile back that may have some ideas and insights for you:
http://thereptilereport.com/u-haulin-reptiles/

However, the article doesn't address moving with THAT many snakes. Things do get tricky when you are working with that many. Lots of big breeders will haul large loads of snakes and other reptiles and equipment across the country to attend shows, so I know it can safely be done, but I doubt any of them use a typical box truck to do it. They MUST be in a climate-controlled vehicle. As mentioned before, a large van should work. You might have to go with two drivers if you need the box truck for moving furniture or whatnot. If you have the truck for all the big stuff, you wouldn't need a giant van to move 100 snakes. A regular mini-van or small SUV could work well if it's just the snakes.

You can pack multiple snakes into large, flat sweater-box type tubs....each animal carefully secured in its own snake bag. Keep like-sized animals together so bigger snakes don't risk smushing smaller snakes. I describe how that's done in the article I linked to.

And you don't have to sweat yourself out of the vehicle during the cross-country drive. Keeping temperatures around 75 degrees would be quite sufficient for the snakes.

Hey hey, I KNEW I had read something useful on the subject, I just couldn't find it, and it was your article JLC! :gj: Bookmarked!

This article is easily the best and most informative thing I have read on the subject. Follow her advice.

Portable generator will not work because they usually require either gas or electricity. The article does help but I am not sure about keeping the snakes in bags for 5 days (I figure the trip should take 3 days but I want to plan for 5 - in case).

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Originally Posted by digizure

Portable generator will not work because they usually require either gas or electricity. The article does help but I am not sure about keeping the snakes in bags for 5 days (I figure the trip should take 3 days but I want to plan for 5 - in case).

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It's certainly not ideal, but it CAN be done if there's no other option. Just make sure the containers stay in environmentally controlled space at all times. Keep the jostling and movement to a minimum as much as possible.

I think, what I would do in your shoes, with so many snakes to care for on such a journey:

Pack as many as I safely can into multiple sweater boxes (the long, flat ones that are meant to slide under a bed) so that I have as few of those tubs to move as possible, but each snake has it's own little spot of floor and isn't lying on top of any other. They'll all be in individual bags, and they can have their sides touching through the bags, just no overlapping.

Carry a bunch of extra bags in case of big messes. And carry about ten empty tubs with lids...they don't have to be big ones, just big enough for your average sized snake to rest in with a small dish of water. If all these tubs are the same size, then they can stack together while empty and not take up too much space.

Every other night on the road, I would get each snake out of its bag and give it some time in the tubs with a chance to get a drink of water if it wants. Rotate the snakes through the holding tubs and then snuggle them back into their bags and their travel tubs. Bigger snakes such as boa constrictors might need to just be held by hand for a few minutes, see if they'll be interested in drinking from a bowl on the floor or out of the sink. Chances are, no one will drink, but you'll feel better for having given them the chance. Change out heavily soiled bags for fresh ones during this rotation.

With that many snakes, it would be a tedious process, but you'll have peace of mind knowing they're ok.

I would also not make plans to linger ANYwhere along the road for longer than it takes to get a few hours of sleep. I've done these cross-country trips with animals many times, and it's stressful on EVERYone involved. There's no benefit to meandering or loitering.

I may have to make a similar trip in a few years :angered:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JLC

Here's an article I wrote awhile back that may have some ideas and insights for you:
http://thereptilereport.com/u-haulin-reptiles/

However, the article doesn't address moving with THAT many snakes. Things do get tricky when you are working with that many. Lots of big breeders will haul large loads of snakes and other reptiles and equipment across the country to attend shows, so I know it can safely be done, but I doubt any of them use a typical box truck to do it. They MUST be in a climate-controlled vehicle. As mentioned before, a large van should work. You might have to go with two drivers if you need the box truck for moving furniture or whatnot. If you have the truck for all the big stuff, you wouldn't need a giant van to move 100 snakes. A regular mini-van or small SUV could work well if it's just the snakes.

You can pack multiple snakes into large, flat sweater-box type tubs....each animal carefully secured in its own snake bag. Keep like-sized animals together so bigger snakes don't risk smushing smaller snakes. I describe how that's done in the article I linked to.

And you don't have to sweat yourself out of the vehicle during the cross-country drive. Keeping temperatures around 75 degrees would be quite sufficient for the snakes.

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Thank you JLC for all that info. Great article with very useful tips!!!!!!!! :cool:

Wow, why leave sunny California for the ravages of the East coast? I am going to California this coming summer. Northern Cali, Yuba city, Marysville. Fortunately I have a very small collection though. Six bps and six garters. Thanks. Stay in peace and not pieces. Good luck. A.C. :)

Here's my plan. I am going to keep the snakes in their tubs (racks). Day time temp is around 80 degrees so they should be fine. Night time temp is around 60 degrees which means that at 6 pm, I will pull over, put 72 hour heat packs in a small container and place them in each tub. At 8/9 am, I will remove them. I have a friend flying in so we will drive non-stop and figure it should take 2-3 days to arrive Maryland.