traveling for 4 days, advice on keeping while traveling

Hi,

We are planning a big move across the country. We're leaving in a few weeks, and we are driving. I have two BP's and they are great together. Never had an issue. Looking for advice on traveling with them. We will be driving about 8 hours a day for 4 days. How should we keep them at night when we stop at hotels? We aren't worried about sneaking them in, just want to make sure they are kept in a proper way. Any advice would be great. Thanks!

If you're only going to be gone for four days, it would be a LOT less stressful for your snakes to leave them at home. make sure their temps are good, they have fresh water, and go on your trip. I don't see how you could keep these snakes in motion for that long and not cause them stress. even in a car, if they're in a pillowcase or some type of tub... the snakes will be able to sense the car... the vibrations and movement.

Anytime you have to "sneak something in"... you should really re-think and re-evalualte your decisions.

Sorry if my replies sound harsh, but it just seems like a lot of un-needed stress on the animal.

I think Bbrazee is moving, not traveling right??

If possible, it would be much less stressful to have them shipped to your new destination instead of taking them on the road, but of course that would require having another enclosure for each while you move their regular cages across country. Or if you know someone who has empty rack space and would be willing to ship out when you arrive and get settled.

If you do have to take them, It is going to be stressful for them, I wouldn't feed them for a while. You would have to set up a tub/tank every night for them and dial in temps daily. I don't really know how to make that easy lol sorry I'm not much help.


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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

If you're only going to be gone for four days, it would be a LOT less stressful for your snakes to leave them at home.

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They are moving/relocating, not vacationing.

OP can find pet-friendly hotels.

While in the car secure each into its own bag which goes into its own latch-box tub (they have secure lids). If you have to get a long tub buy some non-stretchy nylon luggage straps to secure the tub lid to the tub, they're like $7 a pair at WalMart or Target. Don't plan on stopping more than a few minutes for people pee-breaks or to get take-out food, you don't want the car cooling off so your snakes get cold.

The latchbox transport tubs can become overnight housing, just slide a UTH regulated by a thermostat under each one. Line the tub with newspaper and provide a water dish and a hide so they can spend the night in relative comfort.

Since given your other thread one of your snakes is sick and the other is likely to be, look now for a vet in your new location in case the stress of moving causes the RI to flare back up.

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Originally Posted by LittleTreeGuy

If you're only going to be gone for four days, it would be a LOT less stressful for your snakes to leave them at home. make sure their temps are good, they have fresh water, and go on your trip. I don't see how you could keep these snakes in motion for that long and not cause them stress. even in a car, if they're in a pillowcase or some type of tub... the snakes will be able to sense the car... the vibrations and movement.

Anytime you have to "sneak something in"... you should really re-think and re-evalualte your decisions.

Sorry if my replies sound harsh, but it just seems like a lot of un-needed stress on the animal.

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I'm an idiot... sorry.... I misread your first post. My apologies. It won't let me edit my first post... :( Again, sorry.

I'm MOVING. Is it a better option to leave them in the truck all night long with no heat? No, its not... come on now lol

Thank you, Whats a UTH? That was kind of my plan in the first place, but i wasnt quite sure on if it was a good one or not.

Yes, one of them has a RI, i'm taking him to the vet tonight. and crossing my fingers that my big girl doesn't get it too. I am taking precautionary measures for her at the moment so i hope it's successful.

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Originally Posted by Bbrazee

Whats a UTH?

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An Under Tank Heater. What do you currently use to provide heat for your snakes?

If there is currently no heat for your snakes, thats likely the cause of your snakes RI

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Originally Posted by CantHelpIt

thats likely the cause of your snakes RI

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I was working my way to your point, but we can't draw conclusions until more facts are in.

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Originally Posted by Slim

I was working my way to your point, but we can't draw conclusions until more facts are in.

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I understand, I was just trying to inform him that cold temps can cause RIs and they will need heat to get better

So I believe the cause for the RI was due to two things... one of our bulbs went out and hes still young so his immune system is building. So i think he has a weak immune system still and the bulb going out was what tipped him over the edge. Because our other one is just fine, but she's older and has a more established immune system. The vet said this and i actually agree with that. The bulb has been out for about 4 or 5 days,I know it worked last weekend on sunday because i cleaned their tank. I didn't realize it because its one of those blueish light bulbs, and we have a really bright red night bulb right next to it. The first thing i did this morning was go out and get all new bulbs, so that issue is fixed. They both have under the tank heating pads where their hides are as well.

We got him on antibiotics and i hope to see him getting better soon. I don't really like dogs or cats. I care about my snakes like most people love their dogs and cats, so a vet visit was no question, it was priority number one regardless of cost. I'm really glad we got him medicine! And it was reasonable in my opinion. $104 total. 45 for the visit, 58 for the meds. Money well spent!

Do you all think that it would be ok to put a regular heating pad (for humans) on LOW under their tank while we travel for our big move? We have an adapter for the car so we can plug it in like you would the wall. We are using the suggested clear totes that have locking handles and drilling holes in the top for air.

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Originally Posted by Slim

I was working my way to your point, but we can't draw conclusions until more facts are in.

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Hi, not sure if my last reply posted. I don't see it anywhere. So we took him to the vet, its a RI. He has gotten injection antibiotics, once every 72 hours and 5 injections total. So i think it is a combination of two things. Heat was a factor, i didn't realize that the basking bulb was out, there is a red night time bulb we keep on for extra heat at all times and it is quite bright. I cleaned the cage on Sunday so it must not have been out for too long. He's also pretty young still, so i dont think his immune system is completely built up, and with that and the light being out, it created the RI. The other snake doesn't have one, and the vet said she probably would have it by now considering they are housed together (not currently, until the other one is better) and she is not showing any signs or symptoms. She's also much older and has a more mature immune system. We sanitized both tanks, all the hides and water dishes. They also both have under the tank heating pads, and always have.

For the traveling, we have heating pads (for humans). we were thinking of using our adapter in the car and plugging it in and putting it on the LOW setting while we are traveling. Do you all think this would be a good idea, or no? We are going to use the suggested clear totes that lock on the handles and drill air holes in the top.

The problem wasn't caused by your snake's immune system. Believe that if you like, but you'll be settling for a to easy answer. Lack of heat and sub par husbandry was by far the most likely factor.

Unless the Vet did a culture on your second snake, he can't tell you with ANY certainty that it's not in the early stages of RI.

Speaking of cultures, did your Vet run a culture on your young snake? Based on your total vet bill, I'm guessing the answer is no. Without a culture, your Vet is shooting in the dark when choosing the antibiotic. Let me guess, your Vet is using Baytril, right?

Lastly, if your under hide heat pads aren't regulated with a thermostat, please get one. And, please find a way to permanently house your snakes in separate enclosures.

No, we did not get Baytril, yes, we did get a culture done. We got a military discount, which is why we got a break on our bill. Not that the cost of that matters in the proper care of a vet visit.

Actually it does make sense. Both snakes were housed together, thus they were both exposed to the same things, at the same times. Similar to a common cold in a human. Say you have two kids, a wife and husband in one home. Both kids, which are younger than the adults get the cold, kid A gave it to kid B. Low and behold dad gets the cold, but although mom and dad share a bed(habitat), mom doesn't get it. She may have been exposed to it before and had it, she may have a stronger immune system, thus she doesn't get the cold.

Considering our other snake is not showing signs or symptoms (even today two days later from discovering the RI in the other), and the one that is, is in the advanced stages of the RI, meaning its been there for awhile, our big snake was exposed and it was not noticed, the chances are she will be OK. Obviously i am taking precautionary measures and watching her. I'm failing to see what this all has to do with traveling advice, which is what this post is referring to?

Yes they have thermostat regulators, yes they have light timers, yes their tanks are cleaned and their water dishes are sanitized once a week, yes i spot clean, yes i change bedding every 2-3 months. Yes i am human and may not have seen a burnt out bulb, but fixed it the second i saw it was out. I did the right thing by my snake and sought help. Housing the snakes together is a matter of personal opinion and preference. None of which i inquired about on this post. They have been housed together for nearly 2 years and this is the one and only issue that we have ever had. They eat regularly, do not show signs of stress, regular bowel and urination movements, etc. With that said, they will continue to be housed together, because they are our snakes and its our choice to do so. Again, I wasn't asking for housing advice, i was asking for traveling advice.

Good luck and Godspeed :gj:

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Originally Posted by Slim

Good luck and Godspeed :gj:

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Thanks.

A heat pad for humans is not a good idea as even the lowest setting of most is still way beyond reasonable for your snakes .... Probably the best route to go would be to order some of the shipping heat packs from shipyourreptiles.com .... They come in several different lengths of time they last, 72 hours I believe being the longest ... I have a local reptile shop that sells the 40hr packs for $1 each, but to my understanding most places don't carry them so you will probably have to order them. You should not try and substitute the hot hands hand warmers for humans as they get to hot and I believe they also let off gases that might not be safe for your snakes in an enclosed environment. I am prior military myself, are you going east coast to west coast? If you are currently stationed in Virginia Beach area let me know and I can give you the info of the reptile shop so you can pick a couple up. Hope this helps and good travels :gj:

I'm simply curious, not trying to offend, but if you have a male and a female housed together happily and stress free for two years would you not end up with eggs?

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

There is a lot of issues here and adding the stress of a long trip is not gonna help.

I would have those animals shipped overnight once you get settled into your new place.





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