Moving

Hey guys. Cody and I are going to be moving back to CA in a few months. I want to get your opinion on how best to move with DD. I know that it would be a very bad idea to pack him in the truck, so obviously I am not doing that. But I was hoping to find a way to ship him back to CA to a friend that will have a set up ready for him as soon as he arrives. How can I ship just one snake? DD is already over four feet, and I don't know his weight. Any recomendations?

Eep! Moving? *runs and hides under the bed* I HATE moving. Of course, I seem to do a lot of it though. Bleh. (I hope the move goes smooth for you)

If you want to ship him you may want to contact some of the members that do a lot of shipping. *clears throat* I know you'll need a box lined with styrofoam (or other insulation), something to absorb the shock of transportation, a snake bag and a heat pack. Are you guys driving or flying home?

The problem with shipping snakes is you need to be certified with fedex (or whichever service you plan to use)

Perhaps find if there's someone nearby to you that is certified that would be willing to ship for you.

I can't stay long enough to type out my experiences moving with a snake (I've done it twice so far) but tomorrow morning I will. :) G'night!

Still trying to figure out all the details of the move, not actually moving until June (school's out June 6th here). We will be flying most likely as my car wouldn't make a cross country trip, and most of my stuff isn't worth moving across counrty (mostly hand me down furniture and such). My kitchen & both of our bedroom furniture will be on an 18 wheeler that I have rented a few feet of space on, so far that is the cheepest option I could find. It will be nice to be close to family again, they are all in Northern CA.

Is there anyone on the forum in the Chicagoland area that is certified Fed Ex that would be willing to ship DD for me for a fee?

Thanks Judy, I'll look for your post tomorrow.

You know.. I am in the process of becoming fedex certified. All I have to do is send the test package and they'll approve it.. I'll try to do it next week.

I don't have experience with shipping yet.. but there's a wealth of information here I'm sure I can ship a snake safely. Perhaps that would work?

I would love that April. It would be nice to know that DD was in good hands (shipping wise) and that this is one more thing that I can mark off the list.

Alright I'll see what I can do. I just hope the boxes that I'm getting approved with would fit a big BP. We'll have to see.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

You know.. I am in the process of becoming fedex certified. All I have to do is send the test package and they'll approve it.. I'll try to do it next week.

I don't have experience with shipping yet.. but there's a wealth of information here I'm sure I can ship a snake safely. Perhaps that would work?

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These forums rock - you guys are all so cool. =)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shelby

You know.. I am in the process of becoming fedex certified. All I have to do is send the test package and they'll approve it.. I'll try to do it next week.

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Sounds like you are about in the same place that I am. I have tried to get in touch with the package inspection office several times just to make sure that my package will meet the needed requirements before I ship.....all I get are those awful automated messages....If I get in touch with them today my package is ready to go(if it meets the requirements).....and my fedex sales team :) said that they can process the paperwork as soon as the results from the test packaging come back...so....almost there ;)

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!

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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.