I have a few moving ?'s

[sgt.slithers]

OK. I have never had to move my snakes before.I have two balls... I am moving in 3 weeks and had a couple questions! I'll try to keep 'em short and sweet...
1. I want my tank set-up (temps,humidity,etc.) to be right but where can I put the snakes for a day to get things right?
2.Any special way to transport them safely or just leave them in the tanks?
3. It's time for full cage cleaning should i do it right before the move or wait a few days after the move?day of the move?
4.I like having them in a room with low traffic area so should I move them after everything else and keep a light sheet over them so they don't stress out to much for the first hectic couple days of the move in?
Any extra advice will be welcomed with open arms! thanks!!!!

<-----hahahaha i just like the dancing banana!

[irishanaconda]

i moved 1000 miles away with a few of my bps. i had steralite tubs with latches and holes in the lid, and i put them in a few snake bags and stuck them in the tubs. i had to make sure they did not get too cool or hot so i stuck them in the cab of the uhaul with me. when i got to my destination i left them in the tubs and set up my racks... pretty basic really. how many snakes do u have to move and how far i guess are my main questions.

[frankykeno]

I've moved 40 snakes recently and they all did fine.

I'd put both snakes in seperate snake bags (pillowcases work fine). Make sure the bags are both tied and then twist/fold the top again and secure with a thick rubber band. Place them in a secure ventilated container (if it's big enough just put both of them in it). Make sure they are with you in the front of the truck. Don't feed them the week of the move so you are moving them "empty".

Make sure their enclosures go on the truck last with all accessories inside the enclosures (stuff gets so easily lost during a move). If they are glass enclosures pad them extremely well. Clean the enclosures prior to the move.

Once you are at the new place, place the snakes still in their bags into their secure empty enclosures in a quiet spot out of direct sunlight or colder breezes. As soon as you can get their enclosures up and running. The snakes will do just fine in their bags for 24 hours while you get that done. Snakes shipping all the time in snake bags for that time period and suffer no harm.

Once they are back in their homes with fresh water leave them be for a week to settle in then go back to your normal feeding and handling routines with them.

[rabernet]

I've moved 40 snakes recently and they all did fine.

I'd put both snakes in seperate snake bags (pillowcases work fine). Make sure the bags are both tied and then twist/fold the top again and secure with a thick rubber band. Place them in a secure ventilated container (if it's big enough just put both of them in it). Make sure they are with you in the front of the truck. Don't feed them the week of the move so you are moving them "empty".

Make sure their enclosures go on the truck last with all accessories inside the enclosures (stuff gets so easily lost during a move). If they are glass enclosures pad them extremely well. Clean the enclosures prior to the move.

Once you are at the new place, place the snakes still in their bags into their secure empty enclosures in a quiet spot out of direct sunlight or colder breezes. As soon as you can get their enclosures up and running. The snakes will do just fine in their bags for 24 hours while you get that done. Snakes shipping all the time in snake bags for that time period and suffer no harm.

Once they are back in their homes with fresh water leave them be for a week to settle in then go back to your normal feeding and handling routines with them.

Great information Jo! Also, Jamie posted recently about an experience that he had - do NOT put the snakes on the floor of the vehicle - there is excessive heat that is generated that comes through the floor and he lost 2 snakes to over-heating as a result. I'll see if I can't find that thread.

Edit - 2nd paragraph he talks about it - I had heard that from Tim Bailey as well, from someone who had snakes on the floor board behind their seat that also overheated:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=95852

[bads15]

the exhaust runs under the car and gets hot enough to burn anything. especially on a long drive. the other problem would be the vibration. you might not notice it with your shoes on but there will be a harmonic vibration that could seriously stress them out.
it's a good idea to keep them off the floor.

[frankykeno]

Very good points there Robin. The other thing to remember when you are transporting any caged animal is that the heat coming into the car through the windows can build up incredibly high and fast so make sure the transport enclosures are kept shaded at all times.

[sgt.slithers]

Thanks for all the info!!! Irish, I have two ball pythons and I am moving to the other side of Baton Rouge. It is prob about a 30 min. drive. I will keep ya'll posted on how the move goes and i am having my first "photo shoot" with my two little guys so I will get some pics up soon!!!

[SatanicIntention]

Hopefully you have another enclosure for that second Ball. What I read was snakes plural and enclosure singular.

Get them separated and you'll find that they thrive, relax and eat better.

[sgt.slithers]

sorry. yes they are def in separate tanks!