Emergency travel with BP

[Quarks]

Our AC broke this week and without it the inside of our apartment is likely to reach a temp of over 110 degrees this weekend during the record heatwave. Long story short I'm going to be finding a place to stay tomorrow morning as soon as I can and staying there for four days until the heat wave is over. What should I bring for my BP? I cannot bring the tank and will have to use what I can for transport and care. There's a chance I might have to smuggle him into a hotel. As of now my plan: is to put him in an opaque plastic tub with a water dish, (and a hide if I can fit one in) and to bring along his heating pad and thermostat. (I will bring my heat gun to check surface temp)

The poor guy is hungry but since he was suddenly put in an unfamiliar place today and picked up/jostled around repeatedly, (as we figured out how to provide cooling to him outside of his enclosure) I've decided not to try and feed him until next week. (Also I imagine he's uncomfortable from suffering through a few hours of temps in the 90s today, yikes.) Right now he's in a secure cup along with some wet paper towels for humidity.

Any advice about making a temporary enclosure for travel/traveling, and what he'll need? I really won't have the time for anything other than the essentials because we're getting out of here asap tomorrow, but want to make sure I've got those covered.

[KMG]

I would just use a tub with secure lid and towels. The towels will work as hides and will not hurt the snake when moving it around. Once you get a room add a bowl of water. The tstat and uth can work as could a lamp with a dimmer. I would prefer the lamp because it would do more for ambient temps while the uth will not. But use what you have.

[bcr229]

Exactly the above. Since you won't be feeding there's little likelihood that he will try to eat the towels. He can burrow in them as hides.

If the latches for the tub lid don't hold it on very securely I would suggest getting some non-elastic nylon straps, like used for luggage or camping, to make sure your snake doesn't manage to push it up an escape.

[Bogertophis]

For travel safety, put your snake (either in a cloth bag or in the tub as described ^ IF it will fit) into an ice chest. This will protect your snake from excessive sun in your vehicle during a trip of any length & keep his temperatures stable, not to mention the fact that if you want to stay in a motel, this will merely appear to be food snacks, not snakes, that you brought with you.

Been there, & done this...motels/hotels haven't got a clue. Paid pet deposit for my (very obvious-) dog, but they had NO idea that I had a bunch of snakes with me, lol. (moved halfway across country some years ago) And having a well-insulated ice chest on hand is just never a bad investment, ok? Snakes are good travelers this way, & each night in the room, I visited with them briefly & offered water. They were just fine & mostly slept thru the trip- they felt safe.

[KMG]

A few of the coolers I have are airtight so be careful if you take that suggestion. I've never done more than a tub to travel. Never had a reason to do more.

If you do I would open the drain and leave it that way. That just makes me nervous.

[Bogertophis]

A few of the coolers I have are airtight so be careful if you take that suggestion. I've never done more than a tub to travel. Never had a reason to do more.

If you do I would open the drain and leave it that way. That just makes me nervous.

Apart from drilling an air hole, one easy way -so you don't forget to open it occasionally- & btw, the hours would depend on how many snakes there are & how big the cooler is - Anyway, as I was saying, one easy way is to put a small wad of tape in the opening of the cooler so it doesn't quite shut tight.

Another caution if you travel with a snake in a bag or tub only (without them also being in an insulated "cooler"): I know of someone from a previous forum, some years ago, that bagged up their favorite boa & put it under the driver's seat for a several hour trip in their truck. Unfortunately, the truck's floor conducted the heat from the engine & from the road much better than the owner realized- & since snakes cannot call out in distress, his beautiful pet died from heat stroke, in silence & right next to him, only unseen. It broke his heart & it still breaks mine to think how preventable this was.

Whether it's heat from the floor, or sun* streaming in thru the windows onto a container, please never under-estimate the need to protect your snakes when traveling. You could have a vehicle break-down at any time, leaving your vehicle without heat in winter or without A/C in summer heat- either one can be deadly for an unprotected snake. Please use either an "ice chest/aka cooler" or a thick styro-foam box (you can poke an air-hole in those very easily, & you might find them cheaply for sale in thrift stores). *When it comes to the sun, remember that you might start your trip with the container sitting in shade, but that changes all the time with the time of day & your direction of travel- don't rely on the shade to remain where it was, & it's so easy to get distracted on a lengthy trip.

[KMG]

Apart from drilling an air hole, one easy way -so you don't forget to open it occasionally- & btw, the hours would depend on how many snakes there are & how big the cooler is - Anyway, as I was saying, one easy way is to put a small wad of tape in the opening of the cooler so it doesn't quite shut tight.

Another caution if you travel with a snake in a bag or tub only (without them also being in an insulated "cooler"): I know of someone from a previous forum, some years ago, that bagged up their favorite boa & put it under the driver's seat for a several hour trip in their truck. Unfortunately, the truck's floor conducted the heat from the engine & from the road much better than the owner realized- & since snakes cannot call out in distress, his beautiful pet died from heat stroke, in silence & right next to him, only unseen. It broke his heart & it still breaks mine to think how preventable this was.

Whether it's heat from the floor, or sun streaming in thru the windows onto a container, please never under-estimate the need to protect your snakes when traveling. You could have a vehicle break-down at any time, leaving you without heat in winter or without A/C in summer heat- either one can be deadly for an unprotected snake. Please use either an "ice chest/aka cooler" or a thick styro-foam box (you can poke an air-hole in those very easily, & you might find them cheaply for sale in thrift stores).

Seems like the airhole and tape should have been mentioned in the first post suggesting a cooler. Failing to do so could really set a person up for tragedy.

I'm just not a fan and don't see the need for a cooler. Especially in this situation. They're going nearby.... Not cross country. Why complicate things?

Putting a tub on the rear floor of my truck or seatbelted in the seat has worked great but I do have tinted windows and a plethora of common sense. I guess not having either it could be an issue. I would never put a snake under a seat in a bag.... That's no common sense in my book. I like to keep the snake where it can be seen and monitored.

[Bogertophis]

...I'm just not a fan and don't see the need for a cooler. Especially in this situation. They're going nearby.... Not cross country. Why complicate things?...

Because of the heat- for safety: Look, no one PLANS for their vehicle to break down, & traffic accidents can snarl up what should have been a short trip also, so even a short trip can be deadly. When it's so cheap & easy to prevent, why risk it?

[KMG]

Because of the heat- for safety: Look, no one PLANS for their vehicle to break down, & traffic accidents can snarl up what should have been a short trip also, so even a short trip can be deadly. When it's so cheap & easy to prevent, why risk it?

Go put a cooler in the sun and tell me what temps it reaches inside. Unless it's electric....I have one of those. Very nice to have!

As to nobody plans on breaking down. I do. I have road side assistance, a full tool kit, jumper cables, jump box, recovery boards, snatch blocks, snatch straps, tow ropes, tire repair kits, shovel, jack, knife, hatchet, and on and on.

Plus this isn't the 1950s. If you have a cell phone you should be able to get some help. Be that a tow or a ride. Uber to your destination while your car is towed to the shop.

I'm all for planning but I'm just not seeing the value in putting a snake in a cooler. I don't care if you do.... Or anybody else does.... As long as they know the risks. I just thought it important that the possible hazard of it be mentioned. That is all. Not trying to get into a debate with you or hurt anybody's feelings.

[Bogertophis]

Seems like the airhole and tape should have been mentioned in the first post suggesting a cooler. Failing to do so could really set a person up for tragedy.

I'm just not a fan and don't see the need for a cooler. Especially in this situation. They're going nearby.... Not cross country. Why complicate things? ...

FYI, putting one or a couple (like 3 adults) bagged snakes into a large cooler is quite safe in terms of air- for hours. I know because I've done it during an ice storm- I opened the coolers part-way & briefly after about 4 hours, & again when I changed the hot water bottles every 8-9 hours. Therefore, "it" was not mentioned in my first post because they were "going nearby...not cross country".

When snakes are professionally air-shipped in styro-foam boxes, they don't always have any air-holes in those boxes...just fyi. And they tend to arrive safely. But personally, I do prefer to "error on the side of caution".

...Not trying to get into a debate with you or hurt anybody's feelings.

Really? Well, you sure had me fooled. Have a nice day.