shipping question? re: heat packs

[AK4900PA]

I sold my 1.1 pair of het pieds to sweety314 and will be shipping them out to her next week. My question is regarding how many heat packs you guys/gals would recommend putting in the box with them. I'm using an insulated shipping box (12"x12"x10" with 1/2" foam) and they will each be in individual deli cups surrounded by packing peanuts. They are going from PA to OR overnight and the high temps are around 60 with lows around 40 in both areas.

I was thinking I'd use 3 40 hour heat packs, two on bottom one on top and open one of them 10 hours or so before they are packed up so that it is already nice and warm while the others start warming up. Does this sound good?

[LadyOhh]

Depending on the temps coming and going, that actually may be overkill. Keep in mind that each of those heat packs can get to 110 degrees F, if not more. If you put three in, that will be VERY HOT and also will use up a lot of the oxygen in the box.

I would stick with two or one...

[PythonWallace]

Tape a heat pack to the inside lid of the foam box so the snakes aren't directly touching it. One should be enough for the trip. If you put them on the bottom the snakes would probably get burned.

[AK4900PA]

I guess I'll do two then. As stated above the nighttime temps will be in the low 40's. The snakes will be stacked on top of each other in the box so would you put one heat pack on top and one on the bottom, both on bottom, or on opposite sides of the box. I'm thinking that the sides would probably allow for a more equal heat distribution between the two.

[AK4900PA]

Tape a heat pack to the inside lid of the foam box so the snakes aren't directly touching it. One should be enough for the trip. If you put them on the bottom the snakes would probably get burned.

You really think one is enough for a cross country trip with 40 degreed lows? Doesn't seem like much for the temps. Of course if I knew anything, I wouldn't be on here asking you guys.

[PythonWallace]

I would probably do the sides then, as long as there are peanuts arong the snakes to keep them from touching the packs.

[Spaniard]

I guess I'll do two then. As stated above the nighttime temps will be in the low 40's. The snakes will be stacked on top of each other in the box so would you put one heat pack on top and one on the bottom, both on bottom, or on opposite sides of the box. I'm thinking that the sides would probably allow for a more equal heat distribution between the two.

I gets pretty stuffy in those delivery trucks...I've had snakes shipped in October to me in colder weather with just one heat pack. Remember a snake exposed to colder temps will survive longer than one exposed to too much heat. So I'd rather it be too cold than too hot IMO.

[coldbloodaddict]

If you are stacking them on each other, tape one heat pack to the left or right side of the box and put the snakes in the middle of the box...

I rest the heat pack on the floor then tape it to the side of the box at the top of the heat pack...This way the tape is not holding all the weight of the heat pack...You don't want to cover much of the heat pack with tape, it needs to breathe to heat...

Good Luck!

[jamesw]

3 would kill them, i would only use one, its a 40 hour pack, and a 24 hour trip so it will last, and like said above cooler is better than too hot.

[PythonWallace]

I received 4 BPs over the winter when the temps were 32-42. All of them were packed with one heat pack and were warm and healthy when they arrived, except for my albino. He was shipped in the 30's with a dead handwarmer heat pack, no styrofoam and was freezing when I got him. I was furious the seller would do something like that, but I slowly warmed him up in my hands and he seamed fine within a couple of hours. He even ate for me the next night.