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How to ship reptiles the right way, even if it is wrong. (part 1)
How to Successfully Ship a Reptile by David Weymouth of Mountainkings.com
Don't you just hate the fact that none of the major shippers allow you to ship "live reptiles" legitimately? Based on some of the packages I've received over the years, it's no surprise to me why they have the policies they do. I often wondered if these breeders simply didn't care about the snakes they had bred and then sold (to me) or if they were just plain stupid. So, let's assume that you care as much as I do about the snakes you have bred and you want them to arrive alive. Well, this is your guide to making that happen. It has never failed me, even when the delivery date was missed by 24 hours. Here's how you do it: Start with 1 inch thick high density foam board insulation (which must be cut to fit your box). Home Depot has two types/brands that both have high R-values. Purchase a new flat cardboard box, I generally use a 10 by 10 by 10 square box. Because this is what I usually use, my cuts are almost always the same. I need 2 pieces for the top and bottom that are 10 inches by 10 inches. For the side walls, I cut four pieces that are 8 inches tall by 9 inches long. The box lid gets additional cuts at each corner and along the interior edges to create fresh air vents for the snakes inside.
The next step involves the containers that both protect the snake and prevent it's escape. I purchase everything else (except for the electrical tape and the paper towels) listed in this article from Superior Enterprises online. These guys have it all and I highly recommend them--excellent customer service and a broad range of product to choose from. I start with small 8 or 16 oz. Fabrical containers (the air holes are already there) and the matching lids. Baby and juvenile Kingsnakes fit perfectly in containers of this size. I then cut the paper towels to fit and I try to avoid covering any air holes. I then cut a square piece of paper towel that is roughly 8 inches by 8 inches. I roll it tightly from one pointed corner to the other and wrap the middle with scotch tape to create "the snake hammock," an excellent idea I borrowed from another breeder.
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