Pozer Pics

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I live in Durand Michigan. I dont even know where to go to check or anything. See even if it was 40total I couldnt do that right this sec. And thats bothers me cause I have food for the snakies all the time and an encloser and everything. It just sux knowing that itll cost that I couldnt do it then. Im gonna try but I hope its still less. Ill prob see if Shannon can check it out so that I know. This is sad knowing I might not be able to do this. Fingers crossed. Maybe cause my bday is Dec.1 i can ask family to do it for an early bday gift. I dont know though what they would say. I hope I hope I hope. Fingers crossed that this can happen.

[ConcinusMan]

I was pricing with fed-ex. They are the only company that will ship knowingly reptiles

Not true. I've received numerous USPS express mail (overnight (in most cases) US MAIL) packages clearly marked "LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE" and you're also missing some very important details. You must be a certified reptile shipper before fedex will ship any live reptiles for you. Not sure what that involves, but when I heard that, and saw their extremely high pricing, I heard enough.

Also, it doesn't freaking matter if you're shipping a live reptile through USPS or not. They don't give a darn what you are shipping as long as you can answer "NO" to the questions they ask

Anything perishable (they mean food), liquid, potentially hazardous, etc.. etc..

Other than that, they don't even need to know what's in it. You can choose to tell them it's fragile, but from what I've seen, they don't treat it any differently.

Quite simply, pack them right, don't even tell them what's in it, and use USPS express mail. it's as simple as that.

There are lots of do's and dont's but I really don't have time to go through all of them here. You do need to check the weather, mainly at the destination zip, and check to see what the transit time will be. Sometimes express mail can't do it one day, especially to some rural locations.

In any case get yourself some sheets of 1-inch thick styrofoam insulation from a home improvement/construction supply store such as Lowes, home depot, etc. that kind of store. Cut the pieces so they line your box nice and tight.

As long as it's insulated properly like I described, snakes are packed rather tight so they don't get bounced around, I have shipped in 40 degree weather, on up to over 100 degrees.

Only 1 fatality ever occurred and that was the one time I used Fedex (again, I didn't tell them what I was shipping. If it's not hazardous, it's none of their damn business) instead of USPS. But it wasn't the shipper's fault. Baby snake got his head somehow wedged between the lid and container I had him in.

Maybe Jason or someone else that has recently recieved snakes from me will be kind enough to describe how I packed, or show pics of how to pack them. No matter what carrier you use, it's all in how they are packed and insulated, as to whether or not they survive the trip.

I just wish I had time to write an all out guide with pics and all that to show "newbies" how to ship. I've had a very good shipping record. perhaps hundreds of boxes and/or snakes. All but one baby arrived safe and sound.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

WOW i wish u could write that book too. So when U first started shipping where did u get ur info on how to do it.

Please please please someone put pics of those hes sent to u.
Hubby andd I were talking and I could make the box up send it to shannon and have her send it back and it would cost ALOT less. Could I use a box that is about 6x6 . One of those flat rate boxes that cost around $5 to send. So I could ship the box with the money in it and of course all packing stuff inside like it has to be done. So she would just have to open ,put snake in, close and ship off .Then shannon could send it back for the same amount. So it would cost me $10 shipping plus confermation (.77 each way) and then the price of the snake. Does that sound about right? Please tell me it does cause THAT I can do.

[ConcinusMan]

I didn't say I would write a book. A simple article in the wiki pages of the forum would do. This comes up so often, like the issue of what substrate to use, what foods to feed, etc... I'll try to get one started on how to ship. Some help from others with experience and some time to contribute to the article would help. I'm already working on getting it started. patience please.

[drache]

there are a couple of companies that buy bulk reptile shipping from fedex, and have better pricing, such as shipyourreptiles, or reptileexpress
to become a fedex certified reptile shipper, they want you to send a sample of your packaging to some main admin hub
shipping live reptiles through the USPS is illegal, and because they're a federal agency, it makes it a federal offense - remember mail fraud?
in addition to it being illegal, I was also informed that they will randomly x-ray packages with levels of radiation not deemed safe for live organisms, so I personally will not take that chance
shipping has gotten pricey, but let's not forget that we incur expenses with our animals along the way, and not being able to afford shipping now, may indicate that should the necessity ever arise, we may not be able to afford the vet either

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I havent decided who would get the first slug. Its a baby slug so Im able to feed this one whole. Im not sure who will get it but I will try and then take pics and let eveyone see what happens. Also this is the first thing that I have put in there with then that is whole and not cut up. I am interested in seeing what happens and with in an hour I am gonna try to see what happens.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

Hubby was at the store and I had him check at what kinds of fish that they have from the same company and the way its done s I can see about other choices for my babies.. Now I know that Talopia is ok and so is Salmon(they dont like that one) but they also have....Cod,Ocean Perch and Scallops. It all comes unseasoned and frozen already. so which of these are ok for my babies so that I can get some of the others to give them more of a variety other then the worms I give them already. I would like to get them tomorrow so hopefully I get some answers by then.

[guidofatherof5]

I would not buy anything frozen.
Buy it fresh and freeze it yourself.
Just my opinion.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

I bought the talopia already before and everyone said its ok. I dont have the money to buy fresh and thats why everyone said that it ok I guess as long as its not seasoned or anything. Its just the fish and thats it.

[guidofatherof5]

I just worry that pre-frozen has been processed in some way and that scares me.
Don't let babies fill up on it.
Maybe mix it with some worm chunks.