HEAT ADVISORIES
With Heat Advisories in effect across much of the United States—including major FedEx hubs—we strongly recommend postponing all live animal shipments until temperatures return to safer levels (<95℉). We HIGHLY recommend HOLD AT LOCATIONS if you must ship. The health and safety of your animals should always come first. It’s always better to delay shipping than to risk the health of your animal.
Shipping Guidelines
Things Typically Required to Properly Ship Your Reptiles
- Insulated Shipping Box with foam insulation (3/4" thick insulation is highly recommended).
- Deli Cups and/or Cotton Reptile Bags.
- Heat Pack or Cold Pack.
- Fill material (crumpled newspaper, paper towels, foam peanuts, etc).
- Packing tape
- Sharpie type marker
- Any Care Sheets you may want to provide to your customers.
- A Reptiles2You FedEx shipping label!
Live Reptile Shipping Temperature Guidelines
These are general temperature tolerance guidelines.
You should research specific
information for the species that you plan to ship and adjust accordingly.
| Tempurature | Guidelines |
|---|---|
| 40°F and below | We recommend shipping be delayed until warmer weather if it at all possible - it is very risky to ship live animals in cold weather! |
| 40-70°F | Use a heat pack (40 hour or longer suggested). |
| 70-80°F | No Heat Pack or Cold Pack typically required. |
| 80-90°F | Use a Cold Pack (our Phase 22 is highly recommended) or Thermafreeze Cold Cell. Shipping HAL (Hold at Location) to have your shipment held for pickup at a FedEx facility is also strongly advised. |
| 90°F and Above | We recommend shipping be delayed until cooler weather if at all possible. |
Live Reptile Packaging Guidelines
Approved Packaging: Reptiles2You has developed special packaging (boxes, foam, cups, bags, etc) that has been tested and approved by FedEx labs and is available for purchase on Seller's website. Buyer understands and acknowledges that Carrier approves the shipping of items through the Services ONLY in said packaging, and Buyer agrees to use only said Approved Packaging for all shipments through the Services. Said packaging is designed to maximize the integrity of your shipments (strength of boxes, etc), and to make packages easily recognizable if they need to be located by Carrier personnel (in the event of any delays, etc.) Buyer understands and acknowledges that any shipments shipped through the Service NOT in said Approved Packaging may not be eligible for any recourse whatsoever in the event of any problems or damages (including but not limited to lost packages, crushed boxes, damaged contents, etc).
Assemble your shipping box
- Open box and fold the bottom flaps of the box in.
- Tape the bottom of the box in a “H” pattern covering all seams/edges of cardboard.
- Insert the styrofoam insulation (all but the top piece of course!) Insert the bottom panel first, then the side panels.
- Ventilate the shipping box (with a screw driver or something similar, carefully poke a few holes in each side of your shipping box (be sure holes go all the way through the styrofoam insulation)).
Prepare Deli Cup or Cotton Bag
Using Deli Cup
- Place a piece of paper towel or liner inside the deli cup.
- Place your reptile inside deli cup and snap lid in place.
- Place tape around edge of cup to insure there will be no escapes (careful not to cover air holes in the side of the cups!).
- Label the top of the cup with the animal's common name, scientific name and the quantity.
Using Cotton Bag
- Place some strips of newspaper or paper towels inside the bag to cushion the animal.
- Place your reptile inside the bag.
- SECURE THE BAG using the bag's tie-strings or tie the top of the bag in a knot (add a zip tie for extra security if desired - be sure your bag is secured properly!).
- Label the bag with the common name, scientific name and quantity of animals.
Place Deli Cup or Cotton Bag into Shipping Box
Using Deli Cup
- Place deli cup into bottom of box, surround with cushioning material (shredder paper, foam peanuts, etc).
- If shipping multiple cups, stack them one on top of the other (largest ones on bottom, smaller ones on top).
Using Cotton Bag
- Place cushioning material (shredder paper, foam peanuts, etc) in a nest-like shape in bottom of the box.
- Place your cotton bag into the nest.
Temperature Regulation (Heat Pack or Cold Pack)
Reptiles and amphibians are ectotherms (they derive heat from their environment rather than producing it internally), so it is very important to maintain an appropriate temperature range within their shipping container.
When considering temperature requirements, consider the temps (highs & lows) not only at your location, but also at the major FedEx hubs (usually Memphis, TN or Indianapolis, IN) and at the destination location as well.
Heat Packs
A good heat pack is soft and pliable, not firm. If a heat pack feels hard or firm, it has likely been activated and will not get hot again - do not use it.
- Reptiles2You offers heat packs in "regular" and and "extended" versions (typically 40 hr is considered "regular", and 60 or 72 hour is "extended (what we offer can change based on availability)). Reptiles and amphibians should always be shipped Priority Overnight (next MORNING delivery), so a 40 hour heat pack is normally adequate. Do NOT use the "hand warmers" typically found at outdoor stores - they get too hot too fast, and don't last very long (usually 12 hours or less).
- Place your reptile inside the bag.
- SECURE THE BAG using the bag's tie-strings or tie the top of the bag in a knot (add a zip tie for extra security if desired - be sure your bag is secured properly!).
- Label the bag with the common name, scientific name and quantity of animals.