Crested Car Travel?

LRA919 · #1 12-28-2011, 10:38 PM

I have a crested gecko that I need to travel with, by car, about 3 hours away in a couple weeks. I have a small sterilite box with a latching lid that I'm going to poke some small holes in for air and put paper towels in. I rarely stop for any length of time on this trip (to/from college), so he won't be left in the cold, and will be set up immediately in a tank once there.

I'm just looking for an opinion of whether this seems safe, and if there's anything else I should think about to make him/her more comfortable for the ride?

Hannibal · #2 12-29-2011, 12:19 PM

Your crestie should be fine in the car with you for that duration; if you were to leave him/her alone in the car/cold for any long durations of time a small heat pack could be used. But with what you described above, he/she would be fine without a heat pack.

**Riverside Reptiles** · #3 12-29-2011, 12:33 PM

Shouldn't be a problem.

LRA919 · #4 12-29-2011, 02:55 PM

Whew! Thanks guys

**Elizabeth Freer** · #5 12-30-2011, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LRA919

I have a crested gecko that I need to travel with, by car, about 3 hours away in a couple weeks. I have a small sterilite box with a latching lid that I'm going to poke some small holes in for air and put paper towels in. I rarely stop for any length of time on this trip (to/from college), so he won't be left in the cold, and will be set up immediately in a tank once there.

I'm just looking for an opinion of whether this seems safe, and if there's anything else I should think about to make him/her more comfortable for the ride?

If there is any chance that your crestie might be exposed to cooler temps than a heated car for any time at all, I'd be sure to get some 40+ hour heat packs. Heat packs come in sizes all the way up to 72 hours. Never know when the car might have a problem, someone else's accident, traffic. Will it be snowy out or mild? (Fair question this time of year?)

There are insulated tote bags one can buy to keep things cold/hot or styrofoam coolers which would contain heat. I have several tote bags l use if traveling via bus to the vet's. Place a heat pack inside, a digital thermometer, and then the critter in a perforated deli cup.

LRA919 · #6 12-30-2011, 09:33 AM

I've got some of those break and shake hand/feet heaters. I suppose putting those in a small cooler with the container might be helpful, just in case!

lauraleellbp · #7 12-30-2011, 12:17 PM

Styrofoam coolers are cheap and can work well.

I'd personally put the travel box inside one of those. As long as he's not being exposed to extreme temps, he should be fine.

You need to be careful with heat packs- some of them can raise temps too high, and you need to make sure that if you use one, you wrap it in a towel or newspaper or something similar to make sure that the gecko's enclosure does not come into direct contact with it. Cresties are much more prone to overheating than diurnal gecko species would be.

**Riverside Reptiles** · #8 12-30-2011, 12:29 PM

I wouldn't use a heat pack unless you were in an emergency situation that required heating. Do remember that cresties are cooler temp herps. If the temp in the car is ok for you, it's ok for a crestie too most likely. You don't want to cook the poor thing.

**Elizabeth Freer** · #9 12-30-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverside Reptiles

I wouldn't use a heat pack unless you were in an emergency situation that required heating. Do remember that cresties are cooler temp herps. If the temp in the car is ok for you, it's ok for a crestie too most likely. You don't want to cook the poor thing.

Definitely, only use heat packs in an emergency situation! As Ethan has suggested, normal heated car temps should be ideal for crestie travel temps

.

Those hand and feet warmers might get hotter than "normal" reptile heat packs. Wish I knew someone who might have just a couple "regular" heat packs for you. Those are the ones that many industries, including the reptile industry, use for shipping. Often you can buy just a few at reptile shows. Any shows in your area before you return to college? Even with the "normal" heat packs, if you need to use them, I would wrap them in paper like in newspaper or brown paper bags or in something like a washcloth to moderate the output. That is one reason I have suggested monitoring the temps with a digital thermometer. Seems like during the first few hours of use the heat packs put out more heat than in the later hours.

Inexpensive, picnic-type, styro coolers can be purchased at stores. (Guess we are a bit off season for picnics

) They are made from the very same styrofoam which insulates shipping boxes for our beloved critters.

LRA919 · #10 01-08-2012, 09:00 PM

Hopefully I won't have any need for those packs! I'll take them along just in case.

What I'm mostly concerned about now is the stress level. As of now, my gecko isn't one to be stressed easily (handles well, eats easily, doesn't even mind being - supervised! - around my cat), but I'm worried that a car trip will make him unsettled. He won't be rolling around or anything, but is this a huge concern with anyone?