Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
#100---Shipping Tips for Geckos . . . . . . Elizabeth Freer -- July 2023 (update)
I use 72 hour UniHeat pads all the time to provide extra insurance in case geckos meet some delay.
I shipped 4 boxes in September/October 2013 using the 72 hours. All 7 geckos arrived in fine shape! In October 2014 I shipped 2.0 two year old Oedura castelnaui overnight via Reptiles Express. Both geckos arrived fine!
In October 2014 I enclosed a min-max Taylor digital thermometer inside the shipping box while I traveled to the FedEx Ship Center in Portland, Oregon. Maximum temperature when I opened the box to remove the digital thermometer was in the 80s F. That was 5 hours after activating the heat pack.
Tips
For link 145 click: Shipping Guidelines for Geckos . . . . . . Elizabeth Freer -- July 2023 (update)
I use 72 hour UniHeat pads all the time to provide extra insurance in case geckos meet some delay.
I shipped 4 boxes in September/October 2013 using the 72 hours. All 7 geckos arrived in fine shape! In October 2014 I shipped 2.0 two year old Oedura castelnaui overnight via Reptiles Express. Both geckos arrived fine!
In October 2014 I enclosed a min-max Taylor digital thermometer inside the shipping box while I traveled to the FedEx Ship Center in Portland, Oregon. Maximum temperature when I opened the box to remove the digital thermometer was in the 80s F. That was 5 hours after activating the heat pack.
Tips
- Departing & receiving temperatures between 55*F & 80*F. Check all potential hubs!
- In 2013 FedEx told me that on time delivery was their first priority. That means our geckos/boxes could be sent anywhere!
- Eliminate "unsupervised" ground transport as much as possible.
- Activate heat pack 6 hours prior to sealing the 12 x 9 x 6 inch box. This allows the heat pack to reach it's peak temperature prior to leveling off!
- Use small Phillips screwdriver to poke one small hole through both the styrofoam & cardboard on one side of box to provide airflow.
- Poke or solder ventilation holes around the sides of the plastic deli cup(s).
- Add paper towel strips to each deli cup for cushioning.
- Add gecko to deli cup.
- Place gecko(s) inside cardboard box with 3/4 inch thick styrofoam panels. (1/2 inch thick styrofoam panels ARE minimum!)
- Surround deli cup(s) with styrofoam packing peanuts to cushion it (them). Make sure your styrofoam peanuts don't dissolve in water.
- Loosely wrap heat pack with one layer of paper towels -- "like an envelope".
- Place the loosely wrapped heat pack several inches from the deli cup or between two deli cups.
- Add styrofoam packing peanuts on top. Close box.
- Tape top & bottom box flaps on both side edges with 1 strip of nylon-reinforced tape each rather than completing sealing off side flaps. That's 8 "side" tape strips for entire box.
- Seal top & bottom centers with Scotch Heavy Duty Shipping Tape.
- To allow a bit more ventilation, don't tape corners of box.
- Use a shipping facilitator like Reptiles2You. The shipping prices will be better. Debbie Price offers excellent customer service!
For link 145 click: Shipping Guidelines for Geckos . . . . . . Elizabeth Freer -- July 2023 (update)