Transporting reptiles.

[Dan1992]

Hey guys, sorry i havnt been very active recently ive had exams and the internet hasnt been working properly
Anyway, im going to houten on sunday, and needed advice on what to bring the reptiles back in. I think from the show total travelling time will be about 5-6 hours so im worried about how to keep them heated etc and im also a bit worried about the tempreture in the car when we are travelling in the ferry..
So whats best to bring them back in? And is there anyway of heating them while in the car, like a portable heat matt?
Dan

[PSGeckos]

You can buy those 24 hour heat pads, i guess if you buy several you can change them as soon as the other ones start to cool.

[Ally]

Get yourself a polybox if you haven't already... They keep the tmps indise nice and stable - just pop a few holes into it for ventilation.

(on a side note - I WANT TO GO!!!)

[Athravan]

You will need a polybox and some heat packs.

It is easier to overheat reptiles than underheat them, so make sure the box is ventilated and only use one heat pack per box.

What I would recommend on the ferry over is to take a digital thermometer with probe, place main bit in 1st polybox... and the probe in a 2nd polybox. In 1st polybox use no heat pack. In 2nd polybox place heat pack.

That way, before you get to Houten, you will already know an approximate temperature for a polybox with no heat pack, and with a heat pack. You can then make a decision on whether you need heat packs or not for the return journey. Although the hold of the ferry is not heated it is well insulated. It is chilly to us down there but does not tend to drop (in my experience) below 60s. If you have a max/min on your digital thermometer I recommend you use it, and record the highest and lower temperatures for future reference. This will help you, and others if you share the info in the future

You can get heat packs here from reptile shops or you still have time to order online (they're about £2 each I think over here) or you can also buy them at the show if you don't want to do the test run. Polybox is absolutely essential and again you can get them from most reptile shops.. or you can buy them at the show.

If you are taking Stena Line Hook to Harwich the ferry time will be 6 hours. However we usually board 2 hours in advance, and get off about 30 mins late.. making it about 8.5 hours on the ferry for us. Plus 1 hour to Houten, and however long it takes to get back to your house from Harwich.

If you get stopped by customs on the return the animals may get held up a bit longer, anywhere from 30 mins to a few hours.

[gaz]

get the 36 hour heatpacks and save yourself a few pennies,other than that follow athravans advice and you wont go far wrong
regards gaz

[gaz]

Originally Posted by Ally

Get yourself a polybox if you haven't already... They keep the tmps indise nice and stable - just pop a few holes into it for ventilation.

(on a side note - I WANT TO GO!!!)

well ya cant so there
gaz