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Moving Cross Country With Snake

Preita

Preita

New member
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. I will be moving from CA or OH in a month or so. I will be driving & I wanted to know the best way to travel with my snake. It's going to be quite a haul & a few days travel so I wanted to make sure I did everything right so he won't stress out.

Thanks a ton!
 
My general advice: simplify the cage but allow plenty of hiding opps (like a thick layer of bedding he's accustomed to burrowing in) and get him used to that in advance. Be aware of temperature changes and problems (summer sun, hot floorboards-I know a boa that got a nasty burn that way-, daylength changes, constant motion, etc.) and do whatever you can to minimize and eliminate those. It takes a lot of forethought (can't leave in car for an hour in summer while you go eat in a real restaurant, etc.) but you can do it. Time feeding so he's not busy digesting en route.

Love to hear everyone else's advice. Good luck!
Sherry
 
First of all, WELCOME BACK!!!! We really missed you!

Second, I can give you first-hand experience of what I did when I moved cross country with Bobo. I didn't feed him for a week before the trip, so he had a rather empty belly to prevent regurges. During the trip I put him in a smaller than normal container with aspen and a hide. I put him on the backseat on a pillow. Hoping that the pillow would absorb any bumps. I didn't use any heat, because it was summer, as it is now, and it was moderate temps. I figured as long as it didn't drop down below 75 or so, he'd do just fine, and he did. At night when I stopped at a motel, I'd take him in with me, and give him a bowl of water overnight, to either drink or soak in. Then the next morning before we left, I'd take it out. I just did this same process each night. When we got to our new house, I let him settle back into his viv like he was a new snake...no handling for a few days, and then finally a small meal. This was when he was about 8 months old, but I'm sure it would work for an adult snake too. Hope that helps! :)
 
We do some long distance shows with a lot of driving and I have tried different methods. Now we use a cooler that has some holes drilled in it for air, but not so many that it would heat up or cool down too quickly. You could put a small cage in the cooler, or use a snake sack or pillow case. If the temps are extreme, you can even put a little ice or a cool pack in the cooler (or hot pack in winter). But usually the car a/c or heat will be enough.

If you will be stopping anywhere besides gas and sleeping (like restaurants that are not drive thru), you can put the pillow case in your purse or canvas tote bag and carry it in with you. No worries about a hot car! And nobody will ever guess what is in your bag, lol!

Good luck!
 
HA! Thanks. Yeah I will be traveling in a big chevy conversion van so the enclosiure will be probably on the floor. :) Plus 3 cats :p
 
kathylove said:
If you will be stopping anywhere besides gas and sleeping (like restaurants that are not drive thru), you can put the pillow case in your purse or canvas tote bag and carry it in with you. No worries about a hot car! And nobody will ever guess what is in your bag, lol!

Good luck!
Click to expand...

LOL That's awesome :) Since we will probably be moving fairly soon here I don't think I have to worry about heat :) Since he's still fairly young (just under a year) I was thinkign about using a rubbermaid container wit holes drilled in it for transport. I figure this would be locking & he might feel more secure. I just feel bad cause it's a couple days. I also am going to be transporting 3 cats. Maybe I will send the snake with my husband in the truck.
 
Be careful about putting reptile cages on the floor. There are some hot spots in places (where the transmission is, maybe?) that get VERY hot and could cook the snake. I had somebody do that at an expo once - the 2 babies on the bottom of the box were dead by the time he got home!
 
yikes!!! ^^

I use snake bags or pillowcases when traveling... never done that distance though. I would do a pillowcase in the vehicle and bring a tub to give it water in at night.
 
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