Do state you are shipping a snake when you mail it

[dberes]

I've been looking at the websites of the major mail couriers (fedex and ups) and they state they don't mail snakes. Well ups says they don't ship snakes (venomous & non) and the fedex says on special occasions or for zoo animals only. With so many breeders using these couriers, do you just not tell them its a snake? I don't want to put anyone in hot water, however I don't want to get into any hot water myself order or ship a snake. So far all of my snakes I own have been bought at local reptile shows or from the snakes that I bred. And the ones that I have sold have been locally. I want to start shopping outside my area, but was a little puzzled when I read these companies don't ship snakes. Is it best to just use Delta Dash?

[Sojourn]

Hello Dberes,

We have used UPS so far in all of our shipping endeavors. Officially the contents are listed as plastic tubing, with appropriate values listed, and NO insurance. I assume complete liability that the snakes will arrive at their destinations alive, and in the condition they left my hands in. Because of this they are packaged extremely well.

Just inside every box we ship, on top of the styrofoam liner, and in plain view for anyone who happens to open the box, I put a piece of paper that states....

LIVE HARMLESS REPTILE!

Any problems please call:
Jesse...... My number

OR

Customer..... Their number.

If I were to tell UPS it was a snake they would probably refuse the package. But it is not against the law, just their policies. Ultimately it is my reponsibility to replace or refund if something were to happen to the animal. I have had no problems so far.

I have a friend that is a verified delta shipper if a customer prefers this method. It is quite a bit more expensive, though.

I hope this helps!

[dberes]

Thanks for the answer. Plastic tubing... Plastic deli cups.... Same family! LOL. It just hit me when I read that and a lot of people were using them. I figured this was one of those rules nobody pays attention too ;D. Its reminds of how in California ferrets are illegal and well... Every petshop sells ferret supplies. The vets know how to take care of them, not to mention a long beach vet has one of there doctors caring for one in a photo on there website! Its a law that definitely needs to be changed so they are legal. I even see them at my vet every now and then.

Thanks again.
Drenton

[johnriz]

the easiest way to do it is to open a ups account. I print my own labels and schedule a pickup at my house. I write nice and big on the box LIVE HARMLESS REPTILES. The driver has never questioned it once. This way i dont lie at all. IT is very easy

[denny_rimes]

Shipping with UPS can be a bit tricky in some parts of the country because each distribution center has the authority to decide whether or not they will accept snakesfor shipment. Once in the UPS sytem though, the package will be delivered. I know of many people who have used UPS for years without a problem but it is always best to check with your local UPS center before assuming that they will ship for you.

Denny

[Sojourn]

Anything around these parts(East Tennessee) with Live Harmless Reptile on it gets refused by UPS, account or not.

East Bay Vivarium shipped me the wrong snake one time, and sent me one of their pre-printed UPS labels to send it back. I shipped it in the same box it came in, which so happened to say Live Harmless Reptile on the outside, and they absolutely refused it.... Saying the it was against their policy to ship anything live, regardless that they were the ones that delivered the original package to me.

Besides.... there is always plastic in the box, and snakes are kind of like tubing if you think about it...... just scaly, rat transmogrifying tubing..... :)

I pack them extremely well, and accept full responsibility for their well being during shipment, since UPS will not.

[johnriz]

I have heard that before as well. I have just been scheduling a home pickup with ups and havent had any problems at all. Their policy is to ship live lizards even though each distributin hub can accept them or not depending on that individual facility. I have found that the drivers around my part dont even ask what kind of reptile is in there at all. I always mark them live harmless reptiles so that way i am not lying at all. Guess i am just lucky to have a decent driver that does my pick up

[boafan77]

I am a ups driver
and have been for 10 yrs now and it is against policy to ship live animals.Most of us will turn a blind eye and just accept the package but if you go to a ups store or other shipping locations and tell them it is a live animal they will not accept it.We will not be held responsible if the animal doesnt arrive alive.Let me tell you as much as I want the business for my company we are not designed to handle live animals and neither is the competition.I actually use Delta dash for all my live purchases it cost more but its guaranteed live and they have been great.If you are buying a snake that cost 1000 what is an extra 20 or 30 bucks to make sure it is handled safley.

[dberes]

Boafan,

The UPS website doesn't say its against policy to ship live animals. They have a "Prohibited Live Animals List" and a "Accepted Live Animals List." Below is the link:

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/resources/prepare/guidelines/animals.html

I tried copy and pasting what they say into this message box, but it was to long.

Later.
Drenton

[boafan77]

We do take some live animals like fish and insects I see them all the time but I beleive the reason is because I dont think a fish or a cricket will be harmed much by the shipping methods.Put it this way I see how things are loaded and treated everyday and I would never ship my pets through ups fedex,dhl or any of those delivery companys.I request that my boas be shipped delta dash and Ill pay the difference of the shipping cost.I should have made it clear not all live animals are prohibited but most are and snakes definetly are.

[johnriz]

Are you saying that Fish are not as fragile as reptiles? That dowsnt sound right to me but i could be wrong.

[boafan77]

No I dont know if fish are more fragile or not but if I owned fish I wouldnt worry as much if they fell of the top shelf of my truck seeing that they are in a bag of water.

[dberes]

Here is a link I found on Clay Davenport's website (Great website by the way!) about how to ship a reptile. Check it out it talks about how to become certified with fedex for shipping live animals.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33533&perpage=5&pagenumber=1

Later.
Drenton