Traveling stress?

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm leaving to VA in a few days (not sure, may be in a week) FOR 10 DAYS... that's kinda long to leave 2 babies...

I'd like to bring them, but people are saying the 4 hour trip would be too stressful...

What would be better? Take or leave??

[guidofatherof5]

I'd take them.
They may need a day to settle in but that's better than going a week without food.
4 hours on the road isn't that big a deal.
Just my opinion.

[RedSidedSPR]

That's what i thought .. everybody else said a week is nothin', and it would be too much stress.. thanks.

[d_virginiana]

I'd take them if you can't find anyone to feed them. If the atmosphere in the car isn't insanely loud or anything it shouldn't be an issue. I'm assuming they've undergone transportation stress before to get to your house, when they were even younger, right?

Haha, I travel quite a bit with my frog. His tank is so small that I just buckle the whole thing into the front seat of my car. I don't think he even knows anything is going on. :p

[kibakiba]

If you put a towel over the tank it'll be dark and less scary for them, I can imagine. 10 days is more than 7, and in my opinion, a few days longer can be more stressful for a snake. My baby Specks, who prefers worms, pretty much lets me know that he's hungry again a day or two after feeding... He likes to bite quite a lot. He's a sweet natured baby, but if he's hungry he doesn't care ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

How should i take them? In the cage? There would be stuff bouncing around...

In separate container?


I'd take them if you can't find anyone to feed them. If the atmosphere in the car isn't insanely loud or anything it shouldn't be an issue. I'm assuming they've undergone transportation stress before to get to your house, when they were even younger, right?

Not unless you mean the 10min car trip from Scotts place to mine:D

Why would it matter if it was loud?


Haha, I travel quite a bit with my frog. His tank is so small that I just buckle the whole thing into the front seat of my car. I don't think he even knows anything is going on. :p

Haha i love those guys. I gotta get one!


If you put a towel over the tank it'll be dark and less scary for them, I can imagine. 10 days is more than 7, and in my opinion, a few days longer can be more stressful for a snake. My baby Specks, who prefers worms, pretty much lets me know that he's hungry again a day or two after feeding... He likes to bite quite a lot. He's a sweet natured baby, but if he's hungry he doesn't care ;)

My flame is like that, even if he's not hungry. He's sweet and calm, but if you lift his hide, he's likely to greet you with a copperhead impression:D

[kibakiba]

I'd take them in a separate container, with the water dish taken out and nothing that could potentially crush them. You can take a small dish to put in with them while the car is stopped so they don't get dehydrated.

[d_virginiana]

Why would it matter if it was loud?


lol I guess that was kind of unclear :p I was thinking like music and stuff or just a really busy atmosphere in the car. My snake reacts to bass beats kind of like he would react to heavy footsteps or something falling down beside his cage. They freak him out.

Also, I was half asleep when I wrote that and the fact that snakes can't hear was hidden somewhere in the back of my mind :D

[RedSidedSPR]

Gotcha, i was hoping i wasn't going to have to inform you that, snakes don't have ears:D 'cause i was pretty sure you knew that;)


I'd take them in a separate container, with the water dish taken out and nothing that could potentially crush them. You can take a small dish to put in with them while the car is stopped so they don't get dehydrated.

I'm don't get it... you say "in a sep container"... but you say "with the bowl taken out". Are you saying there should be stuff in there?

[kibakiba]

Well, you could have a soft hide in there, like a wash cloth. Some people will decorate their separate containers a bit and it would be less stressful if they had something to hide in when they are scared. But, a wash cloth or two would lessen the risk of crushing them than, say, a piece of wood. I don't think fake plants would hurt if you wanted to put something in there.

They also need water, but it's a bad idea to leave one in there if it'll be bouncing around. I guess, too, it depends on how long they'll be in the car. If it's only a couple hours, I think they should be okay with nothing. It's really hard to give a straight answer because everything depends on the snake and other circumstances.

[RedSidedSPR]

How big should the container be? Bigger than a deli'cup type container??

i was planning on putting him in a small container a little bigger than a deli cup, with a balled up paper towel/wash cloth...


It's really hard to give a straight answer because everything depends on the snake and other circumstances.

Well, it's a 4 hour trip...

[guidofatherof5]

I'd put a hand towel in a container.
He'll find a comfortable spot and probably stay there.
Just my opinion.

[kibakiba]

1-5 gallons should be enough, especially if you're bringing both of them. I agree with Steve, Mama liked having her towel when she was gravid and would lay in the same spot for hours.

[RedSidedSPR]

I don't have container that big... i'll buy one though

[guidofatherof5]

You could get by with a shoe box container and a hand towel
We're talking about a very young snake here, aren't we?

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Just make sure to keep the container out of the sunlight and don't leave it in the car to go eat unless the windows are down and you're going to be real quick. The main thing that will harm your snake is the heat. Make sure the container has plenty of ventilation.

[guidofatherof5]

Just make sure to keep the container out of the sunlight and don't leave it in the car to go eat unless the windows are down and you're going to be real quick. The main thing that will harm your snake is the heat. Make sure the container has plenty of ventilation.

Good advice.

[RedSidedSPR]

We're talking about a very young snake here, aren't we?

Two


Just make sure to keep the container out of the sunlight and don't leave it in the car to go eat unless the windows are down and you're going to be real quick. The main thing that will harm your snake is the heat. Make sure the container has plenty of ventilation.

Yeah, i'm not sure how to control the heat... I mean, it reaches the 90s occasionally

[Sonya610]

Two

Yeah, i'm not sure how to control the heat... I mean, it reaches the 90s occasionally

I might consider one of those cheap foam coolers (like the disposable ones they sell with the beer at a lot of convenience stores). Cushions the vibration, keeps light out, and helps manage temps so if sun hits it briefly the temps won't skyrocket. Throw some substrate and or damp paper towels in the bottom, if you have a light little hide (paper box) put that in their for them. If needed use a deli cup INSIDE the foam cooler, that should maintain the temps pretty darn well.

Do you have a thermometer with a cord? If so put the sensor inside and the dial outside, if you use a deli cup you could use any sort of thermometer to check on the temps occasionally (don't check often if it is hot as the temps will quickly skyrocket inside).

[RedSidedSPR]

Ok, where can i get them?

And, no i don't have one of those thermometers.

[RedSidedSPR]

Leaving tomorrow, need answers.

Is it ok to just take the dangerous stuff out of the vivarium, and just take them in that?
I'll keep the car in the 70s..

[guidofatherof5]

Shouldn't be a problem, I would think.

[drache]

I'd avoid taking anything glass but if you must, make sure that it's well cushioned
don't leave any hard objects inside
personally, I'd put the snakes in a shoe box sized plastic container during car travel, but there is more than one way . . .
if you can manage to keep the temps okay, they should be fine

[RedSidedSPR]

I want to put them in something else, i just don't have anything...

Should i go buy something, or is it that important?

[Didymus20X6]

I keep my snakes in cheap Walmart plastic tubs. I think I paid like $4 each for them. They are clear plastic with locking lids. Of course, I also cut an opening in the top and installed a screen, which you'll need to do if you plan on keeping your snakes in one for more than a few minutes at a time. Alternately, you could just drill a bunch of holes in it, but I found this wasn't nearly enough ventilation for long-term use.

[RedSidedSPR]

This is only a 4 hour car trip to VA... once i'm there (i'll be there for 10 days) i'll set them up in there 10gal viv.

[Didymus20X6]

*Edit* Never mind. I missed a previous post and that answered my question.

[drache]

you can use a regular cardboard box and put it inside the tank - that way, if they get out of the box, they can't escape

[RedSidedSPR]

If the container doesn't have to be big, i have some things i used to use for feeding...

[drache]

totally fine for travelling - just as long as they're safe
it's not a long trip

[Sonya610]

I want to put them in something else, i just don't have anything...

Should i go buy something, or is it that important?


Seriously consider a foam cooler. They are not expensive, like $5 at grocery stores, walmart, I think a lot of gas stations carry them. I heard that recommended on the ball python sites because it regulates temps, cushions, etc...

When I rehomed my BP a few weeks ago I had her in a cardboard box with a thermometer, the heat would spike several degrees the moment the sun hit it even with the a/c on.

If you decide to go with a regular box fine but if you are going to buy something think cheap foam cooler.

[RedSidedSPR]

I have a cooler.. several.. it doesn't have to be foam does it?

[Sonya610]

I have a cooler.. several.. it doesn't have to be foam does it?

No doesn't have to be foam, just suggested foam cause they are cheap in case you were going to buy one. You can still use a deli cup or a smaller container inside, I would just feel less worried since the temp would be better regulated and it isn't glass.

[RedSidedSPR]

Made it, used a cooler, they're fine as far as i can tell. Our cars AC is crap, so it was kinda hard... but it's all good.

Thanks for your help guys.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad to hear things went well.

[RedSidedSPR]

It did, and now they're going into shed for the first time. Both of them, which surprised me, since one is older. The flame is pissy, never comes out, and the anery is only moving around his cage 70%of the time, instead of 99%. :D
he is really skittish though

[Sonya610]

Our cars AC is crap, so it was kinda hard... but it's all good.

Well then it is a good thing you used an insulated cooler. : )

[RedSidedSPR]

yeah, it is.