2011 Checkered Garter babies

[HazAnga]

I have to ask... but Steve and ConcinniusMan and everyone else... how quick do you sell and ship your new borns after they've been born and eating well.?

[ConcinusMan]

That would be your judgement and yours alone. However, if the babies seem good sized, rather vigorous and strong, have taken several meals, they can be shipped. Like I said, it's really your call. Those babies do look very well. Big and strong. I would generally wait until they have proven to eat consistently and it's preferable if they have also proven to take at least two different widely available foods such as pinky parts and fish, or fish and worms, or .... well, you get the idea.

I've never personally shipped any that were less than 5 or 6 weeks old and have been feeding well and consistently for at least 3-4 weeks.

There is by no means any strict rule. It's your call. If they have a few meals behind them, maybe even a shed or two, (beyond the birthing shed) they're probably ready.

[HazAnga]

Ok, I was thinking moreso when they were a couple months old.

[brain]

Ok, I was thinking moreso when they were a couple months old.

This is more my thoughs also.

[Marcman2k4o]

yea k lolz haaah thanks for answering my questions! hahah what would the shipping price be?

[ConcinusMan]

Ok, I was thinking moreso when they were a couple months old.

Around two months, and consistently eating, sounds about right. If you're going to ship, then how you package them is critical. So is the timing and weather along the route. Especially the weather in the destination area. Obviously if it's 110 degrees you'll want to put it off until things cool down.

[HazAnga]

it depends on where it's going, I don't know how much it would cost because I haven't ever shipped before. But there's this place out of Toronto that basically do all the work for you, you just need to order the shipping boxes/containers and they ship them to you then you setup the time to ship them, a Currier comes collects the box and ships it.
So my shipping costs would consist of the actual shipping cost and a part of the cost of the shipping kit.

[HazAnga]

a kit might cost about $10 and then shipping within Ontario and to Quebec is $49.99 (plus tax). And to New Brunswick it all depends on the box size and if they do deliver to your postal code (going by first 3 digits) could be anywhere from 68.99 to 70.99 (plus tax)

[ConcinusMan]

I make my own. All you need is a sheet of Styrofoam from Lowes (the kind used for wall insulation) and Ready Post boxes from the post office. Cut the Styrofoam to fit the box and add heated gel packs or instant cold packs as needed. Cost less than $5 a box to do it that way. Then in most cases I can ship anywhere in the U.S. overnight for $20-$40 usually.

[Spankenstyne]

Shipping is a little different up here. We can't use the post office or couriers like Fedex, we can only ship live reptiles via Air Canada Cargo or Westjet. There's also a service called Reptile Express that we can use up here as well that will ship door to door.

It's a lot more expensive than down there too, usually it's $100 or more to ship reptiles in Canada.

You'll also need to check with the method you're using to make sure your packaging meets their shipping standards.