Travelling safely

[Toothless]

There's a good chance I'll be moving in a few months, and I'm going over everything with a fine-toothed comb before I make the final decision so things go smoothly.
Toothless will need to be in the car for between 3-5 days so I'm trying to plan his travel.
I was thinking of using a dog carrier and blocking the air holes to limit humidity escape, then using damp towels in the bottom of the carrier to maintain humidity. Does this sound like a good plan, or will the damp towels cause a problem from standing on them for a while?
I can have a suitable temp enclosure built before he gets there, so that's not an issue- I will also have lots of support building a new enclosure so should be able to get it done rather quickly.
If anyone can point out something I should do differently please let me know :).
Thanks

[Pirarucu]

I would not use the damp towels, for the reason you mentioned. It's only three to five days, you don't need to worry about humidity over such a short time. In larger monitors, lower humidity will not have much of a measurable effect for quite some time. Sitting on damp towels for that long will certainly have more of an effect than low humidity would.
If you want to be extra careful, just give him lots of prey with a high moisture content once you are at the new place and he has heated up.

[nepoez]

why not put the damn towel on the top, or have a big box with soil?

[Mikoh4792]

I don't think it would be a good idea to keep it damp throughout the whole box. Maybe just one section in a deli cup or something.

[Toothless]

Thanks for the replies :).
I had a feeling the towels would be a no-no. I guess I could use a small container with some damp moss and just wet it as needed to keep the humidity around 60%. Do you think that would be a better choice?
A carrier would be easier to carry around, which is why I was considering it over building him a small box for travel. How large should the travel cage be (he's a bit over 3 feet long)?
Also, will not being able to bask for a few days cause any negative effects?
Sorry if I seem to be over-analyzing things, but it makes me feel better :).

[murrindindi]

Hi, what will the ambient temp be during the 5 days?

[Mikoh4792]

Thanks for the replies :).
I had a feeling the towels would be a no-no. I guess I could use a small container with some damp moss and just wet it as needed to keep the humidity around 60%. Do you think that would be a better choice?
A carrier would be easier to carry around, which is why I was considering it over building him a small box for travel. How large should the travel cage be (he's a bit over 3 feet long)?
Also, will not being able to bask for a few days cause any negative effects?
Sorry if I seem to be over-analyzing things, but it makes me feel better :).

As long as you dont feed him he should be alright, why don't you buy a couple of heat packs? What will the temps be?

[Toothless]

I'm not sure what the temps will be, but as he'll be travelling with me I can make sure they stay at the recommended temp. Would between 75-80 be good or should I keep it a bit warmer as he won't be basking?
The heat packs are a good idea :).

I was planning on fasting him for a few days before the trip (besides the occasional roach he finds in there). He's got a good tail base, so I'm not worried about him going without food for a week.

[B_Aller]

Thanks for the replies :).
I had a feeling the towels would be a no-no. I guess I could use a small container with some damp moss and just wet it as needed to keep the humidity around 60%. Do you think that would be a better choice?
A carrier would be easier to carry around, which is why I was considering it over building him a small box for travel. How large should the travel cage be (he's a bit over 3 feet long)?
Also, will not being able to bask for a few days cause any negative effects?
Sorry if I seem to be over-analyzing things, but it makes me feel better :).

Stop feeding him about 3 days before the move, keep the heat on until he passes all his food.
Use a solid sided rubbermaid type container with a few air holes and put your animal in a large snake bag or pillow case inside of the rubbermaid. You can put towels in the bottom for comfort but they should be dry.
Keep the container in a spot in the car/moving van that will not be exposed to extreme temps, if you are traveling when hot keep the animal in the cab where you are rocking the a.c, if it's cold the heat. As long as the animal doesn't have food to process it should be fine for a few days without proper temps and humidity. If you are staying in a hotel at night, bring the box into the room with you. Don't remove the animal from the bag until you place it in the new enclosure you have waiting for it. You can pop the lid on the rubbermaid and give him a poke in the bag to make sure he's okey dokes, No problem.
I moved a massive varanid collection from California to AZ them back a few years later. Only animal I've ever lost was a rudicollis, from stress.
Best.

[nepoez]

does it have to be in a bag? I'm moving soon too, but the drive will only be 30 minutes.

[Toothless]

I'm wondering about the bag as well? Is that an extra measure to make sure there are no escapees?
I honestly never thought about using a rubbermaid *slaps face*. That by far sounds like the easiest solution and I have tons of those laying around.
Also, how do I get him into the bag without force-handling him or using food? He's getting better with my being near him, but is not at the stage where I can lift him up and put him in.
I want to eliminate as much stress as possible during the move so any tips are welcome :). Everything mentioned so far has been very helpful! :)

[B_Aller]

I'm wondering about the bag as well? Is that an extra measure to make sure there are no escapees?
I honestly never thought about using a rubbermaid *slaps face*. That by far sounds like the easiest solution and I have tons of those laying around.
Also, how do I get him into the bag without force-handling him or using food? He's getting better with my being near him, but is not at the stage where I can lift him up and put him in.
I want to eliminate as much stress as possible during the move so any tips are welcome :). Everything mentioned so far has been very helpful! :)

Not sure I get the problem with the bag?
The bag is there mostly to reduce stress, secondary benefit is an extra escape prevention layer.
You have to handle the animal to get it into the bag. Grab firmly behind the neck and at tail base-put tail end first into the bag, quickly remove hands and tie bag. Make it quick and reduce stress, no biggie.
WAY worse for the animal to not be in a bag, leads to thrashing and stress. They will thrash for a few mins in the bag but will calm down and remain calm.
Use common sense, you'll be fine.
Best.

[Gatorhunter1231]

I moved ackies, tristis, and two 7ft salvadorii from florida to oklahoma. Used bags. The Rubbermaid is added protection. The bag makes them feel secure. I got heavy duty duffle bags from a military store. Moved a 15ft green anaconda the same way.

[B_Aller]

I got heavy duty duffle bags from a military store. Moved a 15ft green anaconda the same way.

Hell yes! Good man. You can find tons of good stuff at military surplus stores, the duffel bags for big snakes are a good idea too.
Side note: the military bags are great for travel, TSA just assumes it's military and don't give you crap/treat it rough.
B

[Gatorhunter1231]

Getting a 7ft salvadorii in a 3 ft duffle bag was a chore lol. I knew they couldn't rip through the military ones. I needed that comfort feeling lol, v. Salvdorii running around in my truck would have been a bad day lol.

[Toothless]

Thanks everyone! Bag and rubbermaid it will be then :).
I know I used to transport smaller snakes in pillowcases, but would his claws shred through that? Maybe a dufflebag would be better.

[Gatorhunter1231]

Pillow cases would be sketchy. I've had croc monitors around 4ft come in reptile bags / pretty much a pillow case, and always worried about them biting through it.

[Toothless]

I'll see if I can find a heavier duty bag then, or just use a dufflebag.
I'm going to see if my sister can find someone to watch him for a few months as I'll be living with her until I find a job and save up and I doubt she's going to want a roach colony in her house.
I'm thinking it may be safer to build the small temp enclosure here, then stick it in the U-haul with the rest of my things so I can ensure its built properly. What would be the smallest I could safely go to achieve a proper basking temp and ambient gradient? He may be cramped for a few months, but it'll be hard to find someone who will take in a 8 x 4 enclosure.

I'm starting to get a bit excited :). I hate moving, but I'll finally be able to get my house, and build him his lovely monitor mansion!