ROAD TRIP! How do I pack 4 snakes?

[jncoclub]

I'm currently in Florida and will be moving up north to Connecticut when there is a definite temp/environment change.
Couple questions:
-what's the best way to transport the snakes? Tanks? fixtures?
-any health signs or personality changes I should keep an eye out for when moving them to an over all cooler, dryer state?
-can snakes get car sick?
-should I not feed them before the trip, or hold off a bit?
-is it bad to let them wander in the car while I drive? I have an older car, and I guess I would hate to have one slide into some unreachable place.
-will they even notice that they are in a new location?
I'll be moving some time in January, so I want to make sure I do everything properly and make their transition go smoothly. How do most people ship out snakes to new destinations?
Thanks!

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ummmm....yeah. That really all depends on what TYPE or SPECIES you wish to transport. Big time.

[Lisa]

when we have to transport our snakes we've used multiple snake bags, delicups, small rubbermaids, a heating pad and a cooler. we also keep a thermometer in the cooler to keep an eye on the temp for too hot/cold.

you may not want to feed them before the trip due to temp/stress issues.

another thing to consider, are you making the trip in one day?? or are you staying overnight some where?

wandering would be really really bad... too easy for them to get stuck under the brake pedle or wedged under a seat.

less stress for them to be in a nice dark box/cooler that's a comfy temp and not out and about

[Alicewave]

Definitely keep them securely confined. You might want to get some of those disposable heat packs.

And welcome to CT!! (Why you are moving here from FL is a mystery to me but welcome anyway ;) )

[eyespy]

One of my most unpleasant rescues was a pine snake that got up under the dash and significantly burned from the car's heater, so please don't allow free roaming! This snake was burned over 50% of its body and still has shedding issues 3 years later from scarring. This pine snake wasn't a pet, just a hitchhiker, but you get the idea. It was an old car with rust holes all the way through the floorboards and the kid just let the snake hang out in the passenger compartment while he was driving around. He had figured it would eventually go out the way it came in.

I give another vote to a cooler with either hot packs or a heating pad plugged into the ciggy lighter, with the snakes further confined in bags, pillow cases, delicups or rubbermaids. I also feel empty stomachs travel better than full ones. You don't want food rotting in the gut because stress hampers digestion.

[jncoclub]

My trip companions consist of a 3 foot ball, 2 foot columbian redtail, 2 foot hog isle (these 2 stay together), and a 2 foot burm. I want to try to make the trip in one day (roughly 15 hours) but I will be driving alone, so I don't know if I can make it that far by myself. Heating pads under plastic rubbermaids (poked with air holes) seems to be what a lot of people are telling me. Thanks a lot!

[Them and Us]

when i first got my BCI about an our away i put him/her in a small plastic citter cage and placed a disposable hunting head pad thing i picked up from K mart under the tank. then belted him/her in the front seat. he was fine.

[Jeff_Favelle]

You're driving them somewhere? I thought you were shipping them! If you are just drivng them, take a digital thermometer with you and keep the car at 70F. They'll be fine for 15 hours. No problem at all man.

As for packing, I'd put them in snake bags/socks and in individual containers. Piece of cake!

[jncoclub]

Thanks everyone! Got it. I am not sure if I will make it straight thru, so I will invest in those heat pads. Thank you.