Freighting a snake by AAE for first time - help please

[Renenet]

Hey all,

I need some advice on airfreighting my beautiful snake.

First I need some help designing Zephyr's life pod... having never sent or received a reptile by AAE, I'm having trouble visualising exactly what packing I need to use to give her a safe journey. We'll probably both be travelling from Melbourne to Cairns on the same day so I can't afford to be turned back at the AAE counter if I get it wrong.

For reference, AAE says: "Snakes under 60cm must be bagged, goose necked and in a hard plastic box. A snake over 60cm and any lizards must be bagged, goose necked and in a wooden box." She's over 60cm so from research thus far it seems that a bag, wooden box, then foam container (esky?) for insulation and extra protection is the way to go.

My questions are:

• Is that what people use, and in that order?
• Can I buy ready-made items to make Zephyr’s life pod, while keeping all costs, weight and cubic metreage under control?
• What kind of fabric do you use for the bag? What exactly does a goose necked bag look like?
• Where do the airholes go?

And some random questions:

• Can I get someone else to lodge the snake with AAE or do I have to do it?
• Do you include export/import/movement papers with the parcel?
• Does putting a reptile on a plane, with the potential to come into contact with other reptiles, albeit packed, break quarantine?

Thanks,
Renenet

 

[pythrulz]

Yeah thats how we transport our snakes around the country you could use a pillowcase and secure it or a small plastic tub from woolies or such with holes in it secure it and then place in a small esky buy mine from bunnings a goose neck bag is just one secured at one end AAE has these rules so theres no escape by the snakes and i just put shreded paper as added protection.When your ready pack up Zepyr go to AAE and nook him in pay for it they give the receipt and then pick him up at your destination

 

[Morgan_dragon]

We send our beardies through AAE and that's how we have received our snakes thus far as well...

Don't worry to much about the wooden box thing, it weighs a ton! (not quite but will cost a lot more). Go to Coles/Bunnings and pick an appropriate sized plastic container for Zephyr, you don't want to much room or Zephyr will either have to be packed In with a heap of paper or slide around in transport. I like to use the ones with the plastic locks on them.

Next either drill or burn some air holes in both ends of the container. I make a 'sleeping bag' for my lizards out of breathable cotton that I stitch elastic ties onto the end of. Put Zephyr into the bag and tie the string tight. Put the bag in the container and pack it with shredded paper to stop them from sliding around. Do the container clips up and tape it up using packing tape or something similar (make sure you don't tape the air holes).

Clearly label the container which way up, live animals and fragile. AAE will put a big label/sticker on the top so make sure you leave room for it.

As a general rule I don't send the movement advice with the animal but if you are going to then tape it in an envelope to the outside of the box so it can't cause any problems on the inside.

Lastly, don't fret to much! You are flying with her and will be there to pick her up just after your arrival! He/she won't actually be packed up for to long and the cabin they are in is pressurized and heated to the same as the planes cabin.

No you don't have to lodge it personally - I get hubby to drop most of mine into the airport on his way to work.

 

[pythonmum]

• Is that what people use, and in that order?
• Can I buy ready-made items to make Zephyr’s life pod, while keeping all costs, weight and cubic metreage under control?
• What kind of fabric do you use for the bag? What exactly does a goose necked bag look like?
• Where do the airholes go?

And some random questions:

• Can I get someone else to lodge the snake with AAE or do I have to do it?
• Do you include export/import/movement papers with the parcel?
• Does putting a reptile on a plane, with the potential to come into contact with other reptiles, albeit packed, break quarantine?

Thanks,
Renenet

Yes, I pack as suggested by AAE, because I don't want my shipments knocked back. There are many other safe and convenient packaging styles (such as using plastic eskies), but they don't meet the regulations.

Buying ready made is difficult. You can buy a ready-made foam box, but generally have to build a wooden box to go around it.

Any cotton cloth will do for the bag. I sew some which are extra long so that I can twist and turn over the top before tying or using a rubber band to keep it shut. This is what is meant by goose-necking.

Air holes go through both boxes. If you are worried that they are a bit big, you can put flyscreen mesh between the two layers.

As others mention, I use lots of shredded paper around the cloth bag inside the inner box to cushion and insulate the snake during transport.

Anyone can drop off the snake, but you need to ring pet bookings to book him on your flight before you go. With all of that packaging and the relative rarity of reptile shipment, quarantine is not a huge issue, but there is always a small risk of shared air.

I always build the wooden box, even though it adds weight, for larger animals. My last shipment (BHP) went in a lovely plywood box that I had built. You can use light plywood or MDF. Ply is a bit stronger for the width. It doesn't add too much and makes sure that you won't get knocked back. One of my recipients had been chewed out the day before for getting a box from a major breeder which had a cardboard outer casing rather than wood. I wasn't her fault. The AAE people were much happier with my wooden box the next day, even though in both cases the reptiles were well packed and safe. Save the hassle and go with wood outside.

 

[trader]

...if using a pillow case, or similar please turn the pillow case/cloth bag inside out, leaving loose threads on the outside....snake does not get tangled in them.

 

[wokka]

When you bag a snake make sure you turn the bag inside out so there are no lose threads inside ,left over from the sewing, for the snake to get tangled and caught in.

 

[mrs_davo]

As far as I am aware - movement advice/permits HAVE to travel with the reptile - WE got told this fromthe EPA here is QLD....

WE put our snakes in a pillow case ( inside out ) knotted at the top, in a smaller plastic container ( takeaway for hatchies and larger size ofr larger snakes ) and then in a larger more sturdy one ( for hatchies ) or make our own lightweight wood one for the larger snakes....

WE have never had any problems - alot of it is common sense....

 

[Renenet]

Thanks everyone. I have an old cotton pillowcase I could probably use for the bag. So to be absolutely clear: wooden box lined with foam, airholes through both wood and foam, with shredded paper for padding?

Where can I get ready-made, small-sized foam boxes? Or can I just line a wooden box with foam?

It's surprising that it's so hard to find ready-made boxes for reptile transportation. Hmm... maybe I've discovered a business idea!

Lastly, don't fret to much! You are flying with her and will be there to pick her up just after your arrival! He/she won't actually be packed up for to long and the cabin they are in is pressurized and heated to the same as the planes cabin.

I'll try not to fret, but I will. I find it too easy to imagine how frightening and stressful a plane journey could be for a snake.