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Relocating long distance with multiple animals.

Posted By:

ThyDemise

In about two months we will be moving from Ohio to Florida. We have multiple animals, 60+, and I'm curious to hear from others who have made a long distance haul with multiple animals, good tips on safe travel, ways to reduce stress on animals, etc. The total trip is about 20-24 hours depending on traffic and stops. We have the option to stop roughly mid way in TN (family resides there) to stop for a breather or for the night. I'm not sure what would be best for the animals, to be able to give them a break, let them stretch their legs and whatnot, or to just tough it out and fly striaght through. I have, what I believe, to be adequate transport containers but I wouldn't mind hearing from anyone on what they have used and the success they had. Thanks.


Points:	50
Topics:	General Health
Tags:	Moving
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Assisted Answer

3/5/2010 11:21:39 PM

shellboa

For any of the animals with out legs I would recommend packing them as safely as possible and keeping temps as stable as possible. For any furry friends, a couple stops for leg stretching as long a they have a cozy place to feel safe should be sufficient. Potty during travel should be included in the safe cozy place. As for feathered friends, S&D exotics had a blurb on their page about traveling with various species of birds if you own any. Driving straight through is going to be harsh and you may want to stop for a few breaks just to check packing and stuff. I know we did.

Assisted Answer

3/6/2010 9:41:53 AM

Acheron_08

Hey well put all my guys in plastic. Tubs I lined the tub with paper towel and my lager snakes I just put a beach towel I didnt have any heat packs so I ran my heater in the car most of the way we stop for gas and that's when i would do potty breaks and what not and I would to a head count every time we stopped: ) and I moved from Baltimore, MD to Charlotte NC

Assisted Answer

3/6/2010 2:33:11 PM

derek317

I don't have any experience moving with animals, but I am glad you asked this question. I will be moving from Indiana to Arizona in about a year and was wondering the same thing.

Assisted Answer

3/7/2010 1:43:41 AM

bwaffa

I've never had to move lizards, but for snakes I've put the larger ones in pillow cases (deli cups or other such containers work well for small snakes) and then placed them in styrofoam coolers. The pillow cases preclude a "snakes on a plane" type of incident and the styrofoam coolers seem to keep temperatures fairly stable during the trip. A few stops were necessary during my trip to change some soiled pillow cases, but the animals seemed to tolerate it fairly well and all settled in comfortably after the move. Best of luck!

Author Comment

3/7/2010 1:58:43 AM

ThyDemise

Thanks. Coolers and blankets are two things that completely slipped my mind. It definitely won't be warm enough to go without that, at least for most of the trip.

Accepted Answer

3/7/2010 9:10:33 PM

MegF

I moved from California to South Carolina and took all my cornsnakes with me. I had the green tree pythons shipped by a friend due to their more delicate nature...the trip was 4 days by truck. I put all my animals in plastic tubs that just accomodated their size with aspen bedding and put them under the seat of the truck on top of a bunch of moving blankets. At night we brought them into the hotel room (descreetly of course) and gave the water. We emptied and stored the water containers during travel. They all did just fine. Your trip will be much shorter than mine was so it shouldn't be a problem at all.

Member Comment

3/7/2010 9:13:07 PM

MegF

I might add: I also had two dogs and two cats with me and we made multiple stops for them. Fortunately the rental trucks were diesel and we left them running when we stopped for luch etc so the animals stayed cool...or in your case, warm. The cats basically waited until we got to the hotel to get a real break. They were crated together during the trip and traveled quite well that way. I tried to give them potty breaks when we stopped for the dogs, but they weren't interested in using the box until we got to the hotel at night.

Author Comment

3/10/2010 9:52:03 AM

ThyDemise

That puts my mind at ease a bit, I think we just might stop half way then to take some out and give them a break from the boxes and check on everyone. I was worried about over stressing but it sounds like they will do just fine. Thanks.

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