Does One Need a Travel Case?

[TheSuppishOne]

That's the question. I've heard/read that a lot of people take their snakes places in a "travel enclosure". But do you really need to do that if you're just going to the vet or a show or anything? Can't you just hold the thing on your shoulders? I'd assume the snake would find your warmth nicer, anyway...

[CK SandBoas]

Question......Do you want to take your car apart when the snake gets startled and escapes off your shoulders and disappears?

Or do you want to deal with a frightened animal that all of a sudden grips you around the neck while you're driving??

The only logical place you should be taking your snake is to the vet, not to shows (most, if not all shows do not allow personal animals in them anyways) and they should always be in a secure container...

[stephanbakir]

You could also scare the public and be arrested, which would give you and the hobby w bad name.
Get a travel case people can't see into.

I took my scrub to the vet a few years back in a clear Rubbermaid tub that was bolted shut with wing nuts, I sat in the back of a police car becase the police were called. The officer had no idea they were legal.

[KBHicks2012]

I must agree with Stephen, I live in a smaller town area where snakes are only considered a nuisance, or the elders believe to be spawn of the devil or something, so anytime that I need to take my snakes anywhere they are transported in a grey locking tote with hinged lid. Drilled a few breathing holes, throw in some substrate, hide, and on the road we go. Keep in mind like I said I live in small rural area so it's a nice drive to a decent vet I use, which is the reason for the hide and everything.

[Zoo Nanny]

Safety of the animal should be your first priority when transporting. A well secured crate with the snake in a bag will help to prevent injury in the event of an accident or sudden stop.

[Snakesitter]

Wow! O.O What a sad comment on our system.

I tend to toss anything I take to a vet's office that can't be bleached afterwards* -- I'm a bit wary of contamination, even if the risk is low -- so I usually use a snake bag placed in a disposable cardboard box lined with crumpled newspaper.

* Except the snake, of course!

[shaunyboy]

put the snake in a pillow case,then put the pillow case in a tight fitting cardboard box

i use a large plastic faunarium,as my carpets fit in nice and snug,so they don't slide about on the car journey

also a pillow case layed on the seat or floor of the car would do

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

This is why you always secure a snake in a car.
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/lampropeltis/95992-sordid-story-ryu.html

[RandyRhoads]

I must agree with Stephen, I live in a smaller town area where snakes are only considered a nuisance, or the elders believe to be spawn of the devil or something, so anytime that I need to take my snakes anywhere they are transported in a grey locking tote with hinged lid. Drilled a few breathing holes, throw in some substrate, hide, and on the road we go. Keep in mind like I said I live in small rural area so it's a nice drive to a decent vet I use, which is the reason for the hide and everything.
Chester, California...?

And as everyone already said, a container.... Even a small BP lost in a car can stink for well over a year....

[KBHicks2012]

Chester, California...?

And as everyone already said, a container.... Even a small BP lost in a car can stink for well over a year....

No I'm in little ol Chester, tx

[TheSuppishOne]

You could also scare the public and be arrested, which would give you and the hobby w bad name.
Get a travel case people can't see into.

I took my scrub to the vet a few years back in a clear Rubbermaid tub that was bolted shut with wing nuts, I sat in the back of a police car becase the police were called. The officer had no idea they were legal.

I'm assuming, then, that they promptly let you out of the back of their car and apologized?

(And maybe bought you an apology donut? ;))

[stephanbakir]

They gave me crap, and told me to get out... Cops in Quebec aren't the nicest to english people... I'm French but I made the mistake of addressing them in English first.

[Terranaut]

You could also scare the public and be arrested, which would give you and the hobby w bad name.
Get a travel case people can't see into.

I took my scrub to the vet a few years back in a clear Rubbermaid tub that was bolted shut with wing nuts, I sat in the back of a police car becase the police were called. The officer had no idea they were legal.

Imagine a 100lb retic. They may have shot you !!!

[TheSuppishOne]

Ohhhh... That also makes sense. You keep retics.

Right. My 5-6 foot Dumeril male probably won't get the same kind of fearful responses, lol.

[stephanbakir]

You'd be surprised... I had someone pass out at a birthday part when I took out a baby kenyan sand boa...

[Starbuck]

snakes are not domesticated; and the whole experience of riding on your shoulders outside, in public to a vets would likely not be a good one for the snake in question. If he is sick/stressed already, it certainly wouldnt help him.
Additionally, no matter how well you think you know your pet, they can react unpredictably, and you as his owner would be responsible if he escaped, bit someone, got away and got stepped on/injured... the list goes on. I can't think of any reason why not having a container would be good.

I have a separate pillowcase for each of my snakes that is ONLY used for that individual, and then transport them in a bag/backpack with a warm water bottle.

[TheSuppishOne]

I have a separate pillowcase for each of my snakes that is ONLY used for that individual, and then transport them in a bag/backpack with a warm water bottle.

Warm water bottle being used to control temps, I assume? That's a pretty neat idea. I like that the best so far! =D

[stephanbakir]

Be sure you use a temp gun on the water for an accurate temp read.

[DeadlyDesires]

Warm water bottle being used to control temps, I assume? That's a pretty neat idea. I like that the best so far! =D

i have socks full of rice that i just heat up in the microwave.

[shaunyboy]

Warm water bottle being used to control temps, I assume? That's a pretty neat idea. I like that the best so far! =D

Be sure you use a temp gun on the water for an accurate temp read.

^^^^^
if using a hot water bottle,i would do as Stephan suggests...

that said ,i personally would not use a hot water

if you start your car and run it with the heaters on,it will do just fine

cheers shaun

[SnakeyJay]

^^^^^
if using a hot water bottle,i would do as Stephan suggests...

that said ,i personally would not use a hot water

if you start your car and run it with the heaters on,it will do just fine

cheers shaun

That's what I do Shaun.. I think with a hot water bottle you have the potential for too many issues.

[Starbuck]

i didnt say hot water bottle, i said warm water bottle. I do check my temps before hand, and its only ~100 degrees F. I chose the water bottle because i often (1-2x per month) go on education programs, where i am transporting the snakes for ~25 min in car, then they are being handled and talked about, and then back into the bag> to the car> to my house. The water stays warm for the duration of the programs, as i dont have access to microwaves/water taps at the locations we present at.

This is likely not feasible for large/XL snakes/lizards, but i find that it works well for my group of small colubrids.
if its only a 10 minute trip to the vet, supplemental heat probably isnt needed, especially on a larger snake like the OPs dumeril (when its an adult).

[jimmy62alan]

i have socks full of rice that i just heat up in the microwave.
Rice and pearl barley work, we have used them both. We used bottled water in sock for a while and still do if we find a spare of the moment bargain when out visiting reptile friends.
I'm going to kit out the van with a 12volt heating system at some time and have a ready made carrying box on standby, in England it can get pretty cold if your travelling a long distance at night.
ALAN
Sheffield, England, S25 2RN

[stephanbakir]

Careful I troducing your reptiles to those of friends, its a quarantine nightmare

[jimmy62alan]

all new snakes are always put separtely until they are totally checked out.
ALAN

[Trollbie]

I lost a snake in the dashboard once. I had to slam on my breaks because some idiot cut me off and since I was just transporting the snakes in their regural tubs, everything piled up on top of my baby BP in her cage. There was nowhere to pull over right away so I quickly took her out to fix up her tub and make sure she's fine. She was wrapped around the arm that I was holding the steering wheel with. It took less than 10seconds for her to book it into the dashboard far enough that I couldn't pull her out anymore. It was a stressful 300 mile drive and once I got to destination I tore my entire dashboard apart. I was lucky to find her relatively quickly and alive.

It's definitely not worth the risk. I was very stupid to take her out while driving and I've been using snake bags/pillow cases since then.

It's safer for you, the snake, and your car if anything were to happen.

[Trollbie]

Also, unless it's a more than a day long drive, is heat even necessary? I don't have the AC on when I transport my snakes, but I don't really worry about heat too much either. I just make sure that I have everything ready to go when I get to my destination.

[stephanbakir]

I put my 18 foot amethystine python in a Rubbermaid tub once for a road trip to the vet... It had 6 wing nuts holding it closed, plus its clamps on either side. She popped one of the wing nuts and the clamp without my noticing (was rocking out to Vicarious by Tool) and we got pulled over by a police officer because he saw her cruising around the rear window of the car... Luckily he was a reptile enthusiast, we talked for a few minutes after wrestling her back into the container and continued to the vet... Moral of the story is... Strap your ****, lock it, clamp it... Make it escape proof.

[Trollbie]

I put my 18 foot amethystine python in a Rubbermaid tub once for a road trip to the vet... It had 6 wing nuts holding it closed, plus its clamps on either side. She popped one of the wing nuts and the clamp without my noticing (was rocking out to Vicarious by Tool) and we got pulled over by a police officer because he saw her cruising around the rear window of the car... Luckily he was a reptile enthusiast, we talked for a few minutes after wrestling her back into the container and continued to the vet... Moral of the story is... Strap your ****, lock it, clamp it... Make it escape proof.

Lol at least you have a good cop story balancing your other one haha

[TheSuppishOne]

Yeah, I like that story a lot better than your other one, too, lol.

Okay. So it's best to keep them secure in the car.

New/follow up question: Does anybody take their snakes out for walks? Go to a park and let the snake get some fresh air/sun?

[bcr229]

Does anybody take their snakes out for walks? Go to a park and let the snake get some fresh air/sun?
http://www.titaniumteddybear.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joker-not-sure-if-serious.jpg

[Lankyrob]

yeah, i like that story a lot better than your other one, too, lol.

Okay. So it's best to keep them secure in the car.

New/follow up question: Does anybody take their snakes out for walks? Go to a park and let the snake get some fresh air/sun?

no no no no no!

[Trollbie]

Yeah, I like that story a lot better than your other one, too, lol.

Okay. So it's best to keep them secure in the car.

New/follow up question: Does anybody take their snakes out for walks? Go to a park and let the snake get some fresh air/sun?

Yeah, but I always keep mine on a leash...

[Terranaut]

Do not take your snake to the park. People freak out. I have had the Humane Society called on me for snakes on my lawn. Keep them in the grass at home and if you live in an appartment do it at a friends. It's not you but others that will call the cops and then you got to prove it's safe and ok ect. Not worth it.