Moving States

[nnnoahhhhhhh]

I am an out of state college student in Illinois from Oregon. I am planning on bringing my Russian across the country permanently and wanted to get people’s opinions on the best way of doing so.

1. Shipping via a verified service
2. Rod trip (3+ days and very expensive with current gas prices. may have to rent car.)
3. Amtrak - 46hrs nonstop. While you technically cannot bring reptiles on trains, I feel that I could probably smuggle her on.
4. Flight cargo.

In all cases I would be using heat packs to maintain temperatures. I am not taking any supplies across states but am working out how to have a setup upon arrival.

Any thoughts?

 

[COmtnLady]

Minimizing the trauma for the tortoise should be your first priority. With that in mind, there isn't a good way, but...

If you ship (#1), on one end or the other you won't be there to make sure everything is ok.

(#2) The car trip is possibly your better choice. If its this time of year, the car will be entirely too hot at times, so be prepared to place bags of ice in a way that your tortoise also doesn't get too cold. AC is a good idea, but if you stop to eat or stretch your legs, or do whatever that turns the AC off, make sure your tortoise doesn't get too hot, or too cold from whatever you use to keep him cool. If you are tech savvy, figure a way for your phone to let you know if its too hot or chilly.

You'll have to pay closer attention more than you realize. Not only is there the temperature regulation problem, Russians like to climb - and he will freak out and be stressed from the noises and vibration, so anticipate scrabbling around and falling over onto his back. Its unhealthy for him to be on his back for any length of time, so make sure to tip him back upright asap.

You'll be subjecting him to serious stress for the two or three days a straight through drive takes.

Also, 'can't blast tunes as you go, that will just hurt him... keep the noise down as you travel - some music might be good, but think about having your ancient great aunt Tillie in the car and the level be low enough to talk with her.

Create a transport container that can have some familiar substrate and the water your tort is used to (you can't count on bottled water - that's like feeding the kitten that you got at college, pizza) that you can offer when not traveling (not in the moving car, it will just spill). A six-pack insulated cooler (not the styrofoam kind, the hard-plastic kind) might be your best bet. Its important to have a lid that he can't move out of his way to escape. Don't put anything he can get trapped in or under inside of the transport box. Probably the substrate is a bad idea, come to think of it. Just have him be in the box.


Probably some of the others here will come up with better ideas.

Good luck. Keep us posted on how it goes.

 

[Tom]

I am an out of state college student in Illinois from Oregon. I am planning on bringing my Russian across the country permanently and wanted to get people’s opinions on the best way of doing so.

1. Shipping via a verified service
2. Rod trip (3+ days and very expensive with current gas prices. may have to rent car.)
3. Amtrak - 46hrs nonstop. While you technically cannot bring reptiles on trains, I feel that I could probably smuggle her on.
4. Flight cargo.

In all cases I would be using heat packs to maintain temperatures. I am not taking any supplies across states but am working out how to have a setup upon arrival.

Any thoughts?

My first choice would be D.I.Y. Road trip. That is the safest as you will have complete control at all times.

Amtrak can work too. Don't be too concerned with keeping the tortoise warm. Moderate "room" temps are safest and fine. It will be like two or three days of rainy weather with no sun. Soak him and let him warm up on arrival. Keep him cool and dark for the ride.

Flight cargo is dangerous in summer. A-hole employees will leave them on the tarmac to cook. Ask me how I know this...

Shipping is almost always safe, IF done correctly and on the correct days, but it's out of your control, and packages do occasionally get lost or misdirected. Hardly ever, but it does happen.