moving crabs overseas - can it be done?

ripshaw · Post by **ripshaw** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 9:36 pm

Hello! I'm preparing for a move to the UK in a short few weeks and I'm not sure what can be done with my hermit crabs. I don't know if they'd survive the trip, and even if they did I'm not sure what customs would have to say about them. Has anyone done an overseas move and taken hermit crabs with them?

tlivs · Post by **tlivs** » Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:59 pm

if i were you, i would call or go to the airport first and inquire with one of the supervisors. If they say yes, i would politely ask them if you could get a written note with her signature and maybe another supervisors signature too, so if they happen not to let you, you have proof that you can.
I dont know how they would fare on the trip, but im sure its been done before (with rabbits or some other type of small pet)

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:34 am

Definitely get in touch with the UK immigration authorities and ask them for information on who to contact for pet immigration. I doubt there would be an issue since they allow crabs in the country, but there may be special travel or customs arrangements that would need to be made ahead of time.

Instead of shipping, tlivs is right about contacting the airlines. Make sure they can be CARRY-ON luggage and not in checked baggage. From working in animal rescue, I know that it is not that rare for planes to either forget to pressurize the baggage compartment, or for it to become depressurized during the flight - either way the crabs would end up frozen. The only issue may be keeping them warm - I doubt in this post 9/11 world you would be allowed heat packs on a plane.

If you have to ship them, then could they be shipped overnight to the UK in the same manner that crabs are shipped from the online stores? I don't know of any major couriers that allow live animal shipping though - only the USPS does, and all they allow is fish, crustaceans, and chickens (of all things!).

Post by **wodesorel** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:56 am

I have nothing to do tonight, and I love a challenge, so I've been Googling!

I found this official site from Defra UK (Department for Enviroment Food and Rural Affairs) which seems to be responsible for pet immigration to the county.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/p ... eu-reg.htm

It also refers to importation requirements applying to rodents, domestic rabbits, birds (except certain poultry), ornamental tropical fish, invertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), amphibians and reptiles. We are still waiting for more information from Brussels about requirements relating to some of these species.

This is an amendment I found:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/animal ... 9/0933.htm

It says it allows importation of ornamental (non-food) crustaceans from the US for "closed ornamental facilities". The facilities are "pet shops, garden centres, garden ponds, commercial aquaria or wholesalersâ€™ premises".

Other EU countries allow the importation of up to 5 pets, including crustaceans, with very little hassle. I don't know how the UK matches up with what the rest of the EU is doing.

I would really get in touch with someone at the office and see if they can answer you directly and what the process would be if you could bring them.

Here's the contact page for them:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/p ... ntacts.htm

If all else fails, maybe someone knows someone who owns a petshop in the UK who can "buy" your hermit crabs so they would be waiting when you arrive.

theophaneia · Post by **theophaneia** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:19 am

I flew West Jet not that long ago and I PHONED to ask about bringing crabs (I was going across my own Country) they said it was fine as long as they were in a proper container! Well I got to security and they had the hugest fit ever and gave me a TON of petty excuses as to why they weren't going to let them on the plane...

So be very very careful because I phoned and covered all my bases and I still got denied...Thankfully my parents were there to take them and they took them back to the pet store otherwise they throw them in the garbage! I was devastated!!!! Cried the whole flight home (I also only had an hour sleep) it was like someone taking a puppy away from me!

Good luck!

kgbenson · Post by **kgbenson** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:21 pm

theophaneia wrote:
So be very very careful because I phoned and covered all my bases and I still got denied...T

This happens with considerable frequency - especially if the carrier is not one of the more commonly used animal shippers. If you can - call ahead like Theophaneia did and request some documentation to be emailed or faxed to you, preferably with contact information on it should the person you are dealing with face to face need to consult a higher authority. Part of the reason they say no, is because they are not empowered to say yes. You have to get to the person who can say yes.

Keith

tlivs · Post by **tlivs** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:40 pm

theophaneia wrote:I flew West Jet not that long ago and I PHONED to ask about bringing crabs (I was going across my own Country) they said it was fine as long as they were in a proper container! Well I got to security and they had the hugest fit ever and gave me a TON of petty excuses as to why they weren't going to let them on the plane...

this is why i said to go in and get a written note. I used to work and petsmart (yeah i know.. but our store wasnt bad!) and people would get carry on soft dog kennels, with the proper dimensions that they had asked for from west jet, and when they got there, they werent allowed to bring them on. Every single employee is different on what they consider acceptable, and that's why i would always get it in writing that you can.

theophaneia · Post by **theophaneia** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:30 pm

I double checked and triple checked when I was on the phone...I even asked if there was a fee...You're right, I should have asked for documentation but I thought I was doing the proper thing by calling and triple checking....Apparently not so much...
Yea with all the excuses I think it was more of they said no because they didn't know if they could say yes...
The excuses I got....
...No reptiles on the plane...I said they aren't reptiles...
...They have to be in a terrarium...I said this IS a terrarium...
...The cabin pressure will kill them...I said, they flew on a plane from Thailand with hundreds more...

And then they told my parents they were afraid they would get out...What a joke that was...I'm still incredibly bitter about it...I spent over $50 after I was told I was allowed...

tlivs · Post by **tlivs** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:42 pm

just wondering about an update?
have you left yet? how did it work out

kgbenson · Post by **kgbenson** » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:32 am

wodesorel wrote:From working in animal rescue, I know that it is not that rare for planes to either forget to pressurize the baggage compartment, or for it to become depressurized during the flight - either way the crabs would end up frozen. The only issue may be keeping them warm - I doubt in this post 9/11 world you would be allowed heat packs on a plane.

I think heat packs would be fine. After all many commercial jets carry post office packages - some of which have those same heat packs.

Also - if you are taking them as a pet, and ask for them to be treated as a cat or dog they will go in a pressurized hold that is different from standard luggage.

I would offer up another suggestion, this is something I have done when moving with tortoises, geckos and other such critters. Find a trusted friend to care for them and ship them to you later. That way you can get there, get settled in and set up their new home without worrying about them every minute of the day. You can also target shipping to the best window in terms of weather, route and convenience for drop off and pick up. It worked very well for me as compared to other times when I moved the buggers myself.

Keith

MacandHunter · Post by **MacandHunter** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:21 pm

Wow rip! Big move! Why are you moving? Are you moving with the bf? That's really exciting, going to the UK. I'd love to visit there. Hope you have a safe trip and know you will do what is best for the hermies.

ripshaw · Post by **ripshaw** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:47 pm

Hey guys!

Sorry a bit of a late reply here but wanted to provide updates. My move to the UK was delayed but I got here a little over a week ago. I couldnt bring my crabs over right away because US Airways doesnt allow them in the cabin or cargo, so my husband will have to bring them over with him later as he is flying continental. The fee from Continental is $149 for "exotic animal" handling down below in cargo, so for that amount of money they better not forget to pressurize haha. The good thing is that way the airline takes responsibility and TSA doesnt have to get flustered during security screening.

UK customs has no problem with the crabs. They are not covered by DEFRA and I just had to get permission from the UK Fish Health Inspectorate who said all was fine. I just cant wait for them to get here, I know they'll love it because there's no sunlight and everything is damp LOL. It's like hermie heaven!

crabloverhr · Post by **crabloverhr** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:25 pm

Good Luck

crabloverhr

Post by **wodesorel** » Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:56 am

Congrats! I was hoping everything worked out well!