Shipping your crabs - LEGALLY and properly!

[Guest]

Okay, I have contacted all the shippers I could think of and some airlines and this is what I've found out: FedEx - WILL NOT ACCEPT LIVE ANIMALS for shipmentUPS - will accept live animals for shipment, if you have a UPS account and fill out a contract. Since I do have a UPS account, someone from business services is going to contact me will all the details. (even though I don't intend to ship any crabs!) I'll update here when I hear back..........Airborne Express � �Thank you for contacting DHL/Airborne Express. The following lists unacceptable and restricted items for domestic and international. Animals: live bees, birds, insects, lizards, mammals, reptiles, or snakes. Note: The following are acceptable domestic AIR shipments under special conditions, but are prohibited GROUND shipments: tortoises, frogs, non-venomous insects, fish, crabs, lobster, crawfish and worms. DOMESTIC: Prohibited INTERNATIONAL: Prohibited We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.� I also got a second email from them that they are researching the specific requirements. They will get back to me����..and I will update you. USPS - hermit crabs ARE acceptable as "other small, harmless cold-blooded animals" They must be shipped in: �Any mailing container used for mailable animals must be made of at least 275-pound test, double wall, corrugated, weather-resistant fiberboard (W5c) or equivalent and must be adequately ventilated. The container must be constructed to prevent escape of the animals while in the mail and to preclude the container and its contents from being crushed in normal handling. The outside of the container must include a return address and a description of the contents. A container marked �If Undeliverable, Abandon� is not accepted.� I also spoke with a very nice gentleman at USPS and asked him several questions. I discovered that it is advisable that you put your phone number on the return address, preferably under your name. (not under the zip code) I also found out that it is best to put a �deliver by� date on the front of the box. If a box with live animals cannot be delivered, or returned to sender, by that date, it will be disposed of! That is why its important for your phone number to be on the outside of the box, so that they can contact you if there is a problem with delivery! If there is no date, the package will be disposed of at USPS� discretion! I tried to find out how they go about disposing of boxes of undeliverable live animals, but no one there seemed to know. Probably best����..I don�t think I want to know! All of this information and more can be found in Pub 52, and also the DMM, section C022.3 (Domestic Mail Manual). I asked about plane temperatures and such and was instructed to contact the commercial airlines! Which I did! See below!Continental Airlines � will accept packages of live animals (minimum charge $30 for airport to airport delivery), but you must be a known shipper (like USPS) or have an account with them, which you can apply for! I also found out from them that on all regular jet planes, the cargo hold is pressurized and climate controlled! The temps. range from 68 � 70 degrees! Woohoo! I found out that USPS uses Continental airlines and also American. (I didn�t have time to contact American, sorry folks!) Continental also told me that if a box is marked Live Animals (or live hermit crabs�..) that it WILL receive special treatment! The bad news of all this is that the smaller planes are not temperature controlled or pressurized. According to the lady I talked to, the pressure alone would kill the crabs������..so, I think it is much better to write the contents of the box, so it will receive special treatment. They WON�T put a box of live animals on a plane that does not have a pressurized or temp. controlled cargo area. If you are sending to a more rural area, its likely that these are the planes they use. So, you don�t want to chance it and have your crabs killed.

[Guest]

Update: since Airborne Express and DHL have merged, their new policy is to NOT accept shipments of any live animals!

[Guest]

So basically, USPS is the only option, other than opening an account with UPS?I have had 2 shipments shipped USPS, and they were both second day because they can't ship overnight to all locations. This really bothers me as far as shipping crabs are concerned. With the second shipment, they were to arrive on a monday, which was a balmy 75* . Instead they arrived the next day, which happened to be only 38*, and the crabs were frozen, and over half of them died. Weather is just to temperamental where I live to ship 2nd day.I'm so sad to hear that about Fedex, as my hermies shipped through them have always arrived in the best condition. Guess I'll have to buddy up to the UPS man

[TristessaKC]

AWESOME! You did some great detective work, now when I've shipped crabs, I've never told the people what's in the box, if I do tell them do I have to fill out special paperwork? Just seeing if anyone new! Thanks!

[Guest]

No, Tris. If you send USPS, which is the only legal option for most of us folks, there is no special paperwork. Just make sure it is in the proper box, properly packed and labeled. If they don't want to accept it, tell them that they have to! he, he. You can always go armed with Pub. 52 and the DMM section listed above. It is available at www.usps.com You can find both by doing a search for "live animals" or search for "dmm"

[Guest]

If people are going to ship crabs, in any kind of weather, what is the proper way to ship them? How should they be packaged? What kind of packing materials should be used?Where can you buy the right packing supplies?What company is best to use? What should you NOT do when shipping crabs?Instead of bashing people for or against shipping durring certian months of the year, why not educate them on the proper way to ship? (not trying to sound mean in any way, just thought we should be telling people what to do instead of what not to do )

[Guest]

I have shipped a handfull of times, and it makes me nervous as all getout every time I do it. But they have always gotten there happy and healthy.I use a plastic container, small gladware, butter dish what have you- big enough for the crabs to move around a little. I always ship at least two so they don't get lonely - a travelling buddy. I put in a fairly damp paper towel, and last time I even added an apple slice, which one was munching on when the new owner recieved them Of course I cut airholes in the top, good sized ones, but not big enough that they could escape through them. I tape the container shut, as ones I've had shipped to me have managed to escape and were found running around the outside box.I put them in a good sized box, usually something I had from previous shipping, or you could get one from a local shippng place or the post office. I stuff underneath the container with bubble wrap, and tape the container to the bubble wrap so it doesn't slide around. Then I pack around the sides and top with popcorn, shredded paper (no ink), or even that easter grass. Something that will cushion but still allow airflow. I tape the box, and add a few subtle airholes on the sides.I know some people wrap the crabs in cheesecloth, secure it with a rubber band, and give them a dunk in water- mine seemed to be okay wandering around the little container with damp paper towels to help cushion.I know one time I received crabs wrapped with damp gauze- I do not recommend this, as they escaped it, plus the strings got caught in the limb joints which can cut off circulation.Of course I monitor the weather here, and wherever I am shipping to. I look for daytime highs of less than 85 and nightime lows of 60 or above. I understand the plane cargo can be cold, but they spend the majority of their time in a warehouse. I have never had problems shipping/receiving in this type of weather.I think this about covers it, if I think of anything else I will add.

[Guest]

Yes, I am in complete agreement.How can we have a discussion, when a thread is locked? The fact is, I received a frozen, dormant crab last May. Sometimes the summer temperatures can get overwhelming. Of course, there are the different geographical issues, such as some places too hot in summer, with milder temperatures in winter, and some cold northern areas (Idaho, Montano, many parts of Colorado) that never sufficiently warm up in the summer months for hermit crab shipping.So, by not discussing the means and how to's of winter shipping, people will not know how to adequately package hermies in different situations. It's like saying if you live in Montana, Idaho, Northern Washington, Vancouver B.C., New York, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire etc. you should never ship or receive any hermit crabs ever. Putting knowledge and tools into people's hands, so they can ship hermit crabs appropriately is of utmost importance. Yes, I can understand and sympathize with the HCA's stance, but lets not suppress viewpoints here, nor pass any judgements on people who choose to ship and receive hermies in winter.I have received information before, from another member here, about the various different carriers. It is a good idea to talk to them, however, most do not like shipping live animals of any sort at all, and put all responsibility and liability on the shipper/receiver. If I recall, Airborne Express may the easiest of all the shippers to work with, since they are more willing to ship live animals than other companies as a whole.This all boils down to again, not looking for anyone to scapegoat or put blame on, but the shipper of hermies must find out how to winter ship. There are a variety of methods. Most respectable companies will delay shipping of live herps and animals in inclement weather, and ask the customer for their local temperature, or look it up themselves.In a way, it is almost a better idea to recommend spring and fall shipping for that matter. The temperatures are between extremes at that time. Another idea.Yet, the weather is an irrevelant issue, like JMT said. Proper packaging is really the issue, and needs to be discussed. A good idea would be to call the reputable herp shippers to find out some of their different methods. One, I know of, requests in winter for customers to pick up their herps at the post office, so they don't ride all day in a mail truck. Another I saw somewhere, has tiered levels of winter packaging according to the temperature. Double boxing, styofoam layer between double boxes, one heat pad, two heat pads, three heat pads, so on and so forth. There is more than one method to use, and more than one way to apply it.You know, I get live large cricket shipments every two weeks. I live in Washington State. And everyone who has crickets knows, they are way easy to kill. They must stay between 70-85 degrees max, and if too cold for a little bit of time will die. The ones I receive are healthy.To finish this, JMT said all months are bad if something isn't done. I completely agree.Gertie

[Guest]

Hey CoolCrabbie!I copied this real quick, since this new post is at the bottom of many posts. You asked:>If people are going to ship crabs, in any kind of weather, what is the proper way to ship them? How should they be packaged? What kind of packing materials should be used?Where can you buy the right packing supplies?What company is best to use? What should you NOT do when shipping crabs? This is a subject that NEEDS attention, so that both crabbers and companies can do it right. The knowledge needs to get out there. There are several, several, several ways and shipping containers that are used for shipping of animals winter, spring, summer and fall. See, we've moved off the winter statement issue, and we're now talking about better shipping procedures.Better shipping procedures..I have talked to a few companies already, and they all employ different ways. Heck if I know what is best, but I am saying we need to figure it out for the welfare of the crabs. Perhaps we can change all those hermie shippers out there, one at a time, by coming up with ways to ship hermies the safest possible way. Guidelines, for people who own pet shops, or individual crabbers. That will, I must say, take some research and work and brainstorming. I am just trying to put an issue on the table. Anyone who wants to run away with the idea may.Gertie

[Guest]

I agree Lolo!BTW- Airborne Express will ship animals knowingly, so in some ways, they are a better choice.All this shipping discussion leads into other arenas.........................Fed Ex and the Post Office would definitely like to stop handling any animal shipments period!As for the unpacking containers and sending them back to the shipper, that's a good idea. However, the unpacking and sending will have to be done on the receivers time, and perhaps they could get a credit when the container is received again by teh shipper. The idea that Mae had of making a special container is right on the money. Maybe some people here could start working on such a project. There are, however, other options out there for shipping containers too. I will say it again, I have received a frozen crab in May. So, it is not just a winter shipping problem, it is a packaging problem. Packaging for the belly of a plane, which both JMT and Lolo pointed out. And I hope, CrystalStone, that nobody would ever say anything to you! You have done nothing wrong! The crabs you received, with an inactivated heat pad and poor packaging........that is not your fault! Let no one mistake or blame you for something not of your doing! We are all members here, on LHC, and if there is one thing that ties all of us together, it is our love and compassion for hermit crabs and all animals. Gertie