Heat Packs

I've always used just one, but lately I've had a few people ask me to use two. I haven't done it, but instead just waited till the temperatures are a little warmer and used one heat pack.

I have heard that sometimes heat packs and cold packs can cause problems.

Have any of you used two heat packs?

It doesn't sound like a good idea to me, so I'm just curious if it works or if it over heats the box.

I would wait until you feel comfortable.

First of all I agree with Eric.

Secondly, I have only used two heat packs when shipping a large amount of geckos overseas in a larger than normal box.

For the size boxes we generally use for shipping 1-4 geckos, one heat pack should be sufficient IMO.

There were a couple of times I used multiple heat packs. One time I needed them to compensate for shipping around freezing temperatures because the customer had to have the geckos right away and did not want to wait. The second occasion was for a large shipment in a large box that required more than one. In either case, it was critical to know how long the heat pack you are using is good for, how long until it reaches peak temperature, and how much each heat pack added will increase the ambient temperature inside the inulated box. I don't recommend it unless you are very confident that you won't overheat them and have the utmost faith the shipper will deliver on time. As the others have said, wait until YOU are comfortable shipping.

I just sent out a box today using 2 heat packs..I use a bigger box for winter shipping and 2 heat packs..one heat pack goes taped to the lid and one on the side of the box.

Eric, Kelli I definitely don't ship unless I'm comfortable with the weather. That's definitely a given.

I would understand if using a larger box to ship using two heat packs.

I was just curious as to your opinions. Thanks

I've used 2 or more heat packs in many shipments. I tend to ship most of the year and being in the Midwest, we have some pretty chilly (cold!) days. Sometimes I use multiple 40hr packs, sometimes in conjunction with 60hr packs, sometimes with 10hr packs. All depends on what temperature lows I'm trying to combat. I shipped a 16"x16"x16" to myself back in January and I used 3 40hr heat packs and 1 10hr heat packs to get the animals there warm. The box was insulated with 1.5" thick styrofoam and contained about 40-45 animals. When they arrived at my hotel in California, the box was not overheated because the overnight temperatures across the midwest were quite low the night before.

I wish shipping with heat packs was an exact science, but it's more of an art with a bit of prayer. Thankfully I've never had a DOA because animal(s) were overheated. Yes I've used more than 1 heat pack (even in a 12"x9"x6" box) for a shipment and yes I've done it regularly during the "Real" winter months.

I think 2 heat packs in the 12" x 9" x 6" box is ok, but not the 7" x 7" x 7". In colder temps (i'd say around 40-50 degrees or so), using the 12" x 9" x 6", to me, is a must and with 2 heat packs... 1 on each side of the box. I would not put a heat pack attached to the lid of the cup like was mentioned in a reply above me, because you never know what kind of a dingbat at the UPS/Fedex hubs just won't even pay attention to the "perishable/handle with care" warnings all over the box, and just throw it up somewhere or put stack it upsidedown... If some idiot there stacks it upsidedown to ship, your reptile would then be sitting directly on the source of heat. I believe the heat packs say that one heat pack will raise the temp inside the box by about 10-15 degrees, and 2 would then be about 25-30 degrees higher, but who knows the accuracy of this claim.