lytlesnake
Border Patrol Penguin
- Messages
- 695
- Location
- So. California
Since shipping/receiving herps via overnight air is a two way street, here's some advice on receiving geckos. This applies to snakes, frogs and other herps too, but I'm referring mainly to leopard/fat tail geckos here.
If you're going to have them held for pickup, try to find the company location that's nearest the airport. Have the seller hold them until they can arrive on a day that's convenient for you.
Get them as soon as you can and bring them straight home! I made the mistake of running a bunch of errands (grocery shopping, etc...) after picking up some geckos, and I think it put additional stress on them. Even though they were in a snug and shaded spot in my truck, the extra couple hours in a shipping box did not help. My female RAPTOR took over 6 months to adjust. She got really thin and I was worried for a long time, but now she's eating 10-15 mealies per night and looking great.
These geckos are highly sensitive little critters, so it's imperative that you do everything possible to minimize their stress. Remember, you just got them, but they've been taken out of their comfortable home and put in a deli cup/cardboard box. Then they've been bumped around and possibly turned upside down numerous times on shipping counters, converyor belts, trucks and airplanes. A quiet room with shaded natural sunlight is ideal for relaxing the geckos once you get them home.
As for which company to use, I personally have had the best luck picking up from Fed Ex, but as usual, YMMV. Fed Ex seems to get them there early, they'll wake you up with an automated message on your answering machine to let you know your package has arrived, and their facility is well air conditioned.
If you're going to have them held for pickup, try to find the company location that's nearest the airport. Have the seller hold them until they can arrive on a day that's convenient for you.
Get them as soon as you can and bring them straight home! I made the mistake of running a bunch of errands (grocery shopping, etc...) after picking up some geckos, and I think it put additional stress on them. Even though they were in a snug and shaded spot in my truck, the extra couple hours in a shipping box did not help. My female RAPTOR took over 6 months to adjust. She got really thin and I was worried for a long time, but now she's eating 10-15 mealies per night and looking great.
These geckos are highly sensitive little critters, so it's imperative that you do everything possible to minimize their stress. Remember, you just got them, but they've been taken out of their comfortable home and put in a deli cup/cardboard box. Then they've been bumped around and possibly turned upside down numerous times on shipping counters, converyor belts, trucks and airplanes. A quiet room with shaded natural sunlight is ideal for relaxing the geckos once you get them home.
As for which company to use, I personally have had the best luck picking up from Fed Ex, but as usual, YMMV. Fed Ex seems to get them there early, they'll wake you up with an automated message on your answering machine to let you know your package has arrived, and their facility is well air conditioned.
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