I'm not ready to write off your postal guys yet. Are you convinced your
geckos were packed properly? Certain kinds of geckos need different
kinds of packing, and delicate gex, well, all the more reason to get
serious about this. My containers used are not many times bigger than
the geckos so they don't bounce excessively in their own container, it
is assumed the box will be dropped and batted around. I spray containers
first, then shred up paper towels to provide hiding places and impact
cushioning at the same time. I usually leave a larger paper towel with a
corner sticking out at one place in the deli cup lid to help provide
more cushioning and a place for small gex to sit (thanks for the trick
Magnus!). There is even an art to shredding the paper towels, narrow
strips for more airspace, larger for bottom cushioning. The idea is to
create a honeycomb type deal the gex can move around in a little bit
while being protected from impact as much as possible.
As you can tell, I pack my gex like they were going UPS, although I
don't believe in shipping live gex through a service that says "pack
your box so it can be dropped from a height of 10 feet!" I like using
moss when shipping Phelsuma, more moisture in the bottom in hot
conditions. I may use a combo of moss and paper towels, depends on the
gecko. All too often I have seen importers put in one flat paper towel
that is sopping wet in the bottom of a deli cup, and that is it. The
gecko is left to bounce around with no cushioning whatsoever. Often
times that ends badly, some kind of fungus is growing on the sopping wet
towel, etc. It is no wonder so many imports die, what chance do they
have with improper packing?
Once I have packed the gex, I leave them to sit for a few hours or
overnight if possible so they get used to the container. I have had a
couple leopards just plain freak out after packing and die in transport.
I want them to freak out in controlled conditions first, if they are too
jumpy after being in the container for a while they don't go.
Now the container. I have been using Superior Enterprises
you-put-it-together insulated boxes, and those work great for the
average shipment of 1-2 gex. In the winter, I put in a layer of styro
popcorn on the bottom, then put a sheet of bubble wrap on top of it.
Fantastic cushioning, and the stryro popcorns retain heat well. I put
the gex on top of the bubble wrap, which puts them at roughly just past
the center of the box nearest the top, then insulate with more styro
popcorn. On the top of the box lid facing the gex I tape an RLD
Enterprises 60hr heat pack. Yes, they may be delayed, if if they are
delayed a day or two this pack will keep the heat going. There is always
something between the heat pack and the gex, usually a combo of a
legal-sized envelope and styro popcorns. Heat packs should never
directly contact the gex. In the summer I use newspaper instead because
it does not retain heat well and also cool packs if necessary. Newspaper
or thick paper can also be manipulated/crunched up for maximum air
circulation. My boxes have one hole on the four sides.
Before doing all this, I check the weather. For tough gex like leopards,
I like a low of no more than 30F during the day and hopefully during the
night. I like http://www.yahooweather.com because they give highs and
lows. During the summer I try not to ship in temps over 80F. This
weather check is for the shipping hubs likely used, the arrival
destination airport and town (for the truck ride, pretty critical).
Back tracking even more, before setting up the shipment, I ask if my
shipping method has worked for the customer in the past. If there have
been problems, we use a different method, although different methods are
getting far and few between these days! ;-)
Going back to this specific situation, dropped tails are most likely the
sign of hard impact or some other type of severe stressor, like too much
heat, cold or noise. Usually there is some agreement between the shipper
and receiver about live arrival. Some shippers guarantee this, some
don't, some are conditional on type of shipping. Be sure to talk about
it before the gex are in transit. I'm picky about the weather conditions
regardless - waiting is tough on the little customers, but I tell them
they don't want to open a box of dead geckos! This does happen to all
gex shippers. When it does, I talk to my customers about every
circumstance I can, was the heat pack still warm, were the gex upside
down (freaked out), box intact, etc. This way I can use the knowledge to
do my best the next time around.
Julie Bergman
http://www.geckoranch.com
GGA lifetime member
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