Posts: 67
Threads: 23
Joined: May 2014
I've only shipped in the springtime and early fall when temperatures were at the lowest in the sixties. I live in CA but other parts of the country are still experiencing some pretty cold temperatures, and although I only use FedEx Overnight Priority by 10:30, I'm still not sure of it. I've always used insulated boxes with 3/4" styrofoam and either Cryopaks or Phase22 panels.
How safe are 40 hour heat packs with dart frogs? I've always worried about the amount of heat they would produce inside of a sealed styrofoam insulated box.
Posts: 28
Threads: 1
Joined: Jun 2011
I would not use a shipping type heat pack inside of the styro! Instead,use on the outside of the styro,between the inside of outer cardboard box!. I also like to use a slightly oversized box to ship during the cold months .That way I can add more insulating items inside the box to protect frogs.The larger box may cost a bit more,but the slight increase in shipping to give the frogs an excellent shot to arrive alive,and survive a delay is surely worth it!
Posts: 10,397
Threads: 873
Joined: Oct 2008
There is some talk about not using Styrofoam in the winter and even not double boxing. Wow. I'm not a big shipper but that sounds horrible. The heat pack should definitely not go inside the main frog box. Too risky to cook the frogs.
Posts: 177
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2010
Even though iv done it in the past I would caution against putting a heat pack right inside of the outer cardboard box. I talked to a fed ex worker once about it and she said if someone is handling the package and they notice its giving off heat they may flag the package which could cause them to deny shipment or even open the package. With a properly marked box for live reptiles or frogs it might not cause an issue. Double boxing with the heat pad inbetween is the best method IMO
Posts: 55
Threads: 5
Joined: Mar 2013
in winter time I use a thick bottom styrobox at 40x40x40 cm, it can easily cope with the cold weather here in Europe for a few days or more.
I always use a heat pack inside of the box, I put the frogs, plants, insects in the bottom of the box, crumpled newspapers as stuffing, and i taper the heat source to the inside of the lid "with duct tape", I use in this context two small ventilation channels in the top of the box so it does become too hot, and then the oxygen can be replaced current.
I also have some colleagues who lost frogs by the use of heat pack, but the heating has not been the problem here, but the lack of oxygen, some types of heat pack sucks oxygen very quickly out of the box and can be very dangerous to use, so be aware.
Regards Morten Müller (Denmark)
I did not listen in school, so I must apologize for my Chinese English, I speak it better than I write it
Posts: 67
Threads: 23
Joined: May 2014
Would a Cryopack or Phase 22 panel be good enough to keep the temperature stable during the trip in cold weather?
Posts: 177
Threads: 7
Joined: May 2010
Not on its own in a single foam box IMO
Posts: 10,397
Threads: 873
Joined: Oct 2008
Easy solution. Wait until 40 degrees on both ends