Shipping question

Ok so I know everyone ships their snakes overnight thru fedex mostly. I can understand why some reptiles like lizards or things that are more fragile or require more attention but why snakes? Snakes can go without eating and drinking for a while and Assuming the temps are at a normal range. Is it because it's in some regulations?

I used to raise poultry, exotic birds and gamebirds and even with them we shipped always 2 days. Some places would get them next day, others 3 days maybe the latest. We would just put in an apple for moisture and I never had any arrive dead in all my years.

So, why overnight?

Mostly from peer pressure and paranoia; however, it's probably best to keep shipping time to a minimum. I agree though, many of these snakes that are frequently shipped overnight could probably live a month in a box as long as there's air to breathe and temps that aren't too extreme. I receive animals all the time via 2-Day, and if they're packed correctly they do just fine.

Stress and temperatures during travel are the two big issues.

Also if something happens with an overnight shipment (like this from when I had a boa shipped last year: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...d.php?t=538969) then it becomes a two-day shipment. If there's a mess-up on a two-day shipment, it can become a three day or over-weekend shipment.

Risk management, stress minimization, and a small touch of anthropomorphism coalesce into the standard/common practice.