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Hand warmers = DEAD SNAKES ~ Please Read

snakesRkewl

snakesRkewl

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Please do not ever under any circumstances ship snakes with hand warmers!!

I recently entered into a trade for a fairly high dollar snake and the other party agreed to ship first, unfortunately he didn't put me off a week to get proper 40 hour heat packs to ship the snake in and instead used two hand warmers :(

Two hand warmers in a 7x7x6 box with two small holes for ventilation = death

Hand warmers burn hotter than 40 hour heat packs and in a small space they will remove oxygen faster than the box can pull in air through the ventilation holes.

The results are predictable, please do not ever use hand warmers!

I do not want this to become a bashing post, the guy who shipped to me was quite tore up over this, it was a costly mistake that I hope others won't make, hopefully this warning helps that cause.
 
This is excellent information for anyone not familiar with shipping in cold temps. While I've never run into this personally, we've all read plenty of cases on the BOI. Great post, Jerry, but I'm really sorry to hear what prompted you to put it here. :(

Maybe this can be stickied to stay at the top?
 
I'm so sorry to hear this. It's gotta be traumatic on so many levels for all concerned.

I really wish people would put the money and patience into getting warmers that are tried and true. It's not like they're expensive!
 
Thats crappy! Sorry Jerry, new people need to see stuff like this because they don't realize products that are marketed to the reptile industry are marketed for a reason. You can't just substitute certain things because they are cheaper.
 
Shadera said:
I'm so sorry to hear this. It's gotta be traumatic on so many levels for all concerned.

I really wish people would put the money and patience into getting warmers that are tried and true. It's not like they're expensive!
Click to expand...

It is unfortunate that many still see nothing wrong with it. In fact, when I used them two or three times (same shipping date), that's what I had been advised to use.

I was fortunate that my animals only arrived chilled, it could have been worse (as I have learned from other's experiences) :(

Some of us will still cut corners, but we won't always be so lucky. I am sorry that you had this experience, Jerry.
 
Sorry you had to go through with this. To hell with the monetary loss, I'd be crushed if I was waiting eagerly in anticipation for a snake that when I opened the box was dead. Thanks for the warning, although I knew better and ordered a dozen from reptilesexpress the last time I got shipping supplies. Anyone know if there is a shelflife on these things?
 
MrBig said:
Sorry you had to go through with this. To hell with the monetary loss, I'd be crushed if I was waiting eagerly in anticipation for a snake that when I opened the box was dead. Thanks for the warning, although I knew better and ordered a dozen from reptilesexpress the last time I got shipping supplies. Anyone know if there is a shelflife on these things?
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To say I was excited would be an understatement.
A new male that would up my game next season and make me some really kewl snakes, oh yeah I was eagerly awaiting this snake.
The monetary value loss to me was very small compared to the other guy, I lost shipping fees for the snake I was sending out, I'm not about to pursue that, just doesn't seem right.
I've already set in motion another trade for the same genetics so in the long run it won't effect me other than the memory of that smell...
I would be happy if I never smelled that smell again coming out of a box :(
 
snakesRkewl said:
I would be happy if I never smelled that smell again coming out of a box :(
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Seems that the "smell" is something that I've heard about with most cases of using hand warmers. I bring that up because it says (at least to me) that these animals died fairly early in their journey.

I was just reading my 40-hour pack. It talks about other packs made by this same company that go for 20+ hours, 30+, 40+, 60+ and up to 72 hours of heat. It then goes onto read that the shorter duration heat packs get a higher surface temperature, and they reach it faster. The 40-hour heat pack is supposed to maintain a surface temp of 100 degrees. I haven't check on hand warmers, but I can only imagine what temp they get up to. :ack2:
 
So sorry to hear that Jerry = ( that poor little snakey...

I agree that this might make for a good "Sticky" perhaps in the shipping section of the site. If someone is in the hobby with a high value animal such as this and didn't see the difference between using a hand warmer vs. a standard 40hr heat pack then you know there are others out there that will attempt to ship with hand warmers. This is particularly true as colder weather is coming around.
 
MrBig said:
although I knew better and ordered a dozen from reptilesexpress the last time I got shipping supplies.
Click to expand...
Maybe reptile shipping companies shouldn't sell them if they don't work well in the shipping process.
Jerry, I'm sorry for your loss :(
 
MrBig said:
Anyone know if there is a shelflife on these things?
Click to expand...

Yes, there is an expiration date stamped on the outer packaging. They're typically good for at least a year, so it's a good thing to always have some lying around. I grabbed a 60 hour pack because I have a couple in my desk, and as an example it says the expiration date is BEST12072012. So a little over a year, and I've had them about that long. As long as they're not stiff when you open them, and you give them a chance to start up before you stick them in the box to check that they're producing heat, you've got a good one.
 
dustinNMpythons said:
That's horrible Jerry! What was he if you don't mind me asking, unless he's a secret project?
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It's not really relevant to the post, I'd rather keep this post on topic.
Matt2979
Seems that the "smell" is something that I've heard about with most cases of using hand warmers. I bring that up because it says (at least to me) that these animals died fairly early in their journey.
Click to expand...
I agree, probably within hours of being shipped.

Lucille
Maybe reptile shipping companies shouldn't sell them if they don't work well in the shipping process.
Click to expand...
As far as I know they don't sell hand warmers, they sell 40hour heat packs, which when used properly are generally safe to use, but can also be an issue if not used correctly.
 
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