Moving across country - Newts and Tiger Sal moving questions

C

chris

Guest
Im moving across the country (florida to california) next week and I am taking Chewie the Tiger Salamander and my two JFB newts, joe bob and chongs McGillacutti. What is the best manner for the mto travel? The tiger sal is in a 10 gallon tank with lots of substrate - hes always buried underneath. The newts live in a 90% aquatic tank, i figure this will not do well traveling in a car. Should i take out almost all of the water in the newt tank? its goin to be about a 3-4 day journey, im just trying to make sure everyone arrives alive.
 
I would take out all the water in the JFB tank. Just keep them on moist substrate. Other than that, as long as you keep them cool for the ride they should be fine.
 
For transport, I use gladware containers with tightly packed dirt for the terrestrials, and enough water to keep the bottom moist for the aquatics. Just punch some holes in the lids, and voila! It's a lot safer than in their tank, as it has a lid and none of the tank decorations will crush them, and they're a lot more compact. You can put them inside a tank and save space. If it's going to be a long trip, make sure to bring a gallon of treated water to rinse out the tubs daily.
 
my preference for long distances is to move the animals separate then the tank-just incase something happens, i keep the caudates in tupper ware with lots of wet moss and then keep that in a cooler with ice (not dry ice!!!!) that way if for some reason you have a very hot day they wont suffer the effects, make sure they dont eat for a few days before the cooler and they will be fine.
 
Use a sealable container (I like Tupperware or Glad) and moistened moss. You can get the moss at Wal-Mart or or any craft store. You'll have to moisten it, it comes dehydrated. Place them in a cooler with ice, replacing it daily. DO NOT use dry-ice, I only add this because I've seen it done with dire results. You can't keep them too cool for the trip, but you can easily overheat them.

RUSS
 
btw....best to use ice packs if you have them and its not going to be too long a trip, dont forget to put air holes in the containers (and perhaps rubber band or tape the lid on for the tiger if he is too strong for it) and ALSO dont use too much ice -or at least remember to drain off the water a couple of times a day, you dont want to have them drown inside a container that fills with water through the air holes....
 
thanks for all of the tips. i just need to buy big enough tupperware to hold the tiger, hes pretty big.
 
if you have access to a hot glue gun or a wood burner tool you can burn rounded (as in not sharp/cutting)holes in certain types of plastic storage containers, this makes for less likelyhood of a cut from the sharp edges created by cutting/drilling-if you have to cut or drill do so from the inside of the container/lid outwards-that way the sharpest part is away from them.
 
what size should the containers be for them? i have a big cooler.
 
i transport my newts in gladware, too... those disposable containers that are like 25 cents... i cant add to anyone else's suggestions, no idea why i'm posting, but... I usually use a medium sized container, although i don't usually transport them for as long as you're planning on, so.... i dunno... Good luck with the move and such
 
i have used the gladware/ziploc disposable containers for transporting newts before... pretty much any size but the smallest will probably be ok as long as you have (1) lots of damp moss to keep them moist and (2) air holes so they don't suffocate.

when i pack them in a cooler, i make sure to put the ice packs along the sides of the cooler and the containers rather than on top of and/or bottom of the containers. i do that so the newts can get away from the cold if they want. i use ice packs ("blue ice" and the like, best if they are made of hard plastic to prevent punctures or tears) rather than ice, if you are staying in a hotel along the way you can often get a freezer to re-freeze them in at night.
 
OK well its been a while but the internet has been messing up here. I sucessfully moved a tiger salamander, 2 Japaneese firebelly newts, a green tree frog, a firebelly toad, and a peacock eel from Florida to Los angeles. Thanks to everyone that provided help, the cooler worked out great. Trip was 5 days in the car, im sure they we mad at me.
 
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