General Care Discussion :: How to travel with RES

[ashipyor]

I'm about to make a 4 hour car ride...any suggestion on how I should travel with my RES? He's just a baby (very very tiny) that I rescued from an illegal seller.

[trudykurz]

I'm sorry I can't help, I was wondering the same thing, I have to take my two year old rescued turt on a 4 hour car ride to Dallas, so any posting that helps is appreciated.

[geekyturtle]

I took my 3"er on a 7hr train ride before xmas, and will be doing the same tomorrow. I got a Glad tupperware that was big enough for him to crawl in a bit (the 'medium' rectangle ones, I think), poked some holes in it (do it slowly with pointy scissors or a pointy screwdriver or else the plastic will crack!), and put some moist paper towels in it. Then I put him in it and taped it shut with masking tape (didn't cover the air holes though). I put it at the top of my bag and he was fine when I took him out of the bag 7hrs later. Of course I checked on him once in a while and didn't let the bag get smashed by other bags on the train (it's not as cramped for small bags as it is on a plane).

It should be easier in a car - no worry about other people. I wouldn't put any water in it, but since you have a car, maybe get a sealed bucket of water and some food, and make a rest stop to give him a chance to eat and poop

[Kemul]

geekyturtle's method looks correct, since the turtle survived the trip

Anyway, this page will help you get started on planning for the trip.

Good luck and safe trip!

[ashipyor]

Thank you all so much! I'm so worried about the little guy...

[Keith]

Is the Midwest cold this time of year? If it is really cold, just make sure your turtle is warm and happy and he'll most likely be fine if you do what geekyturtle did. Sounds like an excellent plan to me!

[Daniel3507]

http://www.redearslider.com/transportation.html

[TheComputerGremlin]

Yeah, the Texas person should be fine, but the Midwest person, you'll want to make sure your car is as warm as you can make it, and wrap a towel or blanket around the outside of the container to keep it well insulated during the trip. If it would fit, you could try putting it in a cooler or styrofoam container (with the top off, of course).

Oh, and 4 hours isn't really enough time to need to stop and hydrate your turtle mid-way. If it was much more than that, maybe, but 4 hours should be fine, and you won't have to worry about potentially Salmonella water floating around.

[mikee]

as-or -- For travel, putting him in a safe damp, and warm place will do fine for a 4 or 5 hour trip. Since he is little you will have to make sure he stays a a constant temp. Constant hot, cold, hot cold is not good for them. He is small and his temp will change as rapid as you change the temp. Try and keep the temp at a level temp and put him in water that is about 77 to 78 degrees and keep it there. Good Luck!! m.