Using Heatpacks?

[Jamie Cooper]

The Spider Shop recommend using them between October - March. But it still gets pretty cold at night and it's late April. Is there a temperature guide that you guys use to know when to use heat packs in your packages?

Any advice is greaty appreciated.

Jamie

[K Smith]

Hi Jamie,

I usually put them in when the temp could reach below 10 to maybe 8 degrees just to be on the safe side, (especially for the more fragile species), hardier species could probably be ok overnight with temps down to 5 degrees, checking the weather forecast online for your area and the destination is a must.

I've never had a problem before doing this. I'd rather put one in just incase, than not put one in and risk it.

That's my opinion but i'm sure other people do it differently...

[Chris Graham]

Its always best to use them if the temperature is (or below) 4°C I usually find, don't forget to check the night time temps also.

[Craig Mackay]

I'm always careful if the day time temps are forecast to be high. It's much easier to overheat a spider than to freeze it. A heat pack on a hot day in a little box with limited oxygen is a recipe for disaster. If in doubt, don't send and wait for a day with a better balance between the day and night. Most tarantulas are very hardy though and capable of coping with both extremes pretty well.

[K Smith]

[QUOTE=Craig Mackay: A heat pack on a hot day in a little box with limited oxygen is a recipe for disaster. If in doubt, don't send and wait for a day with a better balance between the day and night.[/QUOTE]


Ditto to that...

[Jamie Cooper]

Thanks for the replies guys. Advice noted.

I'm always careful if the day time temps are forecast to be high. It's much easier to overheat a spider than to freeze it. A heat pack on a hot day in a little box with limited oxygen is a recipe for disaster.

Craig, what would you call a high temperature? Over 15 degrees? For example this week, the temps are:

Daytime: Sun: 12 Mon: 13 Tues: 13 Wed: 11
Nightime: Sun: 4 Mon: 6 Tues: 5 Wed: 6

Would you use a heat pack if shipping at these temperatures? Looking at the night time temps I think I would have to. Would you agree?

Jamie

[Craig Mackay]

Yeah, I'd probably throw one in to be on the safe side. I was thinking more when it gets to the high teens/low twenties. Just make sure that it isn't close to the spider or the edge of the box and it'll take the edge off the cold without royal mail getting suspicious of a warm box.

[Jamie Cooper]

Thanks for the info Craig. Yeah that makes sense. I've just bought a load from TSS as I'll be shipping a few packages over the next few weeks. With any luck the weather will pick up, but let's not hold our breath - LOL.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Jamie

[Craig Mackay]

By the way, I'm always really careful about making sure there is no heat coming out the box. I had someone post some spiders to me once and the heat pack was attached to the side of the box. Royal mail felt the heat and found it suspicious and opened the parcel, found the spiders and called the RSPCA to collect them. It was a bit of a hassle but in the end the guy was able to collect them from the RSPCA and resend them but we both could've done without the attention.