Due to the large amount of information needed to safely ship live animals, we have divided our standards into different categories so that specific information can be more easily found. 

In addition to understanding the details listed on this page, it is critical for you to understand these pages as well. These are ALL included in our Shipping Standard Requirements. 

Packaging Live Shipments

Temperature Guidelines and Standards

Using Heat Packs and Cold Packs

You may ship non-venomous reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fish, corals, and plant life within the United States. We do not do any import or export shipping.

You may ship dry goods related to reptile, aquatic, and/or horticulture industries, such as food, bedding, cages, lights, filters, etc.

You may not ship illegal drugs, batteries, liquor, aerosols, firearms and ammunition, fireworks, explosives, mammals (no dogs, no cats), birds, dry ice, and absolutely no venomous reptiles.

Redline Shipping is approved for the shipping of live non-venomous reptiles, amphibians, aquatic livestock, plant life, and related supplies to and from business and residential addresses.

You must follow all Redline Shipping Standards.

You must also follow all FedEx rules and restrictions. For more details, see this section of the FedEx site: FedEx Express Terms & Conditions

Very large, heavy, or powerful animals may need special shipping arrangements that cannot be done through Redline Shipping.

Pythons or boas larger than 4 inches in diameter or 8 feet in length may not be shipped with Redline Shipping.

To ship a larger reptile, you must build or buy a strong wooden crate and ship it using a freight service such as Delta Air Cargo.

If in doubt about whether or not your animal is restricted, contact Customer Service at 303-347-0500 or Contact Us.

Also be aware of FedEx extra fees and limits on package sizes.

Large and/or heavy packages

A shipment is considered an "oversized package" when:

• Its longest side exceeds 96"
• OR it's length plus its girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] exceeds 130 inches, but does not exceed the FedEx maximum size of 165 inches
• OR its weight exceeds 90 pounds but does not exceed the FedEx maximum weight of 150 pounds

If your package meets any of these criteria, FedEx will add an Oversize Surcharge, and this is not cheap!

• Express or Ground - ranges between $160 to $205* depending on shipping zones
• Home Delivery - ranges between $190 to $240* depending on shipping zones

Regardless of the actual weight of your box, if it exceeds the dimensions listed above, it will be charged as a 90 pound box, at a minimum...plus the extra surcharge! 

Peak Oversize Surcharge: And if that weren't enough, if you ship such a large box during the "peak" holiday season (which runs from October into January) there may be an additional charge of $39.50.*

Packages with an actual weight of more than 150 pounds, OR that exceed 119 inches in length, OR exceed a total of 165 inches in length and girth, as measured to determine their billable weight, are not accepted for transportation. Express packages that exceed these maximums will be refused outright. If refused, they may be returned to the sender, or they may be disposed of, if the sender is not available to retrieve them. Ground packages may be refused, returned or disposed of...OR, they may actually get shipped, at FedEx's discretion. But if it gets shipped, you'll be charged an additional surchage fee of $1,250!! So, If you manage to sneak a package into the system that exceeds these maximum dimensions, you will get hit with a massive shipping bill! So don't do it! 

TIP: When you measure your package, be sure to measure the bulges. Bulges will push some larger boxes over the limit.

*as of January 1, 2024

Redline Shipping offers the following FedEx shipping services:

• Priority Overnight
  • All reptiles MUST go Priority Overnight (PO) or Standard Overnight (SO)
    • Standard Overnight may only be used for shipments being held for pickup at the recipient's local FedEx Ship Center
  • Aquatics and inverts can go slower, but we strongly recommend PO for all live shipments for best chance of success
  • Preferred for live plants
• 2Day Express
  • Invertebrates and aquatic creatures can be sent via 2Day Express
  • Hardy live plants
  • ANY shipment sent slower than PO will not qualify for Live Arrival Insurance.
• Express Saver (3day Express)
  • This service is not recommended for any live shipment
• Ground (to business addresses)
  • For dry goods and merchandise shipping only
• Home Delivery (ground service to a residential address)
  • For dry goods and merchandise shipping only

Failure to use Priority Overnight or Standard Overnight for live shipments will void any insurance coverage. Shipping is within the continental United States. We do not do any import or export shipping.

All live reptiles must be shipped FedEx Priority Overnight or Standard Overnight, Monday through Thursday only. An overnight Friday shipment won't arrive until Monday. That is not acceptable and not permitted.

Due to typical FedEx patterns of congestion, the ideal days to ship out are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Mondays tend to be busier and have a higher risk of encountering an overnight delay. A delay on a package shipped out on a Thursday has a risk of being an extra long over-weekend delay. 

Standard Overnight may only be used for shipments being held for pickup at the recipient's local FedEx Ship Center

2Day shipments must also consider that a Saturday arrival is not available, so should not be shipped out any later than Wednesday.

Ground delivery times are variable considering the distance the package must travel by truck. Use this FedEx map feature to determine how long your Ground shipment might take and plan your drop-off accordingly. The number of days can also be found on your Redline Shipping Quick Quote.

Absolutely no venomous reptiles are to be shipped through FedEx or Redline Shipping. Absolutely no mammals or birds.

FedEx requires you to use certified packaging from Redline Shipping. That is a new, or like new, cardboard box with an interior of insulating foam. The foam insulation is tight fitting and is ¾ inch thick on all six sides. The box should not bear markings that indicate dangerous or illegal content. Redline shipping packaging meets or exceeds these standards.

The box must be large enough to contain (along with the foam insulation) the deli cup, reptile bag, fish bag, etc, along with adequate packing material to protect the animal(s). Space should also be allowed for any necessary heat or cold packs safely separated from touching the animal.

The box has a minimum burst strength rating of 275 pounds.

The box must have FOUR ventilation holes. No more, and no less. Two at each end of the box, approximately 1/4" in diameter. A philips screwdriver is perfect to make these. Punch through both the cardboard and the insulation (before the animal has been put into the box!).

Tape used to seal the box must be packing tape specified for shipping boxes. DO NOT use masking tape, scotch tape, duct tape, or any other weird tape. Tape should cover only the center seam on the top and bottom of the box. Do not cover all the seams with tape.

The box must include the appropriate Lacey Act/IATA labeling. 

US Postal boxes, Amazon.com boxes, even FedEx branded boxes are NOT ALLOWED for live shipments. In fact they are specifically prohibited. It’s not just a visual graphics issue, it’s also a thickness and materials issue. These commonly available boxes are too thin to meet the FedEx strength requirements for live shipments. 

Using these prohibited boxes will get your shipment refused or stopped during transit, endangering the life of your animal, and endangering the status of our FedEx account.  Using ANY kind of box that does not meet the above stated criteria will nullify any Live Arrival Insurance.

All the supplies you need can be found here: Shipping Supplies.

All shipping supplies and kits sold at Redline Shipping are specifically approved and certified by FedEx and meet all industry standards for shipping live reptiles and aquatics. Using our supplies and kits allow you to rest assured that your animals are being shipped as safely and reliably as possible. 

Shipping Kits (best for one-time or very infrequent shipments)

Bulk Supplies (best for anyone planning to ship more often)

FedEx requires you to use certified packaging from Redline Shipping. Redline shipping packaging meets or exceeds these standards:

• Cardboard box is new, or like new, with a minimum burst strength of 275 lbs.
• No markings that indicate dangerous or illegal contents (no alcohol boxes). 
  • Box must not have any kind of warning or hazardous material markings or stickers.
• Box should be labeled in accordance with the Lacey Act. See more on that here.
• Insulation foam is tight fitting and at least ¾ inch thick. The insulating foam must cover all six sides inside the cardboard box.
• Heat or cold packs must be used according to Redline Shipping Standards.
• You must use a “triple container” or “quadruple container” depending on what species you’re shipping
• Triple for reptiles
  • The deli cup or cloth reptile bag
  • The insulating foam container
  • The cardboard box
• Quadruple for invertebrates
  • A vial or delicup for the animal(s)
  • A container to hold the vial or delicup
  • The insulating foam container
  • The cardboard box
• Quadruple for aquatics
  • Securely sealed and puncture resistant bags for the animal(s). FedEx requires aquatics to be DOUBLE BAGGED.
  • A box liner of heavy plastic to catch any leaking water
    • (FedEx will typically discard any box leaking an unknown fluid, with no warning or notice.)
  • The insulating foam container
  • The cardboard box
• You must seal the box adequately. All shipping labels must be fully legible.

US Postal boxes, Amazon.com boxes, even FedEx branded boxes are NOT ALLOWED for live shipments. In fact they are specifically prohibited. It’s not just a visual graphics issue, it’s also a thickness and materials issue. These commonly available boxes are too thin to meet the FedEx strength requirements for live shipments. 

Using these prohibited boxes will get your shipment refused or stopped during transit, endangering the life of your animal, and endangering the status of our FedEx account.  Using ANY kind of box that does not meet the above stated criteria will nullify any Live Arrival Insurance.

If you don't have time to order supplies, or you live in a remote region where it's cost-prohibitive to have empty boxes shipped to you, here's an excellent tutorial to help BUILD YOUR OWN BOX. What to buy, where to buy it, and how to assemble it, so that it meets FedEx and Redline Shipping standards for live shipping. 

All the supplies you need can be found here: Shipping Supplies.

You may be breaking the law if you ship live species that are considered illegal, invasive or otherwise restricted by state or local authorities.

Penalties can be steep, and there is no legal protection for not knowing.

So do your homework!

To get started, call the destination's local U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or United States Department of Agriculture office. These links will help you reach the right office:

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service office directory

United States Department of Agriculture service center locator

For information about invasive species, check out the United States Department of Agriculture National Invasive Species Information Center.

Some people in the general public are afraid of reptiles. At Redline Shipping we work hard to prove that properly packaged non-venomous reptiles are safe and reliable to ship, and that reptile breeders and hobbyists are legitimate shipping customers. We are approved to ship live non-venomous reptiles, aquatics and inverts—but you must follow safe packaging standards.

There are also people that believe shipping is harmful to the animals involved. We work diligently to keep the shipping process safe and on the cutting edge, always improving and reducing the risks to the animals themselves. We are passionate about their well-being.

Remember: What you do affects the entire exotic pet hobby and industry. The general public has a right to live their lives without encountering a reptile that’s escaped from improper packaging. Every time someone ships an animal with substandard packaging, and that animal escapes, dies, scares or harms someone, that reflects poorly on all exotic hobbyists. It also furthers legislative efforts to ban exotic animals entirely.

Take responsibility. Do your part. Pack your animals properly. Make sure it reaches its destination safely. It’s good for the reptile, it’s good for the recipient, and it’s good for you.

The Lacey Act is one of the broadest and most comprehensive tools in the federal chest to combat wildlife crime. 

It was first introduced in the House of Representatives in the spring of 1900 by Iowa Congressman John Lacey and signed into law by President William McKinley on May 25th, 1900. Its original purpose was to preserve native game and wild birds by making it a federal crime to poach game in one state with the intention of selling it in another. It sought to add weight to state laws already in existence for the protection of game and birds. Lastly, it also addressed concerns about potential problems that can arise with the introduction of non-native, or exotic species of birds and animals into the native ecosystems. 

The Lacey Act has been amended several times since it was first signed into law, broadening its definitions and increasing the penalties it could exact. In 1969, the act was expanded to include mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, and reptiles. 

Here are some “quick facts” about the Lacey Act as it stands today: 

• Protects both wildlife and plants
• Prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold
• Works with federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife
• Prohibits the falsification of documents for wildlife shipments (criminal penalties)
• Prohibits the failure to properly mark wildlife shipments (civil penalties)
• Administered by the Departments of Interior, Commerce, and Agriculture, which includes the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service

In March of 2012, the US Fish & Wildlife Service used the weight of the Lacey Act to enact a ban on the importation and interstate transportation of several species of large constrictor snakes. 

Immediately, the United States Association of Reptiles Keepers (USARK) went to work to protest the blatant overreach of the USF&W and its misinterpretation of the Lacey Act. Years of hearings, briefs and appeals followed, even as USF&W added more constrictors to their list. Finally, on April 7th of 2017, the United States Court of Appeals sided with USARK and the ban against interstate travel of large constrictors was lifted. 

Despite the attempt to use the Lacey Act as a means to control exotic pet ownership and trade in the US, it remains a critical piece of legislation for the protection of wild flora and fauna and has a significant impact on anyone wishing to own and trade exotic animals. The rules imposed on us by this act should not be ignored or taken lightly. Doing so can result in the confiscation of animals in transit, fines, and even jail time. 

Make sure you are familiar with state laws regarding the transportation of exotic animals. For instance, if you ship snakes to Hawaii, you are not only breaking Hawaiian state law, you will also be breaking federal law via the Lacey Act, and subject to penalties from both. 

Label all shipments appropriately, with the scientific AND common names of all the animals in the package, as well as quantities of each. Be sure to include the appropriate IATA label.  

As keepers of exotic animals, it is critical for us to do so responsibly. That responsibility lies not only in providing proper food and housing, but also in respecting public safety, being sensitive to common phobias, and obeying the laws of our states and nation. In today’s climate of knee-jerk legislation, let’s not give the law-makers any ammunition to use against us! 

Learn more about the Lacey Act: 

• Super duper official federal government guideline docs here and here.
• USARK Lawsuit 
• Lawsuit Update, Responsible Herpetoculture, Shipping and More
• Overview of the Lacey Act

To be compliant with the Lacey Act, legally a live package needs to be labeled with the word Wildlife and include quantity and species listed either externally or immediately available on a packing list under the top flap. To meet expectations of the most stringent states, we strongly suggest labeling all domestic U.S. live animal packages with "Wildlife - Live Harmless Animals" with quantity and species listed with both scientific and common names clearly visible on the outside of the box. Failing to do so may lead to delay, return, confiscation, fines, and/or legal summons. 

You can add this labeling manually but the easiest way to do this is with our Lacey/IATA label, which can be purchased here, or downloaded and printed at no charge here. 

See How should I label the outside of the box? for more details.

Yes you do.

IATA stands for International Air Transport Association. This association works with its airline members and the air transport industry as a whole to promote safe, reliable, secure and economical air travel for the benefit of the world's consumers. They have developed a variety of standardized labels indicating potentially dangerous or hazardous materials being shipped via air.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service has ruled that all shipments containing live animals must be labeled according to IATA standards. For our purposes, this includes only reptile, invertebrate, and aquatic creatures. A label with an image representing reptiles, invertebrates, or aquatic animals must be included on every live shipment.

You can purchase our Lacey Act/IATA labels as decals or you can print your own using our format.

Be sure to include one of these labels on every live shipment and check the appropriate box indicating its contents.

The FedEx shipping label is first and foremost. It should be placed on the top of the box, in an easily visible location.

When booking the shipping label, do NOT put a PO Box in the address fields. Only US postal trucks can deliver to a PO Box and FedEx will not be able to complete that delivery without an address correction.

In addition to your FedEx shipping label, it's important you mark your package to indicate its contents.

The Federal Lacey Act and various state regulations require specific labeling. You are required to mark the outside of the package with a complete list of the animal(s) inside, including quantities, common names and scientific names. IATA labeling must also be included. Lacey Act/IATA Labels can be ordered from Redline Shipping as decals, or you can print your own on plain paper and tape it to the box where it can be clearly seen. Different states may have different requirements. The Redline Shipping Lacey Act/IATA Labels meet all Federal requirements on these points. Contact individual state Fish & Wildlife offices for any additional requirements regarding labeling, health certificates, permits or restrictions. 

It is IMPORTANT that you clearly indicate quantity and species and label your live package appropriately, according to both Federal and State laws. This includes meeting the IATA labeling requirement and the Lacey Act labeling requirement. Failure to label your live shipments accurately and/or completely may result in delays, inspection, confiscation, and/or monetary fines. Florida, California and New York are especially vigilant about inspections and citations. It is YOUR responsibility, and it only takes a moment!

To assist you in compliance we can provide you with a Lacey Act/IATA label that includes our FedEx Reference Note and space for listing the contents of the box. Complete it and place it on the side of any live reptile/invert/aquatics package where it can be clearly seen.

Lacey Act/IATA label decals

Printable Lacey Act/IATA labels - 4 per page

To meet the IATA labeling requirement you must check/circle the appropriate Live Animal Indicator- Aquatics or Reptiles or Invertebrates.

To meet the Lacey Act labeling requirement you must list your species by quantity, and both scientific and common name. Florida is requiring BOTH scientific and common name listings, complying with the Florida requirement will ensure that you are labeled appropriately throughout the country. Failure to label completely may result in delays, confiscation, and/or fines.

If you use plain paper to print the Lacey Act/IATA label, be sure to cover it with tape to prevent tears or weather wear (or use a label-envelope).

Be sure to include your paperwork* inside the top flap of the box, on top of the foam insulation.

*Sales receipt or packing list, as well as the species and quantities of live harmless reptiles contained in the package.