You may need to use a heat pack or cold pack inside your package. This decision depends on the type of animal you’re shipping and the daytime high temperature at your origin and at the destination.

These are guidelines. Be aware of the temperature requirements and safe temperature range for the species you are shipping. If you have questions about a specific species or weather condition, consult Redline Shipping in-office staff for more detailed guidelines and parameters.

It is the responsibility of the shipper to adequately package shipments for all temperature extremes and handling conditions. DO NOT OVERUSE HEAT PACKS!

8 Critical Points for Heat Pack Use

• Activate the heat pack at least an hour before use. Remove outer wrapper, shake vigorously, then wrap in a towel to allow proper heating.
• Heat packs should never come into direct contact with the animal bag/container. 
• There should always be crumpled newspaper or other packaging material between the heat pack and animal bag/container.
• Heat packs require oxygen to work. Airholes (two ¼” holes at each end of the box, four holes total) will allow enough oxygen to reach both the heat pack and the animal.
• The heat pack should never be placed under an animal bag/container, as it will likely result in a DOA.
• The heat pack should be taped securely to the underside of the insulated foam lid. DO NOT cover the red stripe with tape! 
• Failure to comply with the above points will INVALIDATE Live Arrival Insurance.
• Lastly, we do not recommend heat pack use in any box smaller than the 12x9x6. If you need a heat pack with your shipment, you should use the 12x9x6 box or larger. 

The following temperature guidelines are according to the daytime HIGH temps at BOTH the origin and destination. Shipping outside of these temperature guidelines nullifies any Redline Shipping Live Arrival Insurance. If your daytime high temps straddle two categories, please contact us directly for heat pack instructions that remain within insurance parameters, qualifications and guidelines. The misuse of heat packs can kill animals!

REPTILES: 

Below 38°F: Don’t ship. Wait for warmer weather.

38-69°F: Use a heat pack per our directions.

70-91°F: DO NOT use a heat pack.

92-100°F: Ship to a FedEx Ship Center facility. Read the IMPORTANT NOTE below.*

Over 100°F: Don’t ship. Wait for cooler weather.

AMPHIBIANS and some reptile species from cooler moist climates:

Below 38°F: Don’t ship. Wait for warmer weather.

38-59°F: Use a heat pack per our directions.

60-79°F: DO NOT use a heat pack. No cold pack required.

80-92°F: Use a cold pack per our directions. 

Over 92°F: Don’t ship. Wait for cooler weather.

INVERTEBRATES:

Below 38°F: Don’t ship. Wait for warmer weather.

38-65°F: Use a heat pack per our directions.

66-91°F: DO NOT use a heat pack.

92-100°F: Ship to a FedEx Ship Center facility. Read the IMPORTANT NOTE below.*

Over 100°F: Don’t ship. Wait for cooler weather.

CORALS and TROPICAL FISH:

Below 40°F: Don’t ship. Wait for warmer weather.

40-69°F: Use a heat pack per our directions.

70-79°F: DO NOT use a heat pack or a cold pack

80-89°F: Use a cold pack per our directions.

90-95°F: Ship to a FedEx Ship Center facility. Read the IMPORTANT NOTE below.*

Over 95°F: Don’t ship. Wait for cooler weather.

COLD WATER FISH:

Below 30°F: Don’t ship. Wait for warmer weather.

30-54°F: Use a heat pack per our directions.

55-69°F: DO NOT use a heat pack or cold pack.

70-79°F: Use a cold pack per our directions. 

80-85°F: Ship to a FedEx Ship Center facility. Read the IMPORTANT NOTE below.*

Over 85°F: Don’t ship. Wait for cooler weather.

AXOLOTLS:

Below 30°F: Don’t ship. Wait for warmer weather.

30-49°F: Use a heat pack per our directions.

50-69°F: DO NOT use a heat pack or cold pack.

70-90°F: Use a cold pack per our directions. 

80-90°F: Ship to a FedEx Ship Center facility. Read the IMPORTANT NOTE below.*

Over 90°F: Don’t ship. Wait for cooler weather.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: When the daytime high temperature at your destination is between 92 and 100 degrees, you cannot ship to residential or business locations (and you should not ship amphibians at all). Any time spent on a delivery truck during the heat of the day can be detrimental to the health of your reptile. However, you can ship to a "FedEx Ship Center'' facility (NOT a FedEx Office, Pak Mail, Mail Boxes Etc. or other satellite/franchise location). Your shipment will arrive early in the morning and be kept inside until the recipient picks it up.

When the daytime high temperature at your location is between 92 and 100 degrees, live shipments must be dropped off at a FedEx counter very late in the day, after 5 p.m. You will not beat the heat if you give your package to a FedEx driver at 1 p.m. and it spends the afternoon making the rounds in a hot truck. A hot weather shipment (over 92F, but under 100F, at either origin or destination) will be covered under our Redline Shipping Live Arrival Insurance program only if the parameters mentioned here (post 5 p.m. drop off, shipping to FedEx Ship Center facility, hold for pickup) are followed. Please pay careful attention to your Ship Center's Last Pickup Time.

Every Ship Center has a Last Pickup Time, which means that time in which the last truck is loaded up and headed to the airport. Your package MUST arrive before that time in order to get on that truck. If you miss this time, then your package will likely be looking at a 24 hour delay for delivery. On the east coast and in the midwest, this cut-off time is often the same as the closing time for that Ship Center, but not always, so be sure to check your local Ship Center's schedule.

For many in the WEST, the cut-off time can be hours ahead of when the Ship Center actually closes for the day. The Ship Center may be open until 9pm but the Last Pickup could be at 5:30pm, or even before 5:00pm. Every Ship Center will have its own schedule, so you can't assume what works for one will be true at another. Please check the schedules before you drop off your first package there. If in doubt, call us and we'll help you find the specific details you need.

Click here for comprehensive instructions on the safe use of heat packs.

Click here for directions on using cold packs.