Live Animal Shipping Standards & Guidelines

Shipping live reptiles may seem intimidating at first, but the process is simpler than you'd think. In this article, we will go over the Live Animal Packaging Standards and guidelines on How to Ship a Live Animal. Failure to follow through on these guidelines will invalidate the Live Arrival Insurance.

Live Animal Packaging Standards

  • All Live Animal shipments should be sent via FedEx Priority Overnight or Standard Overnight Services. Packages sent via Standard Overnight services MUST be held at a FedEx hub for pick-up.
    • Reptiles and amphibians MUST be sent using FedEx Priority Overnight services or Standard Overnight Services.
    • Invertebrates, Aquatics, and Plants can be sent using FedEx 2Day services. This is not recommended and will void insurance coverage.
  • All Live Animal shipments can only be sent on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
  • Live Animal shipments must not be sent the day prior to a legal holiday or on a legal Holiday.
  • Live Animal packages must not be sent during inclement weather, service disruptions, or designated "no-ship" periods.
  • FedEx requires the use of certified packaging for Live Animal shipments.
    • Boxes from the US Postal Service, Amazon.com, or even FedEx-branded boxes are strictly prohibited for live shipments.
    • Your package should be free of any other labels, symbols, or text.
  • All live animals must be shipped in a new (unused) cardboard box specifically designed to transport animals. 
    • The box must be clean, leak-proof, and escape-proof to allow safe handling during transport and must have a burst weight of at least 275 lbs. 
  • The box MUST have a “LIVE ANIMAL(S)” label.
  • Mark the box with "This Side Up" on all vertical sides.
  • The box MUST be properly labeled with Lacey Act/IATA labeling. The outside of the box MUST be labeled with the following information: 
    • Common names of animal(s) inside
    • Scientific of animal(s) inside
    • Quantities of each animal in the box 
  • Ensure your box has snug-fitting foam insulation on all four sides, as well as the top and bottom. 
    • The foam should be at least  ½”  thick, but using ¾” thickness is highly recommended.
  • The box, including the foam insulation, must have enough space to hold the deli cup or reptile bag and contain sufficient cushioning material (such as crumbled newspaper, packing peanuts or Poly-Fill). 
  • The box should have ventilation holes through both the box and the insulation.
    • The holes should be large enough to allow airflow but small enough to prevent escapes. These can be added using something like a screwdriver or a pen and must be created BEFORE placing the animal in the box. 
  • Ensure the package is secured with tape specifically designed for shipping boxes and the ventilation holes are not covered.
  • Do not ship in extreme weather conditions. Shipments should not occur when temperatures rise above 95°F or fall below 35°F.
    • Follow the temperature guidelines detailed here.
  • Improper use of heat packs is extremely dangerous and can kill the animal. Ensure the proper use of Heat Packs, Cold Packs, and/or Phase22/Cryopak, including, but not limited to:
    • Do not use a heat pack if the temperature in both the origin and destination cities exceeds 70°F.
    • Do not use a heat pack if the box is smaller than 12 x 9 x 6 inches.
    • Heat packs should only be used specifically designed for animals and rated for 40 hours of use.
      • Do not use hand warmers or heat packs designed for shorter durations, as they can be lethal to animals.
    • Unless your box is 30 x16x10 inches or larger, do not use more than one heat pack, as this can harm the animal.
    • There should be enough room to ensure that any required heat or cold packs can be secured inside the box and properly separated to avoid direct contact with the animal.
    • See all other guidelines here.
  • Venomous reptiles absolutely CANNOT be shipped.
    • You are responsible for knowing and following all legal shipping requirements.

How to Ship a Live Animal

After familiarizing yourself with the shipping standards, you are ready to proceed with sending your package.

Step 1: Prepare your Shipping Supplies & Get Proper Packaging

FedEx requires the use of certified packaging from MorphMarket or another certified shipping provider. Packaging MUST meet the Live Animal Packaging Standards detailed above.

Some shipping supplies you may need include, but are not limited to:

  • Insulated shipping box with minimum ½ inch foam liner. We recommend ¾ inch. You must use a FedEx-approved box (no re-used Amazon boxes, USPS flat rate boxes, etc.) Molded foam shipping boxes are encouraged for especially sensitive species.
  • Size-appropriate deli cups or reptile bags
  • Heat packs, cold packs, and/or Phase22/Cryopak. 
    • Be sure to use these only when required. Improper use of these can be fatal.
    • Follow the guidelines detailed here.
    • Hand and foot warmers are not acceptable.
  • Fill material (shredded newspaper, paper towels, foam peanuts, Poly-fil)
  • Tape, care sheets, invoices, permanent marker
  • Shipping Label
  • Lacey/IATA Labels

Step 2: Create a Shipping Account & Book the Label

Use MorphMarket Shipping to create a label.

Step 3: Coordinate the Shipping Day

Arrange the shipping day with the buyer.

  • All Live Animal shipments should be sent via FedEx Priority Overnight or Standard Overnight Services. Packages sent via Standard Overnight services MUST be held at a FedEx hub for pick-up.
    • Reptiles and amphibians MUST be sent using FedEx Priority Overnight services or Standard Overnight Services.
    • Invertebrates, Aquatics, and Plants can be sent using FedEx 2Day services. This is not recommended and will void any Live Arrival Insurance coverage.
  • Mondays may carry increased risks of delay; Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the safest days to ship out.
    • MorphMarket Shipping's insurance policy ONLY covers Live Animal shipments sent Monday- Wednesday.
  • Packages should not be sent the day prior to a legal holiday or on a legal Holiday.
  • Packages should not be sent during inclement weather, service disruptions, or designated "no-ship" periods.
    • Check the weather at both the origin and destination of your shipment and avoid shipping in extreme temperatures. Watch for storms that may delay FedEx operations, and check the FedEx website for service disruptions.
  • Coordinate with the buyer on the delivery day and time of arrival (noted on the shipping label) so they can be present to receive the package. If shipping to a hub, make sure they are willing to go there to pick it up.
  • When creating your shipping label in the step above, we recommend against requiring a signature; this option can delay your delivery by a whole day if the customer is not available to sign. Requiring a signature on delivery voids the MorphMarket Shipping Live Arrival Insurance.

Step 4: On Shipping Day, Carefully Pack the Animal in its Box

Carefully pack the animal in a box that meets the Live Animal Packaging requirements, including but not limited to:

  • Assemble the box with insulation on all sides but the top.
    • Poke holes into the box, a screwdriver, or a pen. Holes should be large enough to allow airflow but not too big to allow the animal to escape or items to fall out of the package.
    • Poke from the outside of the box, making sure your hole goes completely through the Styrofoam.
    • Do not poke holes with the animal in the box.
  • Put the animal into its bag or deli cup and ensure it is escape-proof.
    • Deli Cup
      • Place a piece of paper towel or liner inside the deli cup
      • Place your reptile inside the deli cup. Make sure the lid is completely secured. Tape can be used around the rim of the cup for extra security; however, make sure not to cover any air holes.
      • Label the top with the common name, scientific name, and quantity.
    • Cloth Bag
      • Label the bag with the common name, scientific name, and quantity. It is easier to do this on an empty bag than it is when there are contents in it.
      • Place strips of newspaper or paper towels inside the bag
      • Place your reptile inside of the bag
      • Secure string or tie the bag in a knot.  Add a zip tie or tape at the bottom of the string or knot for extra security.
  • Put some padding in the bottom of the box to make a “nest,” and place the bag or cup on the nest. Add more padding on top and around the sides.
  • If using a heat pack, cold pack, or Phase22/Cryopak, you MUST use caution and follow proper usage guidelines. The misuse of heat packs is the number one cause of death in shipping.
  • Put the top insulation piece in place and seal up the box.
  • Securely attach your shipping label and the completed Lacy/IATA label. (Common and scientific names of the animals, along with the quantity of each.)
    • It is highly recommended that a reprinted shipping label be included along with a list of the box’s contents on top of the Styrofoam lid. In cases where the external label is damaged during transit, carriers may open the box to locate this information. Additionally, if the Lacey Act labeling becomes illegible, having an extra label inside the box can help prevent delays or issues during shipment inspections.

Step 5: Get your Package to FedEx

You can drop it off at your local FedEx Ship Center (aka “hub”); however, do NOT drop it off at a FedEx Office store or any other retail outlet. They are not authorized to handle live shipments and will typically refuse and/or cause delays.

Alternatively, you can schedule a pick-up with MorphMarket shipping for a fee of $5.


If you have questions or need additional assistance, please reach out to MorphMarket's shipping support team by emailing [email protected]


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