FEDEX issues Chameleon delayed a day

Petmason

Member
So I bought a Nosy Faly baby from Cali and live in MA. Shipped overnight priority to get here today (fri) for 10:30 eastern. Well nothing has happened so I looked at tracking and says it left Indiana and that is it and now estimated delivery says N/A. I called FEDEX. Apparently there is an issue with the plane that my package is on and I wont get it until tomorrow.

My question- Has anyone had this happen or heard about it? What are the chances my baby cham is going to be ok? Not sure how cold its going to get there and what the tolerance is when shipping is. This sucks to say the least.
 
You better talk to someone at fed ex ASAP. Unually the packages we send are not paid for Sat delivery. One day is not a real big issue but waiting until Monday could be a major problem.

That is why I will never have a cham mailed to me on Thursday for Friday delivery. I always have a fear of what just happened to you. Let me know what you find out from fex ed. Be ready to talk to several fed ex people and to be very pushy or scream and they if needed. You have to get that cham tomorrow.
 
The guy I bought my Faly from had an issues with a faly that got lost by fedex for a couple days on the way to him and he was still alive just dehydrated, but this will all depend on the specific circumstances of your package. Like Laurie said start calling fedex explain the situation and that the life on an animal is depending on how they handle the situation and do not take no for an answer, if they can't help tell them you need the supervisor, they can't then their supervisor etc... Sorry to hear it happened to ya.
 
FEDEX ensured me that I will receive the package tomorrow and they will be reimbursing the shipping costs. I guess we will see if I get him tomorrow. Im glad to hear others have hear of success stories in situations like this. I just hate knowing the poor little guy has to stay in the box another day.

I ordered from Panther Company and emailed them to make them aware. They have great customer service. Ensured I would get the shipping payment back, stands behind the live delivery and also extended the 7 day guarantee to 14 days so I can watch him a bit longer for any issues.
 
Then we are going to hope for the best. Please let me know when you have him. I will worry until I am sure he is home safe with you.
 
I hope your little guy arives safe and sound tomorrow=( If he does i would take a mister bottle and put worm water in it so that when u mist him it has a little warmth to it if it is cold up where u live. Fingers crossed x=
 
I can't believe you guys send chameleons through the post :(
Lots of people, myself included, have animals shipped to them. Usually it works out well. Sometimes it's the only way to get a certain type of chameleon, if you don't have a local breeder.
 
Lots of people, myself included, have animals shipped to them. Usually it works out well. Sometimes it's the only way to get a certain type of chameleon, if you don't have a local breeder.


how does this effect them stress wise ?

I mean chams are known for not tolerating stress very well, I've no idea how the US postal system works but I wouldn't even want to be a letter in the UK mail service never mind a living creature :(

I made a round trip of 400 miles to pick up my panther, I was probably as stressed as he was on the journey home, I really just can't comprehend stuffing him into a box and sending him through the mail
 
In the US we have more than one postal system.. I wouldn't trust the USPS but fedex is a different story. I got my cham shipped to me and he was fine. If we had to drive a lot of us wouldn't be driving just 400 miles it would be more like 2,000 miles round trip...I don't think a chameleon would enjoy that car ride. I know I wouldn't!! :p
 
I have heard that because they are in a dark place like a bag (in the box) or the box itself, they will sleep. I don't know if this is true or not. I asked one of breeders in the US who has been breeding and shipping for over 30 years if they ever lost a chameleon through shipping and she said no. So it is actually pretty safe.
 
With Fed Ex/UPS you can have put a chameleon in a container in California at 6:00PM (9:00 eastern time) and pick him up at their location in New Jersey at
9:00 am - When all goes well all goes well- all the packages are scanned 4 or 5 times so you know where they are - delays are almost always at hubs. Packages are marked live animals and from speaking to drivers and such they get special handling on the trip. They can put tracks on packages and when they make mistakes contacting them in most cases works well (I work in shipping - so I deal with them every day) I've only had one chameleon shipped to me - from Florida 20 hour drive from my house - she was dropped off at 5:30pm and picked up at their location at 8:30 the next morning -
I'm really hoping that this poor little guy will be fine- and I'm very optimistic
 
It's 8:30 here - I'm waiting to hear too but most likely there will not be any news for a couple of hours- Hoping for the best.
 
I have heard that because they are in a dark place like a bag (in the box) or the box itself, they will sleep. I don't know if this is true or not. I asked one of breeders in the US who has been breeding and shipping for over 30 years if they ever lost a chameleon through shipping and she said no. So it is actually pretty safe.

Yes, if they are kept in a dark place, they will sleep through the whole trip.

Bumping around may wake them up, and they may move a bit, but they just go back to sleep.

A lot depends on how they are handled by FedEx, and I am sure if the box is clearly marked "live harmless reptile', they will be very careful with it.

I think the greatest stress comes when you open the box and they see light, a strange giant, and new surroundings.

I have had MANY live deliveries via FedEx over the years. Only one time did I experience a delay of 1 day due to a flight problem.
But the animal arrived healthy and safe (though I nearly had a heart attack!!).

I'm sure your cham will be fine, and if you talked to a customer service supervisor, that person will relay that message to the carriers involved.

Please let us know when he arrives, and try not to worry

PS. Have his cage all ready, warmed up with UVB and a basking light, and a dripper.
If they packed him in a deli cup, very slowly remove it from the box, loosen the lid, and place it, with him in it, inside the cage so he can venture
out in his own time, after inspecting his surroundings.
This will help reduce stress.
 
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Here is a pic of Peanut on his arrival day:
 

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