More cham shipping questions

I know, I know. I've asked about a dozen questions about shipping my cham, but as my ship date is two and a half weeks away, I'm getting anxious. I am shipping out my year old male Veiled. I have my questions down at the bottom, but a bit of explanation to go with them before.

I got my box from SYR. I got the #3 because I didn't know how big a space he needed and I figured bigger was better. But it's a bit too big - I am concerned he will get jostled around a lot and get a concussion or head injury or something. However, the small plastic containers are a bit small for him, by half an inch or so - and he really didn't like me "trying it out." lol

Anyway, it will be between 70-80 degrees in upstate NY and about the same in La Mesa, CA. So I figured I won't need either the heat pack or ice pack, but I have NO idea how cold/warm it gets in a shipping airplane.

I will be packing the inside of the styrofoam insert with damp and dry newspaper.

I read that it's best to not feed them for the day or so before shipping, but this seems counter-intuitive.

QUESTIONS!
- Should I order a smaller box for him? or is it OK if it's a bit large?

- Is shipping him in the cloth bag OK instead of the plastic container? Or should I go out and buy a plastic container that's the right size for him?

- Should I include any ice or heat packs, since he will be spending most of his time in the air?

- Is the newspaper idea OK? Or should I use an old TShirt or cotton balls or something similar?

- Should he get a few crickets the day before shipping out or not?

I can't promise these will be my last questions! I just want Kukui to get there safely. I am doing everything I can to make sure he gets there fine. Thanks everyone!

I would not use a heat or cool pack. With those tempatures. The newspaper will provide ventilation, with a cham that size I would use a reptile bag.and not a deli cup. When you print your shipping lables, print and use extra "Live non-venomous reptile inside" September is genraly a great month to ship weather wise. Words of advise. pay the insurance and require a signature. The first time you ship it seams so dificult. Its realy not. Were all wery of the unknowen. good luck curt.

Feeding chams is fine before shipping, but don't stuff them. With snakes you want to wait a week before shipping, but lizards eat every day, let them eat, just not a big heavy meal.

I prefer a bag for larger lizards/chams. Include both crumpled and shredded newspaper in the bag, it gives them something to grip and stabilize with.

Fill the extra space in the box with crumpled newspaper, you def don't want the bag sloshing around in the box.

In these temps, I wouldn't use a heat pack or cool pack. A Phase 22 pack would be fine, in a cooled state.

SYR packages travel in a FedEx plane that is both pressurized and temperature controlled.

Feel free to contact [email protected] directly with any questions!