Lizard Freight – A Safe Lizard Transport Guide 

Lizard Freight – A Safe Lizard Transport Guide

If you’re wondering “how do I transport my lizard safely?”, the method you choose depends on the size and species of your reptile. Proper lizard freight helps ensures your animal remains secure, calm, and well-ventilated throughout the journey.

Transporting lizards safely requires planning, especially if you’re arranging lizard freight through an airline or transport company like Tail Travel who specialise in reptile freight. By planning the freight and by abiding to IATA and airline requirements you will minimise the risk to your animal.  

Below is a how to guide on lizard transport to help you understand the important requirements to allow for safe lizard freight. 

Lizard Transport Containers

Tail Travel recommends the 2-box container method when freighting lizards. This involves a well-ventilated inner container sometimes referred to as a lizard box or a breathable bag such as a hessian bag placed inside a larger travel container.

Lizards’ boxes must be a container that is rigid, able to withstand slight damage during transport such as timber, metal or rigid plastic. This container must be well ventilated, and the lid must protect the container from unauthorised access or can’t be accidently opened. Depending on the type of container you are using zip ties can assist securing the lid or padlocks on larger timber or metal containers. The container must have a spacer on the side to avoid the airholes being covered during transport. Small plastic containers like Sistima “blue clip it” range have a spacer built into the lid allowing it to comply with regulations. 

Some lizards can be susceptible to temperature fluctuations and due to this Tail Travel recommends the use of insulated containers such as coolers or polystyrene containers to help regulate temperature during transport.  In addition to this heat or cold packs are allowed but some packs contain substances which classified as a dangerous item. When using these packs, they must not come in contact with the animal or the inner animal container or bag, and the pack must be wrapped in insulation such as bubble wrap.  

When packing the lizards into their transport container there needs to be at least a 3cm gap between the animal’s head and the lid of the container. Absorbent packing material is also recommended this will stop the animal from moving too much around the container and absorb any mess the lizard may make during transport. 

Failure to meet these requirements may stop your animal from flying or may put your animal at risk during the journey. 

Transporting Multiple Lizards

Lizards can be packed together as long as there is no risk of aggression between animals, but Tail Travel does recommend all animals be separately packed in individual containers to reduce the risk of injury during transport. Lizards such as Angle-headed dragon (Gonocephalus spp.) and Emerald tree monitor lizard (Varanus prasinus) must be individually packed as per IATA requirements. 

Transporting Small Lizards

For smaller lizards —including geckos, dwarf monitors, legless lizards, juvenile larger species lizards and small skinks—skink transport and general lizard transport is best handled using a small, ventilated container inner container lined with paper towel. Place the lizard on top of the towel, close the lid securely, and make sure the inner container has adequate airholes.  This inner container is then positioned inside a larger transport container and packed tightly with crumpled packing paper to prevent movement during lizard transport. The outer container must also contain adequate airholes, it is preferred to add airholes on the side of the transport container as the transport company will affix documents to the lid which may block any ventilation place on the lid of the container. Once both containers are sealed, zip ties can be used to secure the lid. On the side of the container the receiver’s name, address and telephone number is to be recorded.

With legless lizards due to their snake like appearance the inner container is recommended to be a hessian bag tied at the opening to prevent escape. Please note that some hessian bags are known to have loose threads on the inside of the bags. These threads can entangle the small legs of the lizards and cause injury so please make sure the bag is thread free before placing the animal into it. 

Transporting Large Lizards

Bigger species such as Blue Tongue Lizards, adult bearded dragons, large monitors, and even large skinks can be transported much like smaller lizards but animals who measure 90-120cm snout to vent, require double bags for freight due to IATA requirements.  

Points to Remember to Ensure Your Lizard is Comfortable and Secure While Transportation

1. Make sure your container is big enough for your lizard to fit in with ease, tails can be slightly bent as long as the lizard is comfortable with this.
2. Transport your lizard in a secure and well-ventilated inner container or hessian bag.
3. Layer the bottom of the inner plastic box with paper towel.
4. Place inner container or bag into larger outer container.
5. Ensure the container is tightly closed and cannot open accidentally, tip ties can be effective in doing this.
6. Look out for signs of sickness before and after the journey.
7. In summertime slightly damp paper towel can be used under the lizard to add some humidity and allow the lizard to keep a little cooler.
8. In Wintertime people have added hand warmers to the outer container to add a small amount of warmth. Please refer to the above section which outlines the use of heat packs.