AFRMA - Shipping Rats & Mice

This article is from the Winter 2000 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

Shipping Rodents

By Nichole Royer

No rats or mice can be
shipped through the mail
or UPS.
Shipping is done via the
airlines.
Most airlines will not
allow rats or mice to be
brought on the plane
Rats and mice must travel
in cargo.
Shipping is very expen-
sive, so shipping a couple
of pet rats or mice to
someone is really out of
the question.
Shipping is very time
consuming to coordinate.

I have had several requests from people who live in other parts of the country and other parts of the world that would like to get rats or mice. There probably are others out there wondering about this as well.

Most of us in California are more than happy to bring animals to people when we take car trips. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen very often. We all have the critters at home and, as I’m sure everyone is aware, it can be a nightmare to arrange for their care when you go on vacation. Most of the time we do not drive if we are going to travel, but instead fly. The airlines will not allow rats or mice to be brought on the plane like you would a cat or a small dog. All rats and mice must travel in cargo, and must be packaged and paid for just as they would if you were shipping them.

Shipping Conditions

More and more we are getting questions on shipping. Many of us in California will ship, however, only on certain conditions.

The person we are shipping to must be a member of AFRMA.
The person must get a full box of rats/mice. If they don’t, it’s not worth our time or their money, and the animals just don’t travel well.
The person must send all money before the animals can be shipped.

The Nitty Gritty

A full box consists of something like 8–12 rats and 12–20 mice (depending on size, age, and sex). In many cases, rats and mice can be shipped in the same box (the box is divided). Cost is usually about $10–$20+ per mouse, and $20–$40+ per rat.

The actual shipping box* costs $35, and the vet check that’s required is another $25–$40.

To The Airport

Shipping is done via the airlines. No rats or mice can be shipped through the mail. The animals are delivered to the airport on this end and you pick them up at the airport on your end. Typically, the shipping charge runs about $150–$250 per box in the US. Shipping out of the country often requires additional paperwork (which has to be handled from the purchaser’s end) but doesn’t always cost more.

Most of the time the person who coordinates the shipment will ask for a little additional money to cover their phone calls, driving, and time put into shipping. I would hazard a guess that it takes about 40 hours of work on this end to put a shipment together.

Expensive Proposition

Needless to say, this is quite expensive. Shipping a couple pet rats or mice to someone is really out of the question. Most of the time when we ship, it is not to a single person. Instead, it is to a group of fanciers who have gotten together to get a shipment. When you split the cost between a number of people who each then get a pair (or whatever the arrangement), then the cost is a lot more reasonable.

When we have enough time, most of the California breeders will plan litters around shipments so that the people we are shipping to get what they want. Needless to say, this whole thing can be rather a project to coordinate.

*The shipping boxes we use are from: Cold Spring Products, Inc. RR1 Box 467, Cold Spring Road, Stanfordville, NY 12581 (800) 848-8231. We get the full box with dividers and Transit (water) Kits.

An alternate is the Taconic Transit Cage which is a plastic shipping box. You can also buy these boxes used through Brisky Pet Products.

Another alternate is the TRW Animal Shipping Container from TRW Advanced Plastics. This all plastic container can be divided into 4 compartments.

Innovive, Inc. makes a Innovive® Transportation tote for use with the Innocage® for transport of mice.

Edstrom Water Buddy™ water bottle with drinking valve instead of ball bearing sipper tube suitable for rats and mice during shipping from AgSelect.

Alternatives to water:

AQUA-JEL packs - a reliable food-grade moisture source for animals in transit.
HydroGel™ - a hydration system in a non-wetting gel form.
Napa Nectar™ - water gel pack to provide water for laboratory animals in transit.

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Updated April 16, 2008.

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