Shipping stress on isopods and why you should change carriers

The stress and strain put on isopods during shipping

Everyone loves the box of cute and adorable isopods that arrive on their doorstep that gives you the feeling of Christmas morning when you run down the steps to see what Santa left you under the tree. You get to unbox them and add them to your enclosure, bin, or terrarium. The pods were a bit pricey but the shipping was affordable and lucky you, they all arrived alive. This is the best case scenario for the average hobbyist. 

However, a week or two later, you start to notice some deaths in the enclosure. You invested in quality substrate and materials, you dialed in their husbandry, but they're passing away one by one. What did we do wrong?

Isopods are animals, living creatures, and as such the stresses of being shipped for days at a time can be detrimental to the overall health of the isopods. While you were able to pay affordable shipping with USPS Priority or a similar carrier. It took more than a few days to reach your doorstep. All the while, they were on a truck that isn't temperature regulated. Despite the best efforts of the seller to pack them as well as they could, these conditions often cook or freeze the animals multiple times in the shipping process which often leads to their death.

Shipping stress is the number one killer of new isopods. Experienced vendors in the hobby will be the first to tell you, it is recommended to go with the fastest and most efficient option to ensure the animal's safety. While no carrier is perfect, we highly recommend FedEx for 2Day and preferably overnight options. Not only are they a more reliable shipping carrier, but a large portion of their commercial fleet has temperature regulated vehicles that are safe for animals and perishable items.

FedEx spends millions every year on training employees on proper package handling. A luxury that the United States Postal Service does not have. It is not uncommon for packages to be mishandled by shipping carriers, but the risks are lower with FedEx. USPS often runs into snags with delays and lost packages, what would normally be a 3 day delivery turns into weeks or even months. USPS Priority boxes aren't considered lost until 14 days have passed. So getting assistance with this while the animals are suffering and likely dead, is something no animal lover should have to deal with.

There are several instances where we have shipped USPS Priority and it get bounced around through the network for weeks on end. Or hold for pickup boxes being outright refused by certain locations, even though its an official service that is offered by the government agency on a national level. Untrained employees or store managers will make their own rules and the package gets lost or returned. And I am not alone, our good friend at Forests of Asgard had a recent experience where USPS lost 30 of her 40 isopod shipments for over 3 weeks. 

Newer vendors or vendors that want to compete for every sale will always try to give you the cheapest and most affordable option in order to stay competitive in the market. To them, it's worth taking the risk to give you Live Arrival Guarantee and just replace the dead animals if it means they net a few more sales. However, consider that you get what you pay for.

You wouldn't ship a reptile or other animals without using an overnight carrier, so why would you take the risk of losing your isopods or other invertebrates to shipping stress? Are they not living things as well? Invertebrates are smaller than reptiles and are more susceptible to fluctuating conditions.

When I was new in the hobby it was easy for me to expand my collection quickly and with minimal cost. Looking back and as I gained experience, I started to learn that the colonies crashing or struggling to produce was the product of such a rough start. Now there were colonies that came back after some initial loss, usually as a result of buying in larger quantities so the population could sustain itself beyond the rough patch. Nevertheless, I had lost so many expensive species due to not considering the shipping stress and the long-term harm it caused my colonies. They made it alive and well when I opened the box, the vendor who sold them to me is off the hook, and now I have to deal with the consequences. 

Shipping to your door vs hold for pickup

This section is sure to frustrate some readers. As I have to put it bluntly, shipping to your door is a huge health risk to any animal. The more time spent on a delivery truck in unregulated temperatures, and trust me, those post office trucks become an oven! The risk of them making it to you alive and healthy decreases dramatically when shipped to your door. The packages are stored in the truck bed and not in the air conditioned cabin where the driver is. You wouldn't leave a child or a dog in the car on a 70/80 degree day, as the inside of the vehicle can quickly reach over 100 degrees. 

Having your package held at your local post office or shipping hub and just taking the time to go get them is a massive difference. They are inside, in room temperature settings where they thrive. Sure you have to make the effort to go outside, drive to the hub, possibly wait in line for your package. Is the peace of mind and giving your isopods the best chance to live not worth it?

Vendors Cover Shipping Costs

Have you ever bought from a vendor where they give you overnight shipping for almost half of what some other vendors do? They are not getting incredible discounts, they eat those costs to ensure the animal gets to you in the best condition possible. The reality of almost all animal breeders and retailers is that the cost of shipping is largely the same across the board. Retailers and vendors will have some shipping discounts, the popular website Reptiles2You helps with this substantially, but the costs are still high.

The hefty shipping cost isn't the only thing vendors cover when providing decreased costs. They have to weigh the costs of shipping materials, cups, and insulation that they likely hand cut themselves to save a few dollars. Not to mention the biggest material cost, Cryopaks/Phase packs which often average $5-6 each. Alongside any additional cold or heat packs to help regulate the box. It adds up quickly. Vendors have to do this to stay competitive in the market, since the majority of buyers will always go with the cheapest option.

Many will say that vendors that work to bring awareness to these issues are "just complaining" or are upselling for a profit, and that they have used the cheap options for months or years with no issues. This is not the case at all, I offer the same cheap shipping options and costs as those other vendors. Myself and other vendors are just no longer accepting the risks that come with it. While it hurts when so many customers want their packages shipped USPS Priority, directly to their door, and despite the explanation of risks, I accept that it is just the reality we live in. If you order from my company and choose that cheap shipping option, it is with the understanding that there is no live arrival guarantee. If we as vendors are accepting the sole responsibility for the health of the animal, we are liable for all costs, refunds, or reshipments in the event of death. We are going to require you purchase FedEx and have it held for pickup in order to qualify for live arrival guarantee. We even offer FedEx 2Day for just $25 which is only $10 more than USPS Priority. Prioritizing your animal's health and paying the extra cost improves your animals' odds of living and not experiencing long-term health issues after being introduced into your terrarium.

Conclusion

The isopod hobby is growing at a rapid pace, newcomers and experienced keepers alike. Vendors and fellow hobbyists just want to shine a light on this unpopular topic. Giving your animals the best chance to thrive should be the priority of every keeper. There is no elitism or shaming in the pursuit of giving animals the best chance at life. And even though not everyone can afford these animals or the shipping costs, it should weigh heavily in the decision making when you look to purchase one. 

Thank you for reading!

Cameron Beverly

ShieldWallExotics