Supported animalsMonarch Animal Shipping · Shipper copy

What we can and can't ship.

The first operating lane is approved domestic reptile, amphibian, aquatic and invertebrate shipments where carrier contracts permit. Everything else needs separate partners, documentation and workflows.

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A parcel carrier rate is never permission to ship a live animal.

Eligibility depends on the species policy, your organization's approval, the carrier's written live-animal approval for the lane and service, the date and the weather policy. We check all of them before showing a bookable price.

In the parcel lane

Four classes, each with published policies.

Policies below are the current published versions. Temperature ranges are the forecast window we require at origin and destination. A forecast is a planning aid, not a guarantee.

Reptiles

Snakes, lizards and chelonians. Some genera need review; venomous species are prohibited.

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Reptiles species policies
Policy	Status	Safe forecast range	Max per package	Notes
Reptiles (general) Class-wide default	Allowed	45–90°F	12	Domestic only v1
Ball python Python regius	Allowed	50–88°F	6	Domestic only v1
Rattlesnakes (venomous) Crotalus (genus)	Prohibited	-	-	Domestic only v1
Tortoises (Testudo) Testudo (genus)	Requires review	55–88°F	2	Regulated: permits reviewedDomestic only v1

Amphibians

Frogs, toads, salamanders and newts, shipped in moist, ventilated containers.

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Amphibians species policies
Policy	Status	Safe forecast range	Max per package	Notes
Amphibians (general) Class-wide default	Allowed	50–80°F	10	Domestic only v1

Aquatic livestock

Fish and aquatic invertebrates shipped in water. Larger box presets and carrier-specific rules apply.

Parcel lane

Aquatic livestock species policies
Policy	Status	Safe forecast range	Max per package	Notes
Aquatic livestock (fish/inverts in water) Class-wide default	Allowed	50–85°F	20	Domestic only v1

Invertebrates

Tarantulas, isopods, insects and more. Medically significant species need review.

Parcel laneBrowse species →

Invertebrates species policies
Policy	Status	Safe forecast range	Max per package	Notes
Invertebrates (general) Class-wide default	Allowed	50–90°F	30	Domestic only v1
Medically significant scorpions Hottentotta (genus)	Requires review	55–88°F	4	Domestic only v1

Policies last published September 24, 2026. A species not matched by a published policy is never treated as eligible.

Prohibited on the platform

Some animals can't ship here at all.

These are hard prohibitions. They can't be overridden by staff.

Rattlesnakes (venomous)(Crotalus spp.)Prohibited
Also prohibited: any shipment the carrier's contract doesn't cover, undeclared regulated species, and anything listed in our acceptable-use policy.

Outside the parcel lane

Animals we don't ship yet.

Birds: Need specialized transport partners, welfare standards and documentation that parcel services don't provide.
Mammals: Not accepted in the parcel lane. Require dedicated pet-transport partners and workflows.
Horses: Require equine transport, veterinary documentation and handlers. This is outside parcel shipping.
International moves: Need export/import permits, customs and a separate partner workflow. Only domestic lanes are available.
Managed courier / air travel: Accompanied or cargo air moves need separate partners, bookings and documentation.

Review requirements

Species that need manual review.

Species needing review

Policies marked “Requires review” go to operations before a booking. Some review rules can be approved by staff with a recorded reason; sensitive ones need two people.

Regulated status

If a species is regulated or you declare a regulated status, permits and paperwork are reviewed before booking.

Weather outside range

If the forecast at origin or destination falls outside the policy range, the shipment needs review or a different date. Forecasts are rechecked at checkout, and operations monitors booked shipments until they ship.

Not sure about a species?

Run an eligibility preview with the scientific name. If there's no published policy, the answer is “unknown”. We don't guess.

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