I've been having people ask me how, so here it is.
Starting off:


With the softest piece of paper towels, tear off one piece.

Fold it like so, and slightly mist it:

Take another piece and fold like this:

Pack it in like so

Take another piece and fold and do the same, but on the opposite side

Take another piece, hold just like you did, this time stack it ontop of the other folded one like so

Side view

Then I take another piece and tear it,

Fold it,

And place it like before, but in the inside of the others:


Then lightly mist

Example of several others

Let it crawl in, and it'll find the hole and settle in:


Then fold another piece

And place it ontop like so

Anywhere you think it could squeeze out, fill it in

And you're ready for the box now

Empty

Line the bottom with a couple pages

Put it in on one side

Pack it like no other making it very hard for it to be moved


If you're not using a heat pack, just keep packing and packing until you think it is good enough. If you are, fold a piece like this:

Make a divider

Pack that side also, but be sure and have room in the middle of that side for the heat pack.

Once it is in there and well packed, place another piece ontop, and you're ready to ship!

I hope this helps some people that are just learning to pack T's and such. Now I have to get back to packing..

Nice picture set. I suggest that inner paper towel be a bit tighter. No movement is the only way to do it. That is IF you have to do it at all... I'll also add that many folks use bubble wrap to not only buffer movements, but it acts like a great insulator.

Christian

Oh she is very snug in there, I'm not done yet, The heat pack will be added tomorrow morning. After that, I pack it even more. I agree 100% with what you said too, were just out of bubble wrap right now...

great pics
might note that when shipping in HOT weather that misting in a container can cause it to turn into a sauna and possibly cook the T where a dry container would not.

Oh yes! Very good point! Thanks Mike!

nice clear pictures to show a great method. that's almost identical to how i pack my Ts. the only difference in technique is that i use 4 pieces of regular old scotch tape to hold down the lid so there is no chance of it somehow opening up inside the package.

for tarantulas that aren't as cooperative as your lovely sp. "blue", simply catch them in a similar sized, or smaller, plastic cup (clear is helpful) and slide a piece of thin cardboard or something underneath. then place the cup with the spider in it above the shipping cup complete with paper towels. remove the piece of cardboard slowly so you don't freak out the spider or anything..then the only place for it to go is into the cup below. after that, just place some more paper towels over the top and slide the lid on.

sometimes, they'll make it difficult for you by clinging to the cup and not going into the shipping cup. if that happens..lift the cup slightly so there is a small gap, and use something to gently nudge the spider so that it moves into the other cup.

Thanks for your input bro. I agree, there can be some T's out there that are impossible to pack/hold still.

Just a suggestion, but if others want to type up there ideas/methods of shipping, go ahead and post it. It would be great to have something like this with several different techniques just a click away. This would be a great sticky.

oo!
a sticky with Jen's spiderling packing instructions, and then yours, its ever so similar---I'm still trying to figure out how Señor Ocho got a 6 inch spider into a paper towel inside a pill bottle without breaking its legs. (it was a big pill bottle-vial, whatever.)this critter was packed tight! I think it must have involved the refrigerator. Like, he must have a walk-in, so he can work inside of it.

I like the suggestion of cupping the tarantula and giving it only one place to go- seems very reasonable. I think I did something similar when I sent AkitaYoji a chromatus sling- that was fairly easy, it wanted a tiny space to squish itself into head first!

I like the cupping idea! I tried it with a jar and the T promptly starting climbing up. What I've been doing with NW's is put them into the containter, guide thme towards the depression you want them in, and put a damp paper towel over her and then pus in any legs. Afterwards put the lid on and leave it for a while.When you come back the T will be less likely to try to shove its way out and run for it and you can pack it more snuggly and make sure it is in a comfy position.