Why You Should Never Leave Reptiles in Hot Cars

Amanda

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Pittsburgh Reptile Show & Sale podcast. I'm Amanda, here with Rick, and today we're diving into a topic that... honestly, every reptile keeper needs to hear. You might think you know the risks, but let’s really dig in: leaving reptiles in hot cars. I know, not the cheeriest subject, but it’s so, so important.

Rick

Yeah, and it’s one of those things—you hear about it, you think, Who would do that.” But sadly it happens... more often than we want to know about. This podcast is happening becasue Again... We just had it happen to a vendor this last month at the Pittsburgh Reptile show... A new snake owner purchased a young but very healthy Ball Python from one of our breeders. They left the show with their new super healthy and happy snake and then 3 hours later they were calling our vendor Screaming at him that he sold them a sick snake and it was ALREADY Dead! Sadly we all know what happened here... There is no way a perfectly healthy snake just dies in 3 hours, with out being Cooked in a car , dropped or squished... The buyer lied ( as they brought the poor animal that was in a completly steamed up container demanding a refund for their own mistake) Meanwhile our vendor was in tears over the loss of an animal they truly loved and thought they were sending home to a great new home... it was just a very sad moment to watch. Jut think about it, even if it feels pretty mild outside—say, 75 degrees—the temp inside your car can jump... what, to over 100 degrees in literally ten minutes?

Amanda

Exactly, 100 degrees in just ten minutes—by the time you’re standing in line at the snack bar, your car is already an oven. That “just a minute” thing is how it happens most of the time. I see folks at the expo walking out with a new box or deli cup, they pop it in the car, and then you spot them wandering back in because, I don’t know, they want one more look at the boa morphs. I still get chills thinking about every time someone has left their new pet in the car, come back after what they claim was five minutes, but it was closer to fifteen. The animal limp or worse dead aready its horrible every time!

Rick

And here’s the thing: people will say, “I cracked the windows,” or, “I parked in the shade.” But, it doesn’t matter. The inside still turns into a sauna fast. And the show parking lot, especially after noon, gets zero breeze. No air flow, That’s the recipe for disaster right there.

Amanda

And we get it, those expo days are exciting—you lose track of time. But the animals come first, period. I actually think it’s easy to forget how fast the temperature can spike until you see it happen, or worse, live through it.

Rick

So, let’s get into why reptiles are basically canaries in the coal mine here. Unlike your dog who can pant, reptiles — snakes, lizards, amphibians, all of them — they don’t sweat or cool down on their own. They're cold-blooded; their body temp follows the environment. And those little plastic deli cups? They’re like mini greenhouses. Seriously, put one in the sun for five minutes, and it’ll feel like a toaster inside.

Amanda

Yeah, plus, no airflow at all. You might be using a nice ventilated container at home, but after a show, most folks still have their animal in whatever cup or bag the breeder handed over. That’s a hazard! Sadly there is always a story—I think it was last season. Someone left their new lizard in a carry box, decided to talk with friends in the expo parking lot, thinking, “Oh, I’m in the shade, it’s fine.” It wasn’t fine. Temperatures spiked, and that box turned deadly super fast. I wish it wasn’t as common as it is.

Rick

I can also say ive seen to many times this happening that is why im glad to be dedicating a whole podcast episode to this otherwise not fun conversation, if we can save even one animal its totally worth it.

Amanda

Right, and even with the AC on before you park, the cooling effect goes away immediately after you turn the car off. Sometimes, especially at a busy show, folks underestimate just how fragile reptiles really are in this situation. Their bodies can’t handle extreme temp swings. And even a brief burst of heat can cause long term internal damage—organs start shutting down, you get dehydration, neurological things... it’s heartbreaking.

Rick

Yeah, and we’ve talked before about setting up the perfect enclosure at home, like for Kenyan sand boas or ball pythons, but all it takes is one mistake on the ride home, and all that work goes right out the window.

Amanda

So, how do we keep this from happening? Step one: don’t stop anywhere after picking up a new reptile. Seriously, go straight home. No errands, no fast food stops—just head home and get your animal set up somewhere safe and climate-controlled. If for some reason you absolutely have to make a stop, bring a friend who can stay in the car with the AC running, or plan your pickups for when you’re done with everything else.

Rick

Yeah, and climate-controlled vehicles are a must for reptile transport. Don’t risk it with a busted AC in July or, on the flip side, a freezing winter day either. Tools can help—battery-powered fans in the summer, or, if it’s cold, those heat packs that don’t overheat. But again, those are backup, not substitutes for common sense.

Amanda

And never leave any pet unattended in a vehicle, period—hot or cold. I always tell people at the show, “Your responsibility starts the second you hand over the money or the adoption paper.” I don’t care if you’ve been doing this for thirty years or you just got your first gecko today. And if you see someone slipping up? This is where community steps up. I speak up at the expo, and I do it online too. It’s uncomfortable, but better a little awkwardness than an animal in distress.

Rick

Absolutely. Education is huge here. We’ve spent so many episodes talking about being responsible—like with enclosures, nutrition, and general care—but transport is part of that too. If you’re new, take advice from folks who’ve sadly learned the hard way. And if you’re listening to this, you’re already doing more than a lot of people by staying informed.

Amanda

So that’s our big ask today: keep spreading awareness, help out fellow keepers, and always think of the animal first. The more we talk about it, the better chance everyone’s next expo story has a happy ending. Thanks, Rick—always good to have you on board for these real-talk episodes.