Moving, best way to transport baby bearded dragon?

Question
Hello, I have had this baby bearded dragon for about a month an a half now. I believe he is roughly 2 months old. I am moving from Florida to Nebraska (should be about a 20 hour drive). I need to know if it's safer to either send the little guy via UPS or just take him on the drive with me. I'm not so sure I would like to send him with UPS... I'm leaning more towards taking him with me. If I do so, does he need his heat UV lamps over the cage during the drive? Or do I just let him hang out without those things until i get to a hotel that night? I'm trying to make this trip as fast as possible. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Answer
Hello Tina,

Those are great questions.  You are moving from the south to a cold north?  Why?  LOL  It is way too cold up there for me!!  I am in south florida & definitely not going up north.

Since you will be driving & staying in a hotel, there is no reason to stress him with shipping.  Though UPS does a good job of shipping live animals, he will be perfectly fine riding with you.  He can go without UVB for a few days, not a problem.  What you can do, if you want, is to go get an inverter for your car which you can plug in a basking light for him or a heating pad.  That will at least keep him warm during the drive.  What kind of tank will he be in, does it have a screen top?  If so, just put the basking light on top of the screen top securely, & he will be fine.  The inverters work great.  They plug into the cigarette lighter opening & you then just plug in the light into the plug in area.  I have used them numerous times & they are excellent ways to travel with your reptile.  

I wouldn't worry about his UVB until you get all moved into your new home.  No worries.  He will be fine.  Just don't forget to keep him hydrated for the trip as traveling might dehydrate him a little bit.  I would not feed  him a whole lot if he is not going to be warm enough so he doesn't have any digestive issues.  If he will be able to bask & stay warm then you can feed him a little bit to help him out.  

Good luck.
Let me know how things go.

Tracie