Adjusted shipping cost for livestock.

I have a site that deals in reptile and reptile products. I need to have a way to add a surcharge to animals that I ship.

I deal in reptiles, so the packaging for these is higher due to cold or heat pack, Styrofoam insulation, and heavier boxes. I usually flat rate the cost on packaging for animals.

Retail items I dont need the added cost.

Help a newb out please?

You might add the packaging cost as a preselected attribute to the item...at least this way the customer knows what it will be

How do i get around multiple orders of animals? Sometimes there are 20 reptiles in one box, I only need one box charge.

But of course, sometimes they order 20 animals and I need 4 boxs. Depends on size.

I would need to be able to set a size or weight limit on the animals so I can break the shipping down.

How do i get around multiple orders of animals? Sometimes there are 20 reptiles in one box, I only need one box charge.

But of course, sometimes they order 20 animals and I need 4 boxs. Depends on size.
If this requires a person to make the decision then you are out of luck.

If you can write a human procedure to make the decision that includes all criteria, then it may be capable of having a computer routine developed to make the determination

Might need to be custom???? Need the criteria