A routine trip to a Memphis FedEx store turned into a full-on reptile rodeo when a customer cracked open a package and a large iguana burst out, launched itself across the counter, and sent staff and shoppers scrambling. The short video shows the owner dashing after the runaway lizard into a back room before finally getting it under control, and no injuries were reported.
TMZ posted the clip after it first appeared on Instagram from Roderick Duncan, who goes by @chefp_. According to TMZ, Duncan says the iguana, named Titan, had been shipped overnight and "came out ready for all the smoke." The outlet also notes that one startled employee bolted, slipped and fell when Titan made his dramatic counter jump.
FedEx Policy On Shipping Live Animals
FedEx permits certain harmless live animals, including nonvenomous reptiles, to be shipped only when the shipment is prearranged, packed to approved standards and sent via overnight services. The company stresses that live-animal drop-offs must happen at a FedEx Ship Center, not at FedEx Office locations or third-party retailers. For detailed packaging and testing requirements, see FedEx.
What The Video Shows
In the clip, Titan rockets out of his bag, vaults over the counter, and scurries along the surface while a worker takes off running and tumbles to the floor. Duncan told his Instagram followers that the iguana was fine and that everyone ended up laughing, and TMZ reports that no one was hurt. The footage has since been widely reshared across social platforms.
Shipping Reptiles: Tips And Why It Matters
Sending live reptiles through the mail is not a casual “toss it in a box” situation. Safe shipping depends on careful packaging, tight escape-proofing, temperature control and timing, with industry guidance favoring overnight transit in approved containers to cut down on stress, escape risks and mortality. Specialist shippers sell purpose-built kits and live-arrival insurance, and recommend proper insulation, heat packs and clear Lacey Act and IATA labeling to head off delays or penalties. For more on best practices, see ShipYourReptiles.
For Memphis shoppers and anyone waiting on a more exotic delivery, the viral video is a lively reminder that live-animal rules are there to protect both people and the creatures in transit. Duncan’s post may have ended on a light note, but the chaos in that FedEx store also highlights some very practical questions about how live animals are routed, dropped off and handled at retail shipping counters.
