is it too late in the season to start?

[Badgemash]

I'm sure I'll catch hell for this, but yes. That's what I did this year. Granted my new breeders came from a friend that I've bought at least a dozen snakes from so I trusted them to be healthy, but they sat in their tubs for a couple months and now they are all breeding/mixed in with my crew.

Not from me you won't. There are benefits to having good relationships with other breeders, and being able to trust their husbandry is a big one.