Metcalf Reptiles Knowingly Shipped My SD Retics With Mites!!!

[AbsoluteApril]

It's horrible that he would knowingly send them out with mites. At least he warned you, I guess. Still really crappy thing to do though. I've gotten in a snake before that looked clean and was fine. About 30 days later mites showed up which to me says the breeder knew they had mites, pre-cleaned/soaked/oiled the snake going out so none would show when it arrived. Then suddenly once the eggs hatch they were everywhere. Some breeders try to be sneaky and it sucks. I know mites can sometimes happen from a random hitchhiker from a show or shop but a breeder/keeper that knows they have mites and continues to sell is irresponsible. Sure it's a pain to treat an entire collection but it can be done and why someone wouldn't go to the trouble to get them wiped out is beyond me.

PAM is expensive because it works,

Exactly and it is the only mite treatment I use and it works every time.
Always pre-treat QT enclosures and expect the worst.

Suppose you already have other recent arrivals sitting in quarantine and you get another new arrival (or multiple new arrivals) and it has mites, parasites, IBD or whatever other disease... Whether that new arrival is placed in your primary snake room or with the other quarantined animals there is going to be a possibility that it could spread to other animals either way. So, what's the point?

If an animal is in QT and a new arrival comes in, then the QT timer re-starts and the one that was already in QT gets to stay in QT for the additional time until both animals have cleared.
You don't need a separate fully heated room or to live in FL to property QT. You simply need an appropriate set up just like any cage in any house that is away from your current collection. Make sure to use separate tools as well (extra pair of feeding tongs, etc) and always deal with the QT animal last/after doing anything in your normal collection.