I would really stretch out the quarantine period. To 60-90 days. This is the accepted quaranting period with those in the know. From here on in, this is the procedure I will use. A fecal should be done to rule out internal parasites, and definately that long of a quarantinde would show you if the snake had mites. I would use a light substrate suchas paper-towel, and treat any newcomers' cages with Provent-a-mite, no matter who you get them from.
No, cycling is not a must. There are bigger breeders who don't. I had my first successful season last year without cycling.