Quarantine?

[Douglesser]

I have been keeping various reptiles my whole life. I just recently started acquiring a nice collection of bp's. I have never quarantined my reptiles in the past and want to start practicing responsible herp husbandry. I would never want my collection to be at risk.
Can someone break it down for me. Time frame, distance from other herps, hand sanitation, etc. I think it would be a good post for anyone getting into the hobby.

Thanks

[ssjsmits]

There really is no "time frame" for quarantining an animal. It's pretty much when you are sure the new addition is in good overall health. Sometimes that only takes a several weeks, and sometimes several months. You'll know when it's time. As far as distance, keep them as far away as possible, at least in a different room. You'll want to make sure that you wash your hands very well when going from the quarantined animal back to your collection. I would even go as far as changing clothes to. In the even that the new animal does have a mite infestation, it could spread from the snake, to your clothes then to your collection. Sounds a bit extreme but it would be much easier to do that rather than treating your whole collection.
.
Hope that helped.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

60/90 days (Boas 6 months or more)

They should be house in different rooms, quarantine in same room is not quarantine.

I would recommend you to treat your new arrival(s) with PAM (Provent A Mite) just in case

Always work with your established collection first and new arrival(s) last.

Have all your husbandry tools in double (hemostats, spray bottle, etc)

Clean your supply separately (established collection together first and new addition together last)

When feeding your new arrival(s) if you are left with un-eaten preys do not place the rodents back with the other rodents keep them separated so they are not fed to your established collection.

Etc

[Laooda]

Yep Yep Yep! What they said... I go 90 days in my bedroom, I pretty much do exactly what Deb wrote!

[Douglesser]

Thanks Deborah. That helps allot. I have three new arrivals coming tomorrow. I have separate cages for them all. Now I have a better idea of what precautions I need to take.