Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if everyone quarantines a new boa after acquiring one. What do you do for this period? I understand there should obviously not be any direct contact between snakes, and wash your hands/supplies so no germs transfer.. I was wondering what extent you quarantine though, such as caging the snake in a whole different room, and for how many months is a safe time? If space is limited, would keeping a new boa in the same rack as an old boa defeat the purpose? Or would it make a difference so long as you are careful to wash your hands, etc..

IMO, all snakes should be quarantined no matter who you get them from. If I buy one from someone that I trust, or have bought from multiple times before, they get quarantined for about three months, otherwise the quarantine time is 6 months or more. Quarantine should be in a separate room. Quarantined animals should always be the last animals that you check on each day, and then shower before going back into your other collection.
If I get a table at a reptile show, All the Boas at the show should get re-quarantined for 1-3 months upon return.
I want to stress my first sentence --- It doesn't matter WHO you get thm from, or how good their reputation may be - don't comprimise your collection. My good friend lives by me, and keeps his collection immpecably clean. I got one of his females, but it went straight to the quarantine room even though I've seen her for two years at his house.
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I'm just the snake room janitor

>>I was wondering if everyone quarantines a new boa after acquiring one. What do you do for this period? I understand there should obviously not be any direct contact between snakes, and wash your hands/supplies so no germs transfer.. I was wondering what extent you quarantine though, such as caging the snake in a whole different room, and for how many months is a safe time? If space is limited, would keeping a new boa in the same rack as an old boa defeat the purpose? Or would it make a difference so long as you are careful to wash your hands, etc..
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

See, plugged nickels are worth less than two cents!!! LOL, hit the enter key by accident!!

My quarantine procedures....

First intent is to prevent the possible introduction of mites into the collection. By quarantining I have stopped this THREE times already!!!! YES, some animals can come in with mites!!!!

Second intent is to prevent the spread of other diseases!!

My quarantine is done in a completely seperate room, Upstairs from the main collection room.

I clean and do other daily activities starting with the main collection first. Once done I move to taking care of the quarantined snakes and DO NOT go back into the main room that day.

NO TRANSFER OF ANYTHING from quarantine room to main room until all cleared!!

Any new animal in the Q-room starts a 30 day lockdown for ALL animals - NOTHING LEAVES. Even if another animal "finishes" quarantine, it stays until all animals are past the first 30 day mark AND no mites are found!! IMO VERY IMPORTANT!!

Beyond the 30 day, I do vary my length of stay depending on how well I trust the source and how healthy the animals appear.

During one of the Q-room mite outbreaks, I had more animals arrive. I created a second Q-area downstairs as they were from a trusted source. The routine was main - trusted Q - mites found Q.

Due to my quarantine practices, I have not had mites in the main collection - EVER!!! Only on incomming animals!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

This is a good question because you can always pick up new techniques. Aside from a seperate room I always treat the tub/cage the new boa is going into 48 hours before they arrive with prevent a mite, this way if they do come in with anything the mites will die as they jump off the boa to look for a new host.
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You are what you repeated to do, excelence is not an act, but a habit......... (Aristole)

.n/p
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I'm just the snake room janitor

Forgot to mention that...

Along those lines, I line all quarantine tubs with white paper towels. Very easy to spot dark flecks (mites) if there are any. I keep scotch tape on hand - use the sticky side to pick up any dark flecks. I also keep a magnifying glass nearby - not all dark flecks are mites. Every night when I get to the quarantine room I look carefully at each tub and tape/inspect anything I see.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats