The quarantine process

[Dev_DeCoste]

Okay so I've done some searching and have a question... It seems to be a common agreement to QT all new snakes just to be safe. I currently have 1 snake from PetCo. He was never quarantined, though. In about a month I'm getting a T8 and possibly another snake. I'm assuming at the very least I need to QT the new guy? Also, I live in a very small apartment. And sadly the only other room I can keep it in is a common room. I really want to get another snake but am a little concerned as to how and with what I can QT the snake with...

Thanks for any help

[Dev_DeCoste]

Sorry for double post... Can't edit above post.. But if all goes well I should have a new JogSaw coming in a month or so. Since I live in an apartment where I have no other room to keep the snake what would be the best option?

My best idea was to let me friend watch my current BP while I keep the new one for a couple months in my room... I'm getting a new T8 and cleaning supplies before I get the new snake so I'll be able to put it in a completely new enclosure and my current BP will stay in his current..

Think this would be my best bet?

[bcr229]

A friend of mine who has no other animals in his home QT's all of my new ones for 90 days. It works out since it limits the number of new acquisitions (and thus the affect on my wallet), and his wife is not a snake person but is ok with them being in the house if she knows they will be leaving soon.

[calmolly1]

Ok I've read through this sticky and I'm glad I did before adding any other snakes! But my concern is that the exotic pet store we buy our feeder mice from. We go there A LOT! Just to look and dream mostly, lol, but it's where we buy our feeder mice from. We bring them home and within a day or two, whenever she is ready, feed our BP. Yesterday we visited to pick out her new enclosure and also looked at all the snakes. I started noticing almost everyone had mites! I pointed this out to the owner who immediately removed them to be treated. We didn't buy a mouse yesterday, as she just ate. I've searched online but can't find any information whether mites are species specific or can they transfer from mice. I'm terrified that Prec has got them now! I don't see any but she is in shed and wants to be left alone. I bought some spray they recommended but they said wait til she finishes shed. So can she catch them from the mice we feed her gotten form this store, as they seem to have a infestation? It has sure put a damper on adding a red tailed boa to our home for now.


Molly & Precioucess

[John1982]

Ok I've read through this sticky and I'm glad I did before adding any other snakes! But my concern is that the exotic pet store we buy our feeder mice from. We go there A LOT! Just to look and dream mostly, lol, but it's where we buy our feeder mice from. We bring them home and within a day or two, whenever she is ready, feed our BP. Yesterday we visited to pick out her new enclosure and also looked at all the snakes. I started noticing almost everyone had mites! I pointed this out to the owner who immediately removed them to be treated. We didn't buy a mouse yesterday, as she just ate. I've searched online but can't find any information whether mites are species specific or can they transfer from mice. I'm terrified that Prec has got them now! I don't see any but she is in shed and wants to be left alone. I bought some spray they recommended but they said wait til she finishes shed. So can she catch them from the mice we feed her gotten form this store, as they seem to have a infestation? It has sure put a damper on adding a red tailed boa to our home for now.


Molly & Precioucess

Your concern is justified. While reptile mites can't survive on mammals that doesn't stop them from hitching a ride on a less than ideal host.

[bcr229]

Your concern is justified. While reptile mites can't survive on mammals that doesn't stop them from hitching a ride on a less than ideal host.

QFT. I've left reptile expos without a new critter, but found a mite on me later.

[hijacked]

Ok I've read through this sticky and I'm glad I did before adding any other snakes! But my concern is that the exotic pet store we buy our feeder mice from. We go there A LOT! Just to look and dream mostly, lol, but it's where we buy our feeder mice from. We bring them home and within a day or two, whenever she is ready, feed our BP. Yesterday we visited to pick out her new enclosure and also looked at all the snakes. I started noticing almost everyone had mites! I pointed this out to the owner who immediately removed them to be treated. We didn't buy a mouse yesterday, as she just ate. I've searched online but can't find any information whether mites are species specific or can they transfer from mice. I'm terrified that Prec has got them now! I don't see any but she is in shed and wants to be left alone. I bought some spray they recommended but they said wait til she finishes shed. So can she catch them from the mice we feed her gotten form this store, as they seem to have a infestation? It has sure put a damper on adding a red tailed boa to our home for now.


Molly & Precioucess

I wouldnt buy substrate from a store with an infestation either.

Just like you, I walked into a local pet store that has a relatively large reptile collection. I was looking over the snakes for sale, and noticed an aquarium with spider bp's, and baby boas housed together. Obviously not a good combination. I noticed mites on the spider BP's, but not the boas.
Its clear that mites can hitch a ride on your clothes to your car, or even worse, your house.
So this got me thinking, there's a good chance the substrate is infested as well.

Then i realized this could be the case at any pet store that sells substrate. What can a snake owner do to make sure that you dont contaminate your collection with infested substrate? Would freezing the substrate kill the mites? Is it safer to buy substrate from a supplier that doesnt sell snakes too?

[bcr229]

Then i realized this could be the case at any pet store that sells substrate. What can a snake owner do to make sure that you dont contaminate your collection with infested substrate? Would freezing the substrate kill the mites? Is it safer to buy substrate from a supplier that doesnt sell snakes too?

Mites and eggs can't survive being frozen, or temperatures over 150*F for more than a few seconds. So, you can store the substrate outside, and either freeze it or bake what you're about to use.

[chrisv]

It seems like we have members who QT for anywhere from 1 month to 1 year.

I was wondering if there is a sense among members which pathogens have short incubation cycles and which have longer cycles. This information would not only help when deciding how long to QT but would help one know what things to keep an eye out for when they are further along in the QT process.

For example, if mites have a life cycle which makes their presence apparent in the first 6 weeks, it would be good to know that the focus should shift from looking for mites to looking for (??).

Does anyone have a list of the common ball python pathogens with their relative incubation times?

[jplehmann]

Which of the disease and infestations are airborne if any? Or is the concern mainly to separate ALL stuff including cleaning yourself in between collections to prevent things from crawling and/or riding between two snakes?

I'm in a situation where I can't QT in a separate room, because I'm only allowed one room. Thankfully, right now I only have one snake I really want to protect, so at least I am not risking a lot.