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Q: What do you use for a quarantine period?
Posted By:

amarilrose

In Relation To:

Marian [JJ PHAXBP-F-X]
Hello iHerpers  :)

I am curious what any of you might use for a quarantine period.  I have heard of anything between one and six months.

The reason I ask of course, is that I purchased a breeding size proven female Ball Python @ Tinley, and I would like to breed her this year.  There is always some element of risk in putting two animals together of course, but I am tempted to leave quarantine at only a month.  I know there are a few infectious diseases that can strike, aside from the usual concerns about parasites... but I also know that we pretty much don't know enough about the incubation period for any of these diseases to actually properly determine an effective quarantine period.

I purchased my female from a guy I've done business with before (albeit only a month prior to Tinley), and I had the opportunity to tour his facility, including his quarantine room (which was empty at the time).  I became a repeat customer because I was very satisfied with his management of his animals, and I would like to believe that they are as much in good health as they appear to be.

All of this combined with failure over the past two years while trying to breed my Ball Pythons leaves me very anxious to have some breeding success!  Pressure from my husband furthers this anxiety - it seems he doesn't like what I am spending for a breeding project with no returns (to date), and I can't blame him!

So, there it is.  :)  Any advice guys?

~Rebecca
Points: 100
Topics: Infectious Disease , Caging , Cycling
Tags: Quarantine
Species: Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative: Show/Hide
Member Comment 10/29/2008 4:01:01 AM

Rapture
The most popular time period I've heard is at least 3 months. My vet recommends more like 6-12 months. The sad truth about ball pythons is there are a few potentially serious "things" going around with them, from mites to internal parisites, from bacterial infections to viral infections. IMO the safest thing to do is to keep your new arrival in a separate room from your established collection for at least 90 days. Always take care of your new snake last after you finish taking care of your established animals. Do not share water bowls, feeding tongs, or any other husbandry tools with your quarantine area and your established area. It's also a great idea to pre-treat your quarantine enclosure for mites before putting your new arrival in it. Keep your quarantine enclosures simple and easy to clean and disinfect. Check your new animal regularly for odd looking stool, odd behavior, or any other signs of illness. When you purchase animals from breeders who have good reputations, usually your animal will have no problem getting through quarantine. But, you'll be glad you took the extra time to quarantine if you ever do end up with a sickly snake.
 
Member Comment 10/29/2008 7:05:22 AM

LokisKafka
Im not sure about all snake diseases but I know one big concern among boids right now is ibd, i have read in many places that it can remain dormant for years even so, that being said, longer is better.

heres an article on ibd

http://www.petmd.com/reptile/conditions/viral/c_rp_inclusion_body_disease

even if the breeder is the greatest cleanest in the world this kind of thing can still happen.
Your best return will be off of healthy snakes!
Wishing you the best of luck in your breeding.
 
Member Comment 10/29/2008 9:31:03 AM

MarlboroMan
I use 60 days for USCB and 90 days for imports/unknown origin animals.

Just like Rapture mentioned they're kept in separate rooms and I use separate husbandry equipment.
 
Accepted Answer 10/29/2008 11:29:26 AM

dalvers63
I've done everything from 30 days to 6 months, depending on the animal. If it were a boa, I'd say a year would be better. Being as it is a ball python, you've seen the person's facility and you're comfortable with him, a month would be fine. If you have a vet you can take the girl to and get a fecal and possibly a blood test done, all the better.
 
Assisted Answer 10/29/2008 11:56:05 AM

Katie M
After my recent scare, and thank god it was a scare, my quarantine time has gone from 2 months to 6 months, and that's 6 months from anything suspicious.  I've also had some long talks with Dr. Maas, the greatest herp vet in Washington state (IMO), and have arranged some prices for preventative tests, so I don't give myself a heart attack each time a rescue dies, or a snake regurges.  So, in addition to having their own room for 6 months, I've begun routinely checking all of the new arrivals for Crypto, which requires 3 separate tests, 3 weeks apart.  Because of the shedding cycle, it's required to get 3 negative tests to be certain that the snake doesn't have Crypto.  Increases the cost of the snake by $120, but I figure it's the responsible thing to do with such a large collection.  Every snake is treated for mites the second they walk through to door, and at least at the next 2 to 3 cage changes with Reptile Relief, and P.A.M in the tubes.  With some nasty diseases becoming more and more prevalent, it's time to be very proactive
 
Member Comment 10/29/2008 2:04:46 PM

Rapture
I've done everything from 30 days to 6 months, depending on the animal. If it were a boa, I'd say a year would be better. Being as it is a ball python, you've seen the person's facility and you're comfortable with him, a month would be fine. If you have a vet you can take the girl to and get a fecal and possibly a blood test done, all the better.
Actually, ball pythons may carry certain viruses that are not symptomatic just like boas can carry IBD without showing symptoms. A longer quarantine is really the safest idea.
 
Assisted Answer 10/29/2008 5:01:17 PM

Melmo
Depending on the relationship with the person I purchased the animal(s) from my Q ranges from 30 days to 90 days with the average being 60.
 
Member Comment 10/29/2008 9:17:18 PM

MegF
If I know where or who the animal came from, usually 30-90 days. If I don't, the animal is an import or wildcaught, it gets a full 6 months.  I won't risk a clean collection with something that might harbor disease or parasites. I avoided a mite infestation because I had a new animal quarantined for a few months.  After a month he developed mites.  Whether these came from somewhere around my place or the eggs just hatched, none of my other collection got them. Saved me a big hassle. With IBD, I definitely take extra precautions with new boas and pythons.
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