How do you quarantine?

[ZoologyMajor]

I have heard of people quarantining their snakes in different ways and for different lengths of time. So, I was wondering if you all could tell me how you personally go about this?

Thanks

 

[snakewispera snr]

We use plastic tubs (you can get them in lots of sizes). Only use paper/kitchen roll/newspaper. (the rest of the set up is the same).
We put that snake in a different room, and we always do that snake last. Plenty of anti-bacterial dry hand wash, between handling. And closely observe the snake for 3-6 months (depending on the snakes history).
IMO quarantine is no different from the way you keep snakes. except the paper and solitary
MIKE

 

[gbcop]

Mike hit the nail on the head. And it is soo important that it cannot be stressed enough.. ALWAYS ALWAYS wash your hands throughly before handling different snakes.

This is a very important step, which even though realistically isn't always done, but should be done every time you handle a different snake.


David

 

[Corny Noob]

Well this'll be the first time with quarentine for me this week.
I plan on keeping the new corn in a seperate room, always handling him last.
The only time he'd be near my other snakes anyway is when I eventually tend to breed him and that's years down the line *shrug*

 

[bitsy]

Here are the sort of things I do:

- New snakes kept in a completely different room to all existing residents for at least six months.

- Quarantined snakes kept on newspaper, to enable a full disinfection cleaning routine at least once a fortnight.

- Thorough handwashing before and handling either new or existing snakes.

- Completely separate equipment, including things like cleaning cloths/brushes, cleaning products, feeding tongs and handling gloves if used.

- When cleaning hides, bowls etc for quarantined snakes, clean the bowl/sink/whatever afterwards.

- Feeding/cleaning of quarantined and existing snakes on different days, so avoid a risk of accidental cross-contamination.

 

[tsst]

How important is the different room? I have always done good hand cleaning, separate feeding tubs, etc, etc. But my snakes, actually all my reptiles, are kept in same room. Is the separate room thing as important if there is NO cross contact of any kind? Is there an airborne element to worry about? Thanks!

 

[diamondlil]

How important is the different room? I have always done good hand cleaning, separate feeding tubs, etc, etc. But my snakes, actually all my reptiles, are kept in same room. Is the separate room thing as important if there is NO cross contact of any kind? Is there an airborne element to worry about? Thanks!

More likely a problem would be mites, which can travel between vivs and are known vectors of disease.

 

[tsst]

More likely a problem would be mites, which can travel between vivs and are known vectors of disease.

Thanks Janine! Do you think opposite ends of a 30' room would be fairly safe from mite travel? Hopefully I will not have to deal with it at all.

 

[diamondlil]

I use a 'ring of death' approach, because I can't use a separate room I use a contact insect killer treatment on the carpets (it's for cockroaches, ants, etc), plus a mite-spray actually on the racks every 4 months or so. I've still not found a local supplier of the diatomaceous earth I want to use instead. I did have a link about how far and fast mites travel, but I can't find it.

 

[snakewispera snr]

Try Vaseline around airholes/ doors etc.. The lil devils stick to it. Helps stop them marching about.. and a good early warning system to employ
MIKE

 

[tsst]

Try Vaseline around airholes/ doors etc.. The lil devils stick to it. Helps stop them marching about.. and a good early warning system to employ
MIKE

I like that idea for a warning sign. Are there other things you all avoid, besides new animals, that can bring mites into the collection? I assume they just don't show up one day without some change like a new snake. Or do they?