CC BOAS
Quarantine Basics
When quarantining, the goal is to isolate as many instances of disease, illness, and parasites from established animals as possible. The quarantine procedure for a single reptile is less strict and drawn out than that of adding a new reptile in a home that already has reptiles in it. Quarantining is incredibly important in these cases, and is highly advised to help maintain the health of your animals.
Limit Interaction Between the Two Groups
Make sure to handle the new animal(s) last, wash hands between the groups and/or wear gloves (and change those gloves before moving between the groups), do not bring the quarantine animal(s) into the same space as the established animal(s), and do not share equipment. Preferably, you also don't want them in a shared air space; this means they need to be housed in a completely separate building. A separate bedroom in the same house is not adequate. However, we all have different levels of access, and a separate bedroom is better than no separation.
Watch for Signs of Health Issues
Most illnesses will show up within the first 30-90 days. During this time, watch for abnormal stools, regurgitations, mites, or any other signs that something may be off. It is recommended to keep them on paper towels for at least the first month or so, to make it easier to see any mites that may be present, as well as to more easily view and take any stools in for testing. 30-90 days is the absolute minimum time frame for quarantine, but there are several diseases that could even take multiple years to manifest. Fecal exams and sample testing for common viruses should be done during this time for the most efficient quarantine. For boas, I honestly recommend a minimum of 6 months quarantine (with testing), and 1+ year without, due to the risk of IBD-related viruses. Most other species should be fine with the 30-90 period.
Restart Quarantine Period Any Time a New Animal is Added
If you add a new animal before the quarantine period for the current new addition(s) are over, the new quarantine period for ALL becomes the day the newest one arrives. So, say you have 3 boas in quarantine from the same source, and they're in month 4/6. Then, you get a 4th from either a different source or the same; the quarantine period for all 4 is now 0/6. Any time a new unquarantined animal is added, that new addition can expose the others in quarantine. This can abated by having multiple quarantine spots, so that all groups are separate and can be introduced to the main group sooner.