Dozens of you have told me so; I've told dozens of you so ... but I didn't follow the advice... or only part way.

I didn't quarantine Monty at all -- and I paid for it with months of war against a mite infestation in both of my terrariums.
I quarantined Q for just over one month: I waited for the stool sample: "no internal parasites" , and many weeks of VERY vigilant checking for mites and ticks: no external parasites

... and I was sure I was in the clear.... OR NOT?!

When I found out Q was not a male, I wanted to cut my losses and I decided to introduce her into Talyn's terrarium. They got on fine and I was happy to have saved the money on an extra terrarium, heating, lighting, etc.

After another month of slowly getting to know my new snake, I found out that she "whistles"... snakes aren't supposed to whistle and if I had kept her in quarantine, I would have caught this before any of my other snakes!!

It may take time to find out what is causing her whistling... but the fact remains: I messed up. Talyn could have (and might have) picked up a disease because I cut the quarantine time short.
I was so focused on the mites, that I ignored all other things during the quarantine time.

Q may have an RI: the vet is unsure because she has NO physical symptoms of illness. (It was only when she put Q's mouth up to her ear, that she heard the sound and said she didn't like it at all.)
In the event it is a bacterial infection, she is now on a round of antibiotics. But it could be viral, and then I just have to hope her immune system can handle it and get rid of it. It could, however, be some sort of congenital defect or there is some type of obstruction causing the whistling. Until we find out, or it goes away, she should (and will) be kept away from my other snakes. As soon as Talyn sheds, I will check her over carefully and listen for any noises.

If you keep super strict quarantine procedures, good for you!!! Keep it up!!
If you don't, or are tempted to cut it short --- think carefully!! A 3-6 month quarantine MINIMUM will save you lots of time, MONEY, heartaches and headaches in the long run.
With all the herpaholics on this forum and all the new additions to collections, here is a reminder... don't slack on quarantine!!!

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Andrea

I am a firm believer in a 3 month minimum.

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

I'm very sorry that Q is ill.Hope she will soon be OK again.Q is the one from "zum Goldfisch",right? Oh,I could kill that guy!!
All the best for you and Q!

Sometimes slight whistling is a result of rubbing against a screen or striking at the glass. After placed in a proper enclosure this sometimes clears up after a couple of sheds. I'd still keep an eye out for RI and not rule it out.
3 months quarantine here!!

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Yep 3 months minimum. Years ago I made the mistake of putting a pair of brand new corn hatchlings in with another I already had. I lost both the new ones (they came from the same breeder) and it took 3 months of daily medicating but I managed to save the original.
Don't have to tell me twice!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

3 months at least. My WC dart frogs got an 8 month treatment and were tested before I decided they could even be put near my herp room.

I WILL NOT make this mistake again!
For me... 3-6month MINIMUM from now on!! In fact, I now feel that I have the necessary experience and confidence to check any future snake much more carefully BEFORE I bring it home: not just holding it but examining it's scales and body, checking carefully for mites, opening it's mouth and looking inside. (I read all this in my boa book, and thought "Yeah, right: the pet store isn't going to let ME do THAT!" -- now I'm a hardened veteran... if they don't like it: that is NOT the place I'll buy from!!) In future checks, I will also put the snake's head near my ear to listen for whistling noises! I know it won't take the place of a quarantine, but I might save myself something in vet bills!!

PS - Jacky, yes, "Q" is the snake I bought from "zum Goldfisch"... My advice -- don't buy ANYTHING from that store, and hope they go out of business.

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Andrea

Now I am not talking about going in a store and expecting to pick up everything in sight and handle it but ANY dealer in live animals should not object to a thorough examination of an animal by a serious perspective buyer. That in itself should throw up a big red flag!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

I was not allowed to handle Q myself until she was paid for and I got her out of the store. The worker and the owner in the store held her and got impatient when I took a bit of extra time looking at her mental groove and around her eyes!
There were just soooooo many big red flags connecting with this buy, that I must have mistaken them for red wallpaper! Or I'm colored blind.

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Andrea

my boa whistles to... ive got her checked for an RI and it isnt. when I got mine her nose whats wiped off from a screen roof. the vet said she may have a deformed nostril and it will not impede her. i definatly believe in the 3 month quaranteen. shes very healthy now and still weeses sometimes

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1.0 Golden Gecko, 2.o Cresties (super dal/ patternless fire)