How and for what length of time should you keep new snakes in Quarantine

[evilkineaval]

When quarantining new snakes (is it essential), am I able to keep them in the same enclosure but in seperate plastic containers or do they have to be completely away from the others (I was going to build a 1200x600x600 enclosure with a heat cord, thermostat and flurencent light with a reptistar tube and then place each snake in a seperate plastic container 210x145x110 with lock on lid containing air holes) is that suitable of not. How long do you have to quarntine them for and what do you look for while in quarantine

[OzRocks]

If you are getting reptiles from the same supplier, or kept in the same enclosure anyway..its not a huge deal, cos if one of em's got it most likely all of em hav got it. although if your buying reptiles from different suppliers it is best to seperate them, to try and stop the spread of what ever it might be that they hav, if they hav it. So it is better to seperate all new animals but sometimes if your buying in bulk its not always easy......my knowledge is only limted in quarantining so get a few more opinions before doing anything i say

[cris]

At least a year is ideal, better to keep them quarantined for ever unless you need to put them together to breed etc.
The biggest concern at the moment is OPMV and it can take a long time to show up(if it shows at all) and it is unknown how it is transmitted but it could be airborne.

[junglepython2]

If they are from the same supplier you could get away from keeping them as you have said, but I would completely separate them from any other reptiles you have, that includes separate hooks and no handling a quarantine animal and then your others without washing.

3 months is usually sufficient but with OPMV that should be pushed out to 12months so depends on the level of risk you want to take and the worth of your collection.