Quarantine Protocol for New Arrivals

Every new reptile must go through quarantine before being introduced to your collection. This protects your existing animals from diseases, parasites, and mites.


Standard quarantine duration: 60-90 days


Quarantine setup:

  • Separate room from your collection (ideal) or isolated area
  • Paper towel substrate for easy inspection
  • Basic hide, water bowl, and appropriate heating
  • No decorations — keep it simple for monitoring

    • Monitoring priorities:

  • Mites: Check water bowl for tiny black specks, inspect around eyes and heat pits, watch for excessive soaking
  • Respiratory infection: Wheezing, crackling sounds, open-mouth breathing, bubbles from nose/mouth
  • Parasites: Abnormal feces, visible worms, weight loss despite eating — get a vet fecal exam around day 30
  • Other issues: Scale rot, mouth rot, regurgitation, lethargy

    • Biosecurity rules:

  • Handle quarantine animals LAST in your routine
  • Wash hands thoroughly between quarantine and collection animals
  • Use separate tools (hooks, tongs, water bowls)
  • Never share substrate or supplies between quarantine and collection

    • Clearance criteria: 90 days without symptoms, 3+ consecutive successful feedings, clean fecal exam, no mites, steady weight gain.

    Related Articles

    Hatchling Care: The First 12 WeeksFeeder Management for Breeding Collections

    Still need help? Ask HatchLedger AI — click the chat bubble or press Cmd+J