"Animals offered for sale have not been quarantined or treated for parasites. They are otherwise all in apparent good health.  I strongly recommend that all animals (captive born and wild caught) be quarantined, checked by a vet, and treated accordingly. I offer a conditional live arrival guarantee only."

         I get a variety of responses to these statements. Some people email and state they will never purchase anything from me because it is obvious that I intend to sell them sick animals. Others tell me I should be ashamed of myself for not doing everything possible to insure that all my animals are cared for properly prior to their sale. Some customers never bother to read my terms or these statements. And still others praise me for my honesty even though most believe that I am simply being lazy. So what really is my intent with these statements?

        My intent is simply to be honest with my customers: no surprises, no misleading statements, no good intentions gone awry, just the simple and honest truth. Of course now you are asking: what surprises? What do you mean by misleading statements? or good intentions gone awry?  

        The purpose of this article is twofold. First it is to provide my customers and prospective customers with information that I hope will be informative and helpful in understanding quarantine and treatment protocols and the way in which they relate to the process of purchasing an animal. Secondly, it is to offer an explanation as to how and why I have chosen to have this policy. 

WHAT IS QUARANTINE AND WHAT IS ITS PURPOSE:

        Originally in the 1400's a "quarantine" referred to a period of 40 days during which time an incoming ship suspected of carrying a contagious disease was held in isolation away from the shore. Now days quarantine procedures not only protect humans from diseases and pests, but they also protect plants, animals, and even our environment. The primary purpose of a quarantine is to protect a designated subject from contamination. Since our concern is with reptiles and amphibians, I will discuss the issues of quarantine protocols as they relate to our interests.

       A quarantine may be a casual situation in which its purpose is simply to observe an animal for outward behaviors that might indicate a potential problem. For example, one might quarantine a particular snake or tortoise to make sure that it is eating regularly. In this situation protocol would simply consist of placing the snake in a cage by itself during feeding. After several feedings over a period of two or three weeks the keeper may conclude that the animal is eating fine or that it is a problem feeder and needs additional attention. This situation would not require any special procedures or even complete isolation since it's purpose is only to determine the feeding behavior of a particular animal. Because of its simplicity it is inexpensive and easy for the keeper to manage. This type of quarantine is suitable for isolating animals that already exist in a collection that just need a little extra attention; however, it would not be suitable for newly acquired animals for it does not offer any measurable degree of protection from contagions.

        A quarantine may also be a very complex and highly technical situation that covers a large variety of diseases and behaviors. For instance, a keeper may have a very valuable and large collection of boas. For him the quarantine has several purposes. He may want to be sure the animals are feeding and behaving normally but most importantly he wants to protect his primary collection from any serious health threats. In this situation protocol would require a very strict and complete isolation of the animals off premise for a period of at least six months. It may even require the use of additional keepers not associated with the primary collection or it's location. And it would require a number of lab tests and possibly even the use of sentinel animals. At the end of this quarantine the keeper might find it necessary to euthanize some or possibly all of the animals in quarantine. Should he chose not to euthanize some of the animals then he would need to continue the quarantine for another six months. He would then re-evaluate the surviving animals at the end of this second period. Because of the complexity and details involved, this type of quarantine is very expensive and difficult for a keeper to manage. This type of quarantine offers the maximum level of safety from contagious diseases and is the protocol of choice for protecting established collections from possible contamination by newly acquired animals.

        And of course there are a wide variety of quarantines in between the most simple and most complex. For example, a typical quarantine might last for a period of 60 days. During this time the quarantined animals would be held in isolation in cages in a room separate from the primary collection but still in the same building. During this 60 day period the keeper may do some simple lab work such as checking a series of fecal samples. Based on the results of these samples the keeper would then treat the animals with the appropriate medications. The keeper may also observe feeding, bowel movements, and other behaviors related to the wellness and general condition of the animal. Quarantines may vary considerably based on the individual needs of each keeper. If the keeper is on a budget there are many things he can do to keep cost down. If management is an issue there are a number of ways to keep it simple and easy to maintain. The negative aspect is that this type of quarantine does not provide any real protection  for the keeper's primary collection. It would be suitable for situations when the keeper for one reason or another has a high level of confidence that newly acquired animals are free of any contagious diseases.  

        Regardless of the simplicity or complexity of the quarantine it's ultimate purpose is to provide the keeper with some predetermined level of confidence that his newly acquired animals are healthy and that his existing collection is protected from contagions. 

WHY IS THERE SUCH DIVERSITY IN QUARANTINE AND TREATMENT PROTOCOLS:

        Variations in quarantine and treatment protocols occur for a great many reasons. In fact there are so many that it would be impossible to discuss them all in this article. But it is possible to separate them into two categories and then discuss them in general. The first and most important category would be all scientific and technical factors. Some examples of such factors would include the individual species, natural history, parasitology, virology, bacteriology, basic lab and animal technician procedures. The success or failure of a quarantine and treatment protocol depends greatly on a keeper's ability to find and then apply the acquired information. The keeper does not necessarily need to have the actual knowledge or skills but the ability to find those that do and get their assistance. When these factors are properly applied the resulting variations in protocols are sound husbandry and management practices; however, if improperly applied the quarantine and treatment can be meaningless or even fatal.  

        The second category would be all human related factors, which generally do little to actually improve quarantine and treatment protocols other than to make the keeper feel good. Most often these other influences at the very least make quarantine and treatment results questionable and potentially harmful. And sometimes these influences are just dangerous. Some examples of these factors would be misinformation, misunderstanding, lack of resources from which to learn, ignorance, laziness, human error, deliberate deceit, lack of finances, and individual keeper philosophy. Of all of the human related factors finance and individual keeper philosophy probably have the greatest and often the worst influence on quarantine and treatment protocols.     
         
        I often hear advocates of quarantine and treatment protocols comment that such practices cost no more $.02 per animal and require less than a minute per animal to administer. Because of this belief, no one, especially larger importers of wild caught animals, should have an excuse for not having a quarantine and treatment practice. Their proof that it can be done is simply that "they can do it," and I will be the first to admit that it may be possible for a very small hobbyist to do this and maintain a proper protocol. Unfortunately, the minute they relate their philosophy and practices to a business, it becomes impossible.

         As a business there are many additional expenses that must be accounted for other than the cost of the medications. For one, the dealer's time or that of an employee is now an expense. If the dealer is selling animals each week he will also need more than one quarantine facility. Warehouses, retail stores, and even legitimate home businesses value space either by the square foot or by the percentage of use. Having more than one quarantine facility should mean having additional employees on the payroll. Having additional facilities and employees also means more electric, phones, water, sanitation, insurance, and other related business expenses. Veterinarians no longer see a hobbyist trying to take good care of his animals. They see a business trying to make a profit and would thus like to be compensated for their skills and advice. This means dealers can pay by the call or put the vet on a monthly retainer either of which can be expensive. To compensate for these additional expenses dealers must increase the sale prices of their animals. At the same time they must remain competitive with other breeders and dealers that practice less than ideal quarantine and treatment protocols, if they practice any at all. As a result, decisions are made that are generally in the best interests of the business rather than that of the animals or customers. Such decisions might include shortening the quarantine period, canceling the vet's services, giving the animals "a little extra" medication so they don't need additional treatments, practicing herd management techniques, or simply discontinuing the protocols and telling the customers that the animals have been treated. Now some individuals might say that if these businesses would buy and sell only captive bred animals then they would not need quarantine and treatment protocols and would therefore not have the additional costs. Unfortunately, there is no truth in that philosophy.
     
        The debate over purchasing and keeping "captive born versus wild caught" animals has been going on since the middle - late 1980's. There are several issues associated with this debate one of which is the need to quarantine and treat animals for diseases and parasites. It is this issue that should concern us the most. The following quote is from an article that I found on several web sites (12/31/03).  No author was credited.

        "Captive produced reptiles are not only disease free, but are also almost always easier to handle and keep." 

        There are many breeders that would have customers believe that captive born animals are disease and parasite free. They maintain that by purchasing a captive bred animal a customer can avoid the time and expense involved in quarantining and treatment protocols and simply enjoy their healthy new acquisition; however,  this belief is not true. Captive bred animals can and often do get parasites and diseases.  

        Breeders and dealers that advocate this philosophy are one or more of the following: deceitful, ignorant, misinformed, and greedy. Even worse is the fact that these people are a real danger to reptile and amphibian collections everywhere. The danger is not that these people practice and teach poor quarantine and treatment protocols. Instead they advocate that no protocols at all are required. Each time they convince someone to practice their philosophy the risk of spreading diseases and parasites increases. Rather than going into great detail to explain myself, I will simply mention a few words:  adenovirus, cryptosporidium, IBD, paramyxovirus, snake mites, and genetics. These are just a few of the many diseases that can infect captive born animals. If you are not familiar with them, then I highly recommend that you do some research and learning before making your next purchase.
    
HOW ARE CUSTOMERS EFFECTED BY THE VARIETY OF QUARANTINE  & TREATMENT PROTOCOLS:

        The answers to this question are very simple. The most immediate effect to a customer is the risk of purchasing a diseased animal. The next most immediate effect is actually purchasing an animal with parasites and diseases. After this occurs, the animal may take ill or even die. But the worse effect is being responsible for passing a disease on to other animals in other collections. If you purchase enough animals, sooner or later any one or more of these will happen. 
   
WHAT CAN CUSTOMERS DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES:

1. USE COMMON SENSE AND REASON
               
        We know that our dog may have fleas and maybe even ticks. We know about the risks of heartworm. We know about hook worms, round worms, and tape worms. We even know about or at least have heard of hepatitis, leptospirosis, distemper, and  parvo virus.  We know that cats, cows, horses, pigs, sheep, and other domestic animals are also susceptible to parasites and diseases. And what do we do about it? We accept these facts and follow our favorite vet's recommendations for keeping our animals healthy.           

          Why would anyone believe that in only 25 years or less (as of this writing) reptile breeders have accomplished what breeders of domestic animals have failed to do in hundreds or even thousands of years? In spite of what we all know and accept about our warm blooded friends many customers readily accept the words of some reptile breeders when they say that captive born reptiles do not have or cannot get diseases or parasites; however, any number of diseases and parasites can be found in captive bred reptiles. 

2. RESEARCH AND LEARN 

        Take the time to research and learn about the an animal before making a  purchase. In today's world of herpetoculture there is no shortage of readily available information to assist the customer. The best place to start your research is on the internet. Other sources include breeders, dealers, bookstores, public and university libraries. Customers generally want to know what the animal eats, how often, the water requirements of the animal, how large the cage should be, what temperature it likes, what kind of temperament it has, how big it gets, and if it is a boy or girl. Typically these types of questions and their answers are positive or pro-species in nature. Once these questions have been answered are the customers are ready make their purchase?   

        Here is a tip #1.Use common sense. Learn to ask about the negative aspects of your prospective purchase. When you ask a seller about an animal his answers are generally designed to be as honest of as possible without jeopardizing the sale. And take a closer look at the care sheets available on reptiles. In most cases you will find nothing that is obviously negative about keeping the animal. This of course makes it seem like the perfect pet. All of this positive information is indeed helpful but it is not complete. Make it a point to ask what kind of diseases and parasites may affect the animal. Ask how you can protect the animal, your other animals, and sometimes even yourself from potential health problems. You may even ask the seller to recommend sources for additional information about the animal. Keep in mind there is no such thing as the "perfect" pet.   

3. ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS

        If you are buying from a seller that claims to have quarantined and treated his animals for parasites or guarantees that his animals are free from diseases and parasites then feel free to ask the hard questions. Ask specifically about their quarantine and treatment protocol or why they can make such a guarantee. Ask specifically about the seller's guarantee. Keep in mind that for clarity and legal purposes conditions, terms, and policies should be in writing.  

       Here is tip #2. Use common sense. Just because a seller is willing and able to answer your questions does not mean that the answers are correct, that the animal is being honestly represented, or that the seller actually applied his knowledge. Assuming you have taken the time to research and learn about the animal you should have a good idea if an answer is correct. Answers that are vague or not consistent with what you have learned should flag you to ask additional questions.

4. DO NOT BUY OUT OF SYMPATHY

        This is a big mistake that is often made by customers. They want a nice animal yet at the same time when they see a runt or sickly animal they feel sympathy and a desire to help the animal. Seeing this sickly animal is a warning sign of potential problems. Customers should walk away but their emotions often win. They purchase the obviously unhealthy animal believing they have the means to help. Unfortunately, they generally lack the skills and the animal soon dies to the regret of the customer.

        There is nothing wrong with helping animals in need, but it should be unrelated to your pursuit of finding a healthy and desirable animal for your collection. If you have a desire to help animals there are other ways. Should you still feel the need to purchase a sick animal with the hope of making it better, then realize your risk and accept your responsibility.  

        When looking to make a purchase for your collection or simply as a pet, stay focused on exactly what you desire. With all the animals available now days it pays to be patient. Remember that there are differences between keeping pets, keeping breeders, and rescuing and rehabilitating.     

5. ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

        In the 1400's quarantines were used to isolate incoming ships from the port cities. England has very strict quarantine procedures for incoming dogs and cats. The United States has very strict quarantine procedures for incoming plants, birds, and livestock. In fact, most countries have quarantine procedures for incoming plants and animals as well as other things. You should see a trend. But if you do not I will point it out. Whatever the subject, it is quarantined on it's way in rather than on it's way out.  
          
        Keep in mind that a quarantine and treatment protocol is not a vaccine. Assuming that the quarantine was run properly one can feel comfortable that the animal is healthy at the time of it's release; however, once the animal has been released and taken to shows, put on display in a retail store, and handled by potential buyers it is at risk of being infected. As a result, customers should always be responsible for their own quarantine and treatment protocols. Any keepers that infect their collections by introducing newly acquired animals without quarantine have no one but themselves to blame.

SUMMARY:
       
        The purpose of a quarantine is to protect established collections from possible infections from newly acquired animals. Although sellers often advertise that their animals have been treated and quarantined, most protocols are flawed for one reason or another. There are also those breeders that claim captive bred animals do not have diseases, but you should know this not to be true. As a result and in spite of the best intentions of honest well meaning breeders and dealers, infected animals do get sold. Of course there are also those dealers and breeders that are less than honest and simply claim they have quarantined and treated their animals when in fact they have done nothing. But there are a number of ways that customers can protect themselves. Customers should use a little common sense and reason, take the time to research and learn, ask detailed questions, and avoid buying out of sympathy. Most importantly, customers should be responsible for their animals and protect them by quarantining and treating all their newly acquired animals regardless of any promises or guarantees made by the seller.  
        
MY OPINION:        

        Quarantining and treating animals for parasites and diseases is a very important animal husbandry tool. For individual keepers it is essential to maintaining a healthy collection. It is also important to the reptile industry as a whole. As a group our ability or lack of ability to manage diseases and parasites in reptiles may one day influence our privileges to keep these animals; therefore, it is important that we all learn proper and effective quarantine and treatment protocols. My decision not to quarantine and treat the animals I sell was not made lightly.  

        When the idea of offering customers animals that had been quarantined and treated for parasites first started to become popular I gave it a great deal of consideration. I spoke with other keepers and listened to their ideas and thoughts. When the opportunities were available I would visit facilities and watch keepers put their ideas into practice. I thought about the financial aspects and the practically of such a practice. I contemplated the possible results and their validity. I considered my own experiences with non-human primate and avian quarantines. I reflected on my own quarantine and treatment protocols for newly acquired reptiles. I spoke with veterinarians and even discussed it with my wife who has had years of experience with quarantines for other animal species. Finally, after all this, I concluded that it was a fantastic sales pitch.

        For a number of years after this I simply ignored the subject. When I was asked by potential customers I sometimes would explain myself and at other times simply say no. But as the idea gained popularity in the industry, I started thinking about it again. Should I jump on the band wagon or stick to my beliefs. In the meantime I was hearing some very interesting stories from customers and potential customers. On the one hand these stories were amusing but on the other they were sad. These customers were sharing their buying experiences.  

        One customer related to me how he had purchased a baby albino Burmese python from breeder. Within just a few days after it's purchase he found that it was sick. He told me that because of all the problems with wild caught animals he had specifically asked the seller if the animal was captive born. He found out it later that the seller had lied to him. Curious, I asked him why he thought this so.  He stated that he had taken the albino Burmese to a vet and discovered that it had parasites. The vet said that  the animal was most likely wild caught, because captive born animals did not have parasites. Based on this and similar stories  I decided to stick to my beliefs and make them a part of my stated sales policy.        

        As I stated at the beginning of this article my intent is simply to be honest with my customers: no surprises, no misleading statements, no good intentions gone awry, just the simple and honest truth.          

        My policy is based on four thoughts.

        1. All animals, including captive born animals can get, carry, and spread diseases and parasites.

        2. Every responsible animal keeper should quarantine and treat, as required, all newly acquired animals.    

        3. Even the most experienced and skilled animal keepers can, and do, make mistakes.    

        4. My intentions are not to deceive my customers but to help educate them so that they may better care for their  
             animals.