border
sSNAKESs : Reptile Forum
 

Go Back   sSNAKESs : Reptile Forum > Community Forums > General Discussion

Notices

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-02-11, 10:14 PM   #1
ladyjustice33
Member
 
ladyjustice33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul-2011
Location: Southeast Texas
Age: 47
Posts: 397
Country:
Question about salmonella and snakes..

First time snake owner and I have been cleaning my snake bowls and hides in my kitchen sink. Once I'm done I sanitize my sink with fantastic then bleach water and then spray it out with really hot water. Is the threat of salmonella as bad as what I've been reading? Am I sanitizing my sink enough or should I start cleaning them outside instead?? Right now my baby rainbow boa is in a 20L glass critter cage and my daughter's baby corn is in a 10 gallon glass critter cage. I will be getting better enclosures when they get a little bigger. I clean the enclosures out completely about once every 5 days. I give fresh water every other day. I really love these snake and have always wanted one, but want my family to be safe also. We wash our hands throughly before and after handling the snakes. I read online that we should also change our clothes if the reptile came in contact with them while handling, but thought that was just a little extreme. Those of you that have been keeping snakes for a while, what precautions do you take??? Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks.....Kat

1 gorgeous cocker spaniel - Katie Scarlett
1 cute baby "wild type/normal" corn snake - Juno
1 lovely baby columbian rainbow boa - Morpheus
1 sweet german shepherd - Heidi
ladyjustice33 is offline  
Login to remove ads
Old 08-02-11, 10:16 PM   #2
stephanbakir
Retic Fanatic
 
stephanbakir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar-2011
Age: 36
Posts: 7,119
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

I wash my hands after sometimes... not half the time though. I ALWAYS wash my hands between reptiles, and I ALWAYS shower and change clothing before touching my animals if I have been in the bush, and especially if I have been working with wild animals, or someone else s animals.
stephanbakir is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 03:04 AM   #3
SnakeyJay
Boa Lover
 
SnakeyJay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep-2010
Location: Hereford
Age: 37
Posts: 2,618
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

A general wash before and after handling should be fine. And as far as i know your sink will be fine, especially if you clean with bleach. If you go to pet stores or expo's you should change clothing afterwards to stop the passing on of mites.. i wash everything in my sink and ive never had a problem... although my girlfriend is a lab technician and works with salmonella and e-coli n all that stuff all day and she says its fine.. just be carefull with young children and salmonella.
__________________
Cheers, Jamie.
SnakeyJay is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 07:09 AM   #4
Lankyrob
Non Carborundum Illegitimi
 
Lankyrob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar-2010
Location: Keynsham
Age: 50
Posts: 9,556
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

I use baby wipes to clean my hands/arms after handling and i wash bowls etc in the kitchen sink also, i dont then sanitise the sink tho.
__________________
May you have more good days than bad
You never know how strong you are - until being strong is your only choice
There are no dark clouds - just well hidden silver linings!!
Lankyrob is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 07:43 AM   #5
infernalis
Moderator
 
infernalis's Avatar
 
Join Date: May-2008
Location: Central New York State
Age: 60
Posts: 16,536
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

I have been a complete slob and have yet to get remotely sick....

I often catch myself munching right after handling snakes, even caught myself making sandwiches without washing up first....

The risk is there, but I honestly think a lot of the fuss is just scare mongers at work.
__________________
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world attaching the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?"
infernalis is offline  
Login to remove ads
Old 08-03-11, 08:22 AM   #6
totheend
Member
 
totheend's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun-2006
Posts: 477
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

I have read that only 3-5% of cases of salmonella are caused from reptiles. I totally agree with Wayne and the scare mongers comment....
totheend is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 08:40 AM   #7
Onyx Cross
Member
 
Onyx Cross's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul-2011
Location: New York
Posts: 113
Country:
Send a message via Skype™ to Onyx Cross
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

I'm pretty bad when it comes down to it, too. I kiss my snakes, lol.
Generally, I'd say about, 40% of the time, I'll wash my hands after handling. I always have clean hands before handling.
__________________
0.0 BP "Schnitzel" / 0.1 dog / 1.0 leopard geckos / 0.3.8 cats ... RIP: Ricardo, Squish, China, Theodora, Cecil. Berserkette, and Schnitzel.
Onyx Cross is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 09:05 AM   #8
brylecc1989
Member
 
Join Date: Apr-2011
Location: NYC
Age: 36
Posts: 525
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

The only preventative measure i take is washing and changing after expos and pet stores‚ which is basically for all my snakes benefit.
__________________
Im funky not a junkie, but I know where to get it.
brylecc1989 is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 09:33 AM   #9
Will0W783
The Original Urban Legend
 
Will0W783's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec-2008
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 5,526
Country:
Send a message via AIM to Will0W783
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

I use hand sanitizer between snakes and when I'm leaving the room to go do other things. Sometimes I forget, but I tend to have a weak immune system, so I always try to remember. I will also change clothes if I've been working with quarantined animals and shower before going near my established animals, or usually work with established first, then quarantine room right before shower and bed.
__________________
Dr. Viper
Will0W783 is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 09:39 AM   #10
infernalis
Moderator
 
infernalis's Avatar
 
Join Date: May-2008
Location: Central New York State
Age: 60
Posts: 16,536
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Will0W783 View Post
I use hand sanitizer between snakes and when I'm leaving the room to go do other things. Sometimes I forget, but I tend to have a weak immune system, so I always try to remember. I will also change clothes if I've been working with quarantined animals and shower before going near my established animals, or usually work with established first, then quarantine room right before shower and bed.
I never get sick, never get poison Ivy, never get bit by bugs either.
__________________
"Where would we be without the agitators of the world attaching the electrodes
of knowledge to the nipples of ignorance?"
infernalis is offline  
Login to remove ads
Old 08-03-11, 09:56 AM   #11
stephanbakir
Retic Fanatic
 
stephanbakir's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar-2011
Age: 36
Posts: 7,119
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

Mossies tear the crap out of me, but wasps and fire ants never bite me
I get sick every other year or so.
stephanbakir is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 10:50 AM   #12
shaunyboy
slainte mhath
 
shaunyboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov-2009
Location: kelty,fife
Age: 58
Posts: 8,509
Country:
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

Quote:
Originally Posted by infernalis View Post
I have been a complete slob and have yet to get remotely sick....

I often catch myself munching right after handling snakes, even caught myself making sandwiches without washing up first....

The risk is there, but I honestly think a lot of the fuss is just scare mongers at work.
^^^^^
i'm a slob like you mate

i find myself eating after handling snakes or washing out water bowls with no ill effect

i wash my bowls in the bathroom sink which gets cleaned regular with the rest of the bathroom.

i have no added sink cleaning procedures because of my snakes

cheers shaun
__________________
ALWAYS judge a person by the way they treat someone who can be of NO POSSIBLE USE TO THEM !
shaunyboy is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 11:46 AM   #13
Will0W783
The Original Urban Legend
 
Will0W783's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec-2008
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 5,526
Country:
Send a message via AIM to Will0W783
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

Yeah, I don't bleach out the sink or the tub or add cleaning just because of the snakes. I have a dishwasher so all human dishes go in that. I handwash all the snakes' water dishes though. I use a lot of Tupperware that could melt in the dishwasher.
__________________
Dr. Viper
Will0W783 is offline  
Old 08-03-11, 12:47 PM   #14
Web Wheeler
Member
 
Join Date: Nov-2004
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 42
Re: Question about salmonella and snakes..

Here's all the information you could want on salmonella:

What Is Salmonella?

For more interesting reading concerning legal cases involving salmonella poisoning in the U.S.:

Salmonella : Food Poisoning Law Blog
Web Wheeler is offline  
Closed Thread


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:01 AM.

Powered by vBulletin®
©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2002-2023, Hobby Solutions.

right