Question about salmonella and snakes..

ladyjustice33 · 08-02-11, 10:14 PM

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

stephanbakir · 08-02-11, 10:16 PM

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.

SnakeyJay · 08-03-11, 03:04 AM

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.

Lankyrob · 08-03-11, 07:09 AM

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.

infernalis · 08-03-11, 07:43 AM

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.

totheend · 08-03-11, 08:22 AM

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....

Onyx Cross · 08-03-11, 08:40 AM

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.

brylecc1989 · 08-03-11, 09:05 AM

The only preventative measure i take is washing and changing after expos and pet stores‚ which is basically for all my snakes benefit.

Will0W783 · 08-03-11, 09:33 AM

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.

infernalis · 08-03-11, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

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.

stephanbakir · 08-03-11, 09:56 AM

Mossies tear the crap out of me, but wasps and fire ants never bite me

I get sick every other year or so.

shaunyboy · 08-03-11, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

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

Will0W783 · 08-03-11, 11:46 AM

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.

Web Wheeler · 08-03-11, 12:47 PM

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