Salmonella. Have YOU caught it from your reptiles?

I've been seeing a lot of news articles and mentions lately of salmanella and the danger of exotic animals. We all know the risk is there. But I want to know how many have actually experienced salmonella poisoning from their reptiles?


I've only caught salmonella once, long before I ever had herps. Now that I do have reptiles, I've never caught it.

I currently have two snakes, three lizards, a bird, and a frog. The bird is 7 years old, and all the rest of the animals are between 1 and 3 years old. My boyfriend has been keeping reptiles and birds his whole life and has never caught it.

Now I won't say we are perfect with our care in preventing salmonella. We know the risk but...well, we get lazy. I've kissed my snake before, I've forgotten to wash my hands before eating after handling my reptiles. Most of the time we are good about it, but honestly we treat cleanliness with them and our hands like we do our dogs and cats..Sometimes we'll forget, unless we've been cleaning cages or something. We've been lucky in avoiding salmonella for sure I suppose. But how lucky?

I'm curious to know--the number of animals, how many years you've kept reptiles, if you ever caught salmonella from them, and how clean you are when it comes to preventing salmonella.

I know this is an extremely active forum, so I know a lot of people will be able to respond. :) I want to see some big numbers and percentages.


To be honest with all the bad press lately, we will be for sure being more careful about avoiding salmonella. We've just been a little bit lazy when it comes to our own health I suppose! Now we'll be better about it for sure. :)

Never had it. I it like 27 -28 years keeping reptiles and as a kid dealt a lot with turtles.

I've never caught it. I've been kepping reptiles for 4 your years but catching them for years before that. I've been keeping birds for a couple of years now. Not once have i caught it.

You know what I wonder? If I ever DID catch salmonella...would I even know it came from one of the reptiles? I'd more likely assume it came from the chicken I'd prepared for dinner or some other source that is far more risky than our scaly pets.

Good question! I don't know. I guess you would assume because maybe you caught it the day after a massive cleaning day?

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Originally Posted by JLC

You know what I wonder? If I ever DID catch salmonella...would I even know it came from one of the reptiles? I'd more likely assume it came from the chicken I'd prepared for dinner or some other source that is far more risky than our scaly pets.

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I agree, ive had my snake for 5 years and haven't gotten it. If i were to get it I would suspect my mom's cooking before my snake lol :D

Turtles under 4" were banned to have as pets, (unless for scientific research blah blah lol) because of the risk of salmonella. I've had tons of them for several years and have never gotten it yet. I still have several turtles and snakes right now and dont plan on getting it! :P

Under 4" is apparently the size turtle we like to put in our mouths. Over 4" has no appeal apparently, maybe because of the development of claws and that beak.

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Originally Posted by aldebono

Under 4" is apparently the size turtle we like to put in our mouths. Over 4" has no appeal apparently, maybe because of the development of claws and that beak.

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Its actually because they're afraid kids will put them in their mouths :P

Just don't tell them that they can "Nom" of the side of the shell :colbert:

I haven't really been too careful about salmonella.

Ever have to siphon the turtle tank and get the water started the old fashion way? Sometimes the water gets in your mouth :(