Pythons and Tortoise Illness Question.

[CALM Pythons]

Well I have googled and checked different Forums for about 2 weeks and as much as I’ve read and learned about Tortoise species I can not find any information on sickness/disease that can transfer from a Tortoise to a Python. It seems they share several common reptile illness’s and that alarms me.
About 3 weeks ago my daughter asked for a turtle. After 2 days of reading I decided a turtle was out of the question. Im not getting involved with something that requires water filtration and water heating. I cant stand aquariums and the Pain they are to clean. What I have found is several people who keep a tortoise in a Viv/PVC enclosure and it works great for the small species who require temps comparable to my Constrictors and higher humidity. Now that I’ve narrowed this down I want to find out about illness. The last thing i want to get involved in something that will Jeopardize any of my snakes health. I looked in the Sub Forum here and there isn’t any activity as far as Turtles/Tortoises. . We must have some keepers here? Im looking into a Indian Star and they are not the easiest kept. However those that know me understand that once I jump into a pet I’m dedicated to it so I want a species that Im interested in even if there are hardier specimens available.
Im reading that all Tortes can get several of the things Snakes can like Rot, RI’s, Bacterial infections, parasites etc.... can these strains be passed onto a Collection of Pythons or are they so different that they wouldn’t effect each other? Any help from those with knowledge is greatly appreciated.


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[Jellybeans]

If they're not being kept in the same enclosure and you wash your hands in between handling each reptile there should be no issues......

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[Bogertophis]

If they're not being kept in the same enclosure and you wash your hands in between handling each reptile there should be no issues......

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I was thinking the same thing but it would still be nice to hear it from those with the most herp-medical experience here. I've never kept turtles or tortoises either,
and "forewarned is forearmed" as they say. I think various things COULD be shared with snakes, but no more risk than another snake added? And you'd
certainly quarantine either way, & forever wash hands between maintenance or handling.

[Jellybeans]

I've kept several types of reptiles this is just my first snake
I've kept several species of reptiles in one reptile room and never had any issues with transferring an illness to another

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[Jellybeans]

But yeah, it's good to see if there's some hidden thing a tortoise might have that could endanger other reptiles

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[CALM Pythons]

If they're not being kept in the same enclosure and you wash your hands in between handling each reptile there should be no issues......

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Respiratory Infections will go through a collection of snakes like wild fire whether you wash your hands or not. The same with Parasites... so back to the question about them being transferable between species. A example of parasites can be mites. A snake mite is a snake mite as a wood mite or animal mite will not effect the snake. Same goes with the prey I breed to feed my snakes, most of their parasites will not effect the snakes...

So Im really looking for a Keeper of both that might have some experience or info I can read up on. I can guess presume but that wont do any of us any good hahaha.


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[CALM Pythons]

Well it seems to be a dead thread. Its hard to find anyone that keep Snakes and Tortoises. The only person I found was at a pet store locally family-owned and by the looks of his store I wouldn’t get directions to a restaurant from them. If anyone knows of a Vet or Freind that has enough knowledge to answer these basic questions about illness that the two species might share please let me know. Thank you.


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[bcr229]

Try Fauna in the Turtles and Tortoises Discussion Forum, you may find keepers there who have both species.

[Bogertophis]

Or if you know any zoo-keepers to ask? Personally I'm not above cold-calling a reptile department...most of them love their work & don't mind sharing a bit.
Never hurts to donate a bit for the zoo either.

[KevinK]

Well it seems to be a dead thread. Its hard to find anyone that keep Snakes and Tortoises. The only person I found was at a pet store locally family-owned and by the looks of his store I wouldn’t get directions to a restaurant from them. If anyone knows of a Vet or Freind that has enough knowledge to answer these basic questions about illness that the two species might share please let me know. Thank you.


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PM "Reptileexperts" on here, he's the biology major and very well educated on stuff like this. Im sure he'll point you in the right direction,