Handling my BP

[MrWiggles]

Hi, I'm new to snakes and the forum. I have a 1.5 is year male and he's great...however i read up that they can have salmonella and it makes me wonder how safe it is to let them walk around and touch my stuff that i regularly touch?

I know it sounds like a stupid question, i always wash my hands before and after handling but i wouldn't want anyone getting sick because they touched something my snake touched.


Thank you for any input!

[tttaylorrr]

no such thing as stupid questions.
to be honest: i rarely remember to wash up after handling. i have a bottle of hand sanitizer by the vivs but i forget to use it, though if people are over and they're handling my snakes i always make them wash up (since they're not used to the exposure).
salmonella is more dangerous for very young children and people with compromised immune systems. snakes don't transfer much from contact: if you're home and handle them i wouldn't worry too much; if you have people over or are going out later then def. wash up. don't worry about them touching surfaces/fabrics: they don't have much on them for it to be of concern.

[cletus]

I wouldn't worry about it much. I wash if I handle anything with waste, but just picking them up I rarely do. Tonight I pulled a shed out of the tub and spot cleaned so I washed up, but just picking up a snake I don't bother. I won't pick them up if my hands are dirty though.

[MrWiggles]

Okay thank you for the replies! I would always get worried whenever i handled him, especially didn't want to bring him into the kitchen or anywhere near where i may eat!

[Craiga 01453]

I have to agree with the others. I only wash when something is "different". For regular handlings, I honestly almost never do. In situations that I've been handling food (mine or the snakes') or if I've been working on something and my hands are dirty I will wash my hands before handling my snakes. If I clean their enclosures I will wash up after.
Congrats on your first snake and good luck. Don't be afraid to ask questions, that's why this forum is here.

- - - Updated - - -

I have to agree with the others. I only wash when something is "different". For regular handlings, I honestly almost never do. In situations that I've been handling food (mine or the snakes') or if I've been working on something and my hands are dirty I will wash my hands before handling my snakes. If I clean their enclosures I will wash up after.
Congrats on your first snake and good luck. Don't be afraid to ask questions, that's why this forum is here.