My mom is worried, what should I tell her?

[Houzi88]

My mom is worried about the snake giving me Salmonella or some infectious disease. Do you think I will get it from my snake. Also I need tips if I can clean my snake or anything like that. Like a shower or something but not a shower obviously like humans. Somehow clean them? More importantly the Salmonella question, what should I tell my mom?

[ThyTempest]

My mom is worried about the snake giving me Salmonella or some infectious disease. Do you think I will get it from my snake. Also I need tips if I can clean my snake or anything like that. Like a shower or something but not a shower obviously like humans. Somehow clean them? More importantly the Salmonella question, what should I tell my mom?

Wash hands thoroughly before handling, wash hands thoroughly after handling. No Salmonella.

[BMorrison]

Get hand sanitizer.

[Houzi88]

Can I clean my snake in any way?

[azak323]

As long as you keep your tank cleaned regularly, you shouldn't worry about any harmful bacteria growing. Snakes are naturally pretty clean animals. I clean my snakes every now and then by cleaning out my sink with tank disinfectant, and then fill it with warm water and let her swim/soak in it. I always put ReptiSafe water conditioner in it before i put her in it though. seems to work well for me!

ps-if anyone sees anything wrong with this, let me know.

[missi182]

Yep, wash your hands before and after, and no worries. You are more likely to get an infection or exposure to bacteria from handling soil in my opinion.

[Patrick Long]

http://www.triciaswaterdragon.com/sa...htm#salmonella

Show her that. only about 20% of captive reptile have Salmonella

who knows what truth that has but hey

[missi182]

As long as you keep your tank cleaned regularly, you shouldn't worry about any harmful bacteria growing. Snakes are naturally pretty clean animals. I clean my snakes every now and then by cleaning out my sink with tank disinfectant, and then fill it with warm water and let her swim/soak in it. I always put ReptiSafe water conditioner in it before i put her in it though. seems to work well for me!

ps-if anyone sees anything wrong with this, let me know.

I don't know what is in your sanitizer, but I would say that it is totally unnecessary to "sanitize" your snake. If you want to clean your snake (for any reason) a short warm bath of water is your best bet

[Corrupter]

Just fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray it on your hands before and after handling the snake. Never spray it on or near the snake though and make sure your hands are completely dry before picking the snake up. The rubbing alcohol kills all kinds of bad stuff that could get on your hands. I have even used it when cleaning tanks out because it makes a good solvent for dried-on nastiness

[jknudson]

A freshwater soak is really only beneficial to hydrate the snake, and it really isn't going to disinfect him/her.

Just be sure to wash your hands after handling. Like Pat linked to, salmonella in captive reptiles is pretty uncommon. However, snakes aren't exactly "tidy"...they'll spray urates and climb through their own waste on occasion. Keep the enclosure clean and wash those hands!