TEGUS INFANTS & SALMONELLA

[Justsomedude]

Hey guys I recently obtained a baby tegu and I have a concern that I could really use some help with. To give some back round information I currently have a 1 year old toddler as well as a pregnant wife in a home where I also have a room dedicated to reptiles and amphibians. My concern is this. I am extremely concerned with cross contamination and the children or my wife becoming infected with salmonella. While neither my wife nor my children physically interact with any of my reptiles or amphibians I am still starting to freak out about possible cross contamination. There is an adjoinging bathroom that my wife uses that is connected to the reptile room and while my tegu will not be a free roaming tegu should I be keeping these animals in the house in the first place? Has anyone here raised a family while still keeping these animals in their homes? I would love to hear personal experiences on the subject and honest opinions. Thanks again for your time and have a great day!

 

[Walter1]

Well, you're conscientious and that's good. My kids now late teens grew up with all sorts of herps I keep-snakes, Redfoots, green iguana's, and now tegus. The herps live separately, hands were/are thoroughly washed after any contact. No problems.

 

[Trede]

My understanding of salmonella: It is natural flora inside the reptiles. It does NOT "live on their skin" per se. If your tegu poops/pees and walks through it or burrows into it, it will be on their skin and, being a hardy bacteria, can live there for a few days iirc.

I take my boa constrictor and my tegu in to kindergarten classrooms, out to parks, etc. Small children interact with the reptiles and none has ever gotten salmonella. That's because every time one of my reptiles relieves herself (they're both female), she gets a bath. It helps that they both enjoy bath time. They also get a bath right before any social/outreach activities. If you wouldn't pet a dog that just rolled in its pee, why would you pet a snake that's covered in its own pee? It just makes sense. As does hand-washing after interacting with any animal.

Amphibians and turtles are a bit more complicated because (again, if my understanding is correct) the salmonella ends up living in their water, so maybe someone else could chime in on those?

 

[Walter1]

My understanding of salmonella: It is natural flora inside the reptiles. It does NOT "live on their skin" per se. If your tegu poops/pees and walks through it or burrows into it, it will be on their skin and, being a hardy bacteria, can live there for a few days iirc.

I take my boa constrictor and my tegu in to kindergarten classrooms, out to parks, etc. Small children interact with the reptiles and none has ever gotten salmonella. That's because every time one of my reptiles relieves herself (they're both female), she gets a bath. It helps that they both enjoy bath time. They also get a bath right before any social/outreach activities. If you wouldn't pet a dog that just rolled in its pee, why would you pet a snake that's covered in its own pee? It just makes sense. As does hand-washing after interacting with any animal.

Amphibians and turtles are a bit more complicated because (again, if my understanding is correct) the salmonella ends up living in their water, so maybe someone else could chime in on those?

That about sums it up. Regarding turtles and salmonella, years ago, red-eared sliders were farmed in crowded ponds filled with turtles and turtle poop. Not to mention that they were fed polutry and meat scraps, etc. that also fouled the water. Consequently, these turtles arrived to the pet shop with salmonella on them and then in the water of their new home.

 

[Justsomedude]

Very interesting thank you guys so much for the insight. I was checking out reptile magazine and they were saying that it's a myth and that you are more likely to contract salmonella from spinach and peanut butter! So I am going to be very careful washing my hands as well as using a hand sanitizer after the washing. 20 seconds under hot water. I am not going to let the tegu roam and constant baths are going to be on the regular. Do you guys add anything to the water when you bath your tegus?

 

[Trede]

I don't add anything to the water, but after she's about done soaking and playing in the water, I'll take some mild soap and rub her down with it, especially around the cloaca and tail and whatever seems soiled. A quick rinse and she's shiny and happy. Coconut oil after helps hold in some moisture and is super helpful if there's some stuck shed, but the soap I use is SUPER mild unscented and contains aloe so it's usually not necessary.

 

[Justsomedude]

I don't add anything to the water, but after she's about done soaking and playing in the water, I'll take some mild soap and rub her down with it, especially around the cloaca and tail and whatever seems soiled. A quick rinse and she's shiny and happy. Coconut oil after helps hold in some moisture and is super helpful if there's some stuck shed, but the soap I use is SUPER mild unscented and contains aloe so it's usually not necessary.

Sweet thanks for the info I love coconut oil I use it on a lot of stuff! Thanks for the post