So I have five snakes four are corn snakes and I have ball python. They are all in secure cages that they can't escape so my concern isn't that they could hurt an infant. I'm an expecting father which I am over joyed about. I have researching salmonella related with reptiles since I know the baby will have a weak immune system. And what I've read it worries beyond words about keeping my snakes once the baby gets here. I read that the CDC says not to keep reptiles with a child under five. What are y'all's thoughts on the situation? Should the snakes go or stay? What are the chances my son could get salmonella from the snakes? What precautions should I take? If you could please include personal experiences and statistics of it actually happening if any statistics exist. Sorry for all the questions I'm a long time reptile lover and will soon be a new father that needs help determining whether it's safe to keep the snakes or not
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What are your thoughts on having reptiles with an infant in the home
- Thread starter Jdub61
- Start date
TheFrogman
Im just old
Go for it, I was raised with all kind of animals in the house including giant land tortoises and even a crocodile ( back when they were $4.00 at South of The Border) and Im very happy and a better person for being exposed to reptiles at an early age.
And I raised my kids with snakes and reptiles and they are great and passing the interest on to my grandkids.
Knowledge is power.
And I raised my kids with snakes and reptiles and they are great and passing the interest on to my grandkids.
Knowledge is power.
Alli_Draggy
Wadjet's family
Honestly, there's more danger to an infant from a cat or dog. Herps stay in tanks and can be controlled, and e-coli from the baby itself is more likely to make the baby (and adults) sick than Salmonella from the snake if you practice good hygiene habits, because snakes poop in their tank. Babies poop wherever they are, and leakproof diapers are more a fantasy than a reality.
I would make very, very sure, though, that the tank is secure and that whatever stand it has can stand up to climbing/pulling up, because those are heavy pieces of furniture, and obviously, you don't leave any young child unsupervised with an animal, any animal, at any time. Having the animals in a separate room where the door can be gated would be a very, very good move for those toddler years or simply keeping a door shut would be a good idea. Toddlers are curious creatures, often haven't yet learned what they're not allowed to mess with, and I've known toddlers who could probably have defeated every system of viv cover/latch I've seen except for the double boxed locking ones used for hots. Again, though, this is more for the protection of the snake than for the child, because most pet snakes simply aren't a threat to humans of any size.
I would make very, very sure, though, that the tank is secure and that whatever stand it has can stand up to climbing/pulling up, because those are heavy pieces of furniture, and obviously, you don't leave any young child unsupervised with an animal, any animal, at any time. Having the animals in a separate room where the door can be gated would be a very, very good move for those toddler years or simply keeping a door shut would be a good idea. Toddlers are curious creatures, often haven't yet learned what they're not allowed to mess with, and I've known toddlers who could probably have defeated every system of viv cover/latch I've seen except for the double boxed locking ones used for hots. Again, though, this is more for the protection of the snake than for the child, because most pet snakes simply aren't a threat to humans of any size.
daddio207
THUG FROG !
I agree !
I congratulate you for making the safety of your children a priority!
I have raised children and reptiles in the same house. Now grandchildren visiting.
Secured cages a must ( you got that ) and cleanliness a must. Keep anti-bacterial hand sanitizer by the snake cages to use after any contact with snake or cage items and still go wash your hands after.
I would NOT have any large constrictor, aquatic reptile or large lizard with small children though. The 4'' turtle law is to keep little kids from putting them in their mouths.
Nanci
Alien Lover
I was raised being able to handle turtles since I was a toddler, and raised my daughter with captive herps (and dogs, cats, horses, birds, chickens...) No one ever got salmonella.
I'd be much more afraid of (am afraid of!) eggs, raw chicken, and raw greens/sprouts/etc.
I work in a hospital and was reading a history the other day of an infant with diarrhea, whose older sibling kept turtles in the yard. This patient had both salmonella and e. coli infections. The turtles were discussed, but with the turtle FOOD being a possible source of salmonella.
And you know your entire bathroom and washing machine are e. coli- ridden...Actually, you are probably better off not thinking about that. And keeping your toothbrushes in a cupboard.
I'd be much more afraid of (am afraid of!) eggs, raw chicken, and raw greens/sprouts/etc.
I work in a hospital and was reading a history the other day of an infant with diarrhea, whose older sibling kept turtles in the yard. This patient had both salmonella and e. coli infections. The turtles were discussed, but with the turtle FOOD being a possible source of salmonella.
And you know your entire bathroom and washing machine are e. coli- ridden...Actually, you are probably better off not thinking about that. And keeping your toothbrushes in a cupboard.
The risk of getting salmonella from reptiles is, in my opinion, greatly overstated. And the risks of certain other things, such as having a dog or cat around small children, or bringing raw chicken or eggs or even vegetables into your house is bigger than a lot of people realize. But with all of these, as long as you follow proper precautions, you should be fine.
More specifically, from everything I've ever heard, the only way to get a salmonella infection is to put something contaminated into your mouth. Babies and toddlers do lots of putting things in their mouths, so you will have to be vigilant about proper hygiene regarding your hands and other objects that have contacted the snakes. But you don't have to be concerned that your baby will spontaneously develop a salmonella infection just from being in the same house.
This is based off what I was trained to tell people when I used to volunteer at a zoo and we had a couple BPs that we would take out where people could touch them, lots of reading on the internet over the past 6 years or so, and the fact that no one in my house including a child who was under 5 when we got our first snake has had a problem with salmonella in the 6 years or so that we've had snakes.
More specifically, from everything I've ever heard, the only way to get a salmonella infection is to put something contaminated into your mouth. Babies and toddlers do lots of putting things in their mouths, so you will have to be vigilant about proper hygiene regarding your hands and other objects that have contacted the snakes. But you don't have to be concerned that your baby will spontaneously develop a salmonella infection just from being in the same house.
This is based off what I was trained to tell people when I used to volunteer at a zoo and we had a couple BPs that we would take out where people could touch them, lots of reading on the internet over the past 6 years or so, and the fact that no one in my house including a child who was under 5 when we got our first snake has had a problem with salmonella in the 6 years or so that we've had snakes.
daddio207
THUG FROG !
Just to clarify;
I don't believe a turtle under 4 inches has any higher a percentage of passing on salmonella than one over 4 inches through normal contact. It's just funny (as in odd) that do to toddlers putting things in their mouths that the federal government would enact such a law (1975). Studies showed that it did reduce the incidences of salmonellosis. I would guess that the reduction was due in part to the fact that most hatchling turtles died because of improper husbandry thus dramatically reducing the quantity left in captivity that a toddler could put in their mouths.
I personally would not keep aquatic turtles with infants or toddlers in the home do to their under developed immune systems. I feel there is a higher chance of salmonellosis if how ever so minimal that I wouldn't chance it.
Once my youngest was 5ish, we kept and raised everything from 3 toed to sulcatas and aquatics from woods to red ears. I loveTurtles !!
When someone gets salmonellosis in a house with reptiles, the first thing they go to is the reptiles even though they are the last thing that probably caused it.
I don't believe a turtle under 4 inches has any higher a percentage of passing on salmonella than one over 4 inches through normal contact. It's just funny (as in odd) that do to toddlers putting things in their mouths that the federal government would enact such a law (1975). Studies showed that it did reduce the incidences of salmonellosis. I would guess that the reduction was due in part to the fact that most hatchling turtles died because of improper husbandry thus dramatically reducing the quantity left in captivity that a toddler could put in their mouths.
I personally would not keep aquatic turtles with infants or toddlers in the home do to their under developed immune systems. I feel there is a higher chance of salmonellosis if how ever so minimal that I wouldn't chance it.
Once my youngest was 5ish, we kept and raised everything from 3 toed to sulcatas and aquatics from woods to red ears. I loveTurtles !!
When someone gets salmonellosis in a house with reptiles, the first thing they go to is the reptiles even though they are the last thing that probably caused it.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
The 1975 turtle law reduced reptile-induced salmonella by virtually eliminating baby turtles in pet shops. It simply made them too expensive to raise up to the 4" point to sell them at impulse prices. To this day they can still be found at T-shirt shops and such at nearly every beach in America, though.
Alli_Draggy
Wadjet's family
The other thing is "Be prepared for wives tales and urban legends". I know that one of the most common reasons for cats being dropped off at shelters and rescues is "My mother in law told me XXXX"-and invariably, it's about 95% myth-and any fact is something that isn't likely to be an issue with responsible adults doing the care giving for both the animal and child.
Similarly, I can almost promise now that you'll hear, if you haven't heard already, about everyone's sister's hairdresser's brother who had something bad happen because they had a snake and a baby. It's never anything verifiable, and you know it's 100% false when applied to your snakes, but when you're a nervous, sleep deprived parent to start with, it can start to make you wonder.
So bookmark this thread, and come back to it when you need it. Please don't get rid of your snakes. In a few short years, your house will be the "cool one" that all the kids want to come to (trust me on this) and your child will be in the position of being able to help teach others just how wonderful reptiles are.
And congratulations on the baby, by the way!
Similarly, I can almost promise now that you'll hear, if you haven't heard already, about everyone's sister's hairdresser's brother who had something bad happen because they had a snake and a baby. It's never anything verifiable, and you know it's 100% false when applied to your snakes, but when you're a nervous, sleep deprived parent to start with, it can start to make you wonder.
So bookmark this thread, and come back to it when you need it. Please don't get rid of your snakes. In a few short years, your house will be the "cool one" that all the kids want to come to (trust me on this) and your child will be in the position of being able to help teach others just how wonderful reptiles are.
And congratulations on the baby, by the way!