Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My mom keeps bugging me about bringing reptiles into the house and insists that i'm gonna get salmonella before its over. I've only heard of salmonella problems with iguanas. Do leos carry it? My mom told me no more lizards in the house, too bad i've already got a patternless and albino on the way. 1 more year of college and i'm out of the house anyway. Anyway is there any risk of getting salmonella from leos? (So my mother will leave me alone) Thanks.

There is a risk of salmonella from most reptiles and amphibians. If you keep it and its enclosure clean, and if you wash your hands after coming in contact, you will be fine. I have never gotton sick from any reptiles and I have never heard of anyone getting salmonella from theirs. I have heard of lizards having salmonella and getting sick... I would be much more worried about getting mad cow from burgers Look it up on some sites though, try a google search of 'salmonella facts' or something. And it sounds like your mom may just need a little positive reinforcement. Buy her flowers and do the dishes. And thank her for supporting your hobby!
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1.2 SHCT Leopard geckos: Big Papa, Big Mama and Jingle Belle
2.5 jungle & leucistic morphs: Van Gogh, Monet, Manet Pissarro, Speckles, Mouthy, and Mama Cass
0.0.1 Normal??? Leo(rescue):Skinny
0.1 Ragdoll cat: Tinkerbell
2.0 Devon Rex cats Gryffindor, Tigger
0.1 Cat Dinah
1.2 Bassett hounds Bogart, Sadie, Hermione
3.0 Feretts Blizzard, Coco, Fuzzums
3.0 Chinchillas

It is definitely possible. I would recommend always washing your hands after handling your leos. Here is a link with some info on salmonella transmission: www.geckonetwork.com/salmonella.htm.
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You run the risk of getting a few different chains of salmonella from all reptiles. It is pathogenic and usually transfered through their feces. The only people at high risk of it ever effecting them, is the elderly, children, and anyone with a 'high risk' immune system.

Although it is possible for you, and/or your mother to somehow beomce infected with salmonella from your gecko, you should be more concerned with encountering this bacteria on a public bathroom doorknob.

Practice cleanliness well, and always wash your hands thoroughly after handling a reptile. Also remove feces on a regular basis, about once or twice a week is good(if they are regular). Saniztize the cage thoroughly (e.g fixtures, branches, housing etc) every 2 months.

Tell your mom she should be more worried about getting salmonella from McDonalds than your reptiles!

Good luck with college, and your reptilian friends!

If you wash your hands and dont put the reptile in your mouth the chances of contracting samonella are not as likely, so WASH YOUR HANDS you will be fine
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Brittany AKA HugaBunchaLeos

Have you hugged your Leo today