How young are the kids? The only usual risk is if you put your hands in your mouth (eat, ect.) after handling. I suppose that germs or bacteria could still be on the clothes, furniture, and other objects that the animal comes in contact with, but I expect transmission from these items to a human would be rather remote. The only time salmonella really seems to come into play is when an animal is living in its own feces (salmonella is one of the different bacteriums carried in the gut, much like humans and E. coli). Last I heard, someone did a search for salmonella from reptiles and I think there was maybe 1, if any at all, accounts of salmonella from a reptile related origin, which was an iguana. I do not know of anyone that has become sick from any sort of reptile, whether it be turtle, snake, lizard, ect. I guess if you are really worried, you could buy some of that Lysol or Clorox disinfectant spray that is supposed to kill something like 99.9% of germs and bacteria. But I believe as long as hands are washed before eating or doing anything where the hand will come in contact with the mouth, that there is very little chance of transmission of any bacteria or germs from reptile to human. Andy
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Andy Maddox
AIM: SurfAndSkimTx04
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

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