For sure, disinfect the snake cage(s) completely. You can use a mild bleach solution for now. LLL Reptile sells QuatPlus which kills bacteria (honestly, it smells alot like Windex, and I wouldn't be surprised..). Finally, the Bean Farm sells clorohexadine which I use for snake cages. You dilute it with water. It is safe and kills bacteria.

You would have to speak with your local vet to see what they can do for testing the snakes and then keeping the bacteria at bay. I imagine that a few doses of Flagyl (for the snakes)can take care of a bacteria overload, but the vet can hopefully offer better help than "I imagine." As stated, the source of this bacteria is likley the snakes but may not be.

With safe husbandry techniques, the chances of coming down with an infection from snakes is nil. However, young children are often far more susceptible than adults, in part because they do not wash their hands. The pediatrician recommended with my son waiting until he was 6 before he could handle a captive snake, just to be overly safe, because of the unknowns of captive snakes - i.e. where they were kept before you got them, what other animals were in the same room, were they exposed to non-native tropical snakes, etc.

You know, we put up with gangs and pit bulls sold to anyone and all of that stuff, but when snakes make the news linked with salmonella or something like that, people want all-out bans. That is why I think it is important that we are overprotective when it comes to kids and reptiles in our homes. Sounds like you are doing the right thing. You definitely want to have your child not come in contact with the snakes or cages until you can verify the status of the bacteria being present or not in the snakes.
-----
Mark

[ Hide Replies ]

• Rare Bacteria - momofmany, Mon May 19 15:29:41 2008
• RE: Rare Bacteria - LarryF, Mon May 19 18:23:22 2008
• RE: Rare Bacteria - markg, Mon May 19 18:28:22 2008
• RE: Rare Bacteria - momofmany, Mon May 19 20:06:18 2008
• RE: Rare Bacteria - markg, Tue May 20 12:25:16 2008
• RE: Rare Bacteria - RinL, Thu Jun 5 10:32:27 2008
• RE: Rare Bacteria - not my snakes - momofmany, Thu Jun 5 18:48:12 2008