dont u get samanella from letting ur lizard roam freely?

Question

like do they crawl on u while u sleep and did u get smamanella poisoning. i have a worry issue so like are u immune to it or what. i love lizardsbut please HELP

Answer 1

Any any any any any animal can "carry" salmonella... hell, you could be a carrier right now and not even know it.

keeping an iguana / turtle / snake / whatever in a tank with a waterbowl that only gets changed every.... um.... when did i change the water last? makes their tank their toilet.

fecal matter is bad stuff. you want to wash your hands after petting/touching ANY animal at all.

as for letting lizards run around the house uncontained, there's all kinds of problems with that.... poisoning from household chemicals, crushing injuries from recliners, being stepped on in the middle of the night, etc. etc.

Answer 2

OK, it is a known fact that lizards do indeed carry salmonella, it is a natural part of their flora. I read an article that stated that a man purchased a snake skin some years before and kept on comming down with salmonella, when they tried to pinpoint the cause, they found the huge snakeskin hanging on his wall and tested it and it actually had viable salmonella virus still on it. It lives for a very long time. That is why they suggest you always wash your hands after handling any reptile. So, in answer to your question, I would say that it would be possible, especially since you state they crawl directly on you while you sleep. I would cage the lizard not only for the salmonella issue mentioned above but also for the fact that if you have a lizard crawl on you while you sleep, and you roll over just once it could be the end of the lizard. It has been known to happen with people sleeping with their infants and my brother actually accidentally killed his skink who had escaped and he could not find in his apartment that very same way. I know he was extremely upset when he found what was his pet the next morning.
Dale

Answer 3

salmonella infection is an impediment to reptile lovers. Keep your reptiles' enclosures clean of fecal matter. Change the water for drinking and basking at least once every two days.

Washing your hands after touching your lizard or his poop will help stop the spread of salmonella.

Let your lizard roam. Be sure of his domain. A little salmonella may not top the fire he will cause for getting entangled in your household wiring. A lizard will not crawl over you during the night. Reptiles need the heat from the sun to generate energy to move around and feed. Most lizards will become inactive when there is no heat source.
Just think of a bunch of crocodiles basking in the sun to regain their strength since they are cold blooded.
The hunters in the Australian outback would wait out the nite, and
then take out a large croc before the sun came up.
Mmmm good eating.

Once again, we are all susceptible to salmonella, however, keeping your lizard clean and remembering basic hygiene will continue your love for your lizard into the future.

Answer 4

A few details about Salmonella...

1. It is mostly a fecal contamination. Animals that live in their own wastes, especially in contaiminated water, are at higher risk for carrying it- but humans carry it as well because of improper handwashing after toileting.

2. It grows really well in certain environments, like cooked eggs, meats, etc. It passes easily from one site to another- but is pretty easily killed with hand washing, good sanitation practices, and good food handling/prep practices.

3. You've already had Salmonella. Stomach flu and the 24 hour bug are usually Salmonella, and almost every American over 13 has had it at least once.

4. Most attacks happen about 24-48 hours after exposure, involve vomiting and diarrhea, and usually only lasts a couple of days. There ARE more aggressive strains, but the worst stains tend to happen in places like meat packing plants.

5. The biggest risks are for the young, the old, and those whose immune system is compromised. If you get one of the nastier strains, more people are at risk, but over 95% of the attacks are the 'typical' variety.

6. Because it CAN take up to a week to develop (but usually only 24-48 hours), it is easy to make wrong accusations about what caused the infection. Cooked egg products or chicken served at room temp (egg or chicken salad, deviled eggs, cold fried chicken, etc.) are often contaminated as is undercooked meat. Unwashed fruits and veggies that get touched by a lot of people are also frequent culprits.

A 'free-roaming' lizard is a little less likely to carry Salmonella than a pet cat is. (This does not mean that letting iguanas roam free is a good idea, however!)

Answer 5

I have personally had the bacteria SAManella. Believe me you don't want it .I was ignorant. I was showing a friend of mine my cute little turtle then without washing my hands smoked right after wards. I started to get sick later that night. It was five days of severe vomiting and well you know the other end. It was horrible. I can't even describe. No sleep no rest. Even when you go to the toilet it's not relieving. I am so serious it was horrible. I wanted to die and I felt like I was going to. I had worked at a pet store for a long time and this very subject is what I preached about. Please put your animal in a cage. Not only can you get yourself sick you can carry the bacteria to doorknobs, sinks, light switches, and whatever else you touch and get someone else sick. Children, elderly, and people with weekend immune systems can die. Please take this seriously.

Answer 6

Keep cages clean and wash hands after you handle a reptile. A responable owner would not let a reptile roam free without supervision. They are not cats that come running when you open the catfood.

Answer 7

you mostly get salmanella if the lizard or turtle is living in its own poop... just keep the environment clean and you're fine..