how do I know if my turtles have salmonella?

Answer 1

Do they swim in their own poop-water? Then chances are, they are carrying salmonella. It's not like turtles 'carry' salmonella, it's a matter of cleanliness. In the wild, there's so much water per turtle and so much filtration by plants and such that I doubt you would get salmonella from chewing your fingernails/picking your nose/rubbing your eyes after handling a wild turtle. But in a captive situation, in most cases, even with a filter, turtles are sitting in their own toilet for at least a few days before each water change. (I've seen some -very- nasty turtle tanks that you just -know- were harboring all kinds of nasty stuff.)

Your best bet is to wash your hands immediately after handling -ANY- animal or raw chicken, or egg, or leftovers.......

Answer 2

Turtles, like all other being have salmonella present from birth. They just have a higher level than say you and I. Theirs is external whereas ours are internal and help in digestion and immune defenses. I would not put it near your mouth and wash your hands after handling it, but the levels are not that high and shouldn't be toxic unless you get a hold of a large amount by negligence.

Answer 3

Turtles do not 'have' Salmonella- that is, they are not affected by the germ.

They 'carry' Salmonella, especially if the water is soiled or smells 'turtley'. ANY reptile can carry Salmonella, though, even if the habitat is perfectly clean.

It is always safest to assume that ALL reptiles have it and practice good handwashing after handling them.

Answer 4

Virtually all reptiles have salmonella in their intestinal tract. I have a policy in my house, if you touch anything in my reptile room or anything my reptiles touch, you use antibacterial wash containing alcohol and then wash with antibacterial soap in the bathroom.

The way humans catch salmonella is typically like this: You go in and clean out your reptile enclosure, or just rinse out their water bowl and give them fresh food and water. They crawl through their fecal matter and inadvertently get it on them. Then they walk all over their enclosure, touching everything. Salmonella is spread via their feces. I just read that over 90% of all reptiles carry salmonella in their intestines.

I would say, if you have a reptile, it has salmonella in its intestinal tract. Keep some of that alcohol based antibacterial wash next to the enclosures, anytime you do anything at all, even lift the top or open the door, use it.

I even use ours when going from animal to animal. Just a good rule of thumb. It is such habit now that my son uses it every time as well and even makes anyone in the room use it on their way out. (We have over two dozen pets, all reptiles except for some hermit crabs and two dogs.)

Hope this helps you a bit and remember to err on the side of caution and don't let it keep you from enjoying your pet.

Answer 5

As said already, almost all herps carry salmonella.

All you have to do is make sure you use purell hand sanitizer or wash your hands before and after handling them. And if they are walking around make sure you sanitize those area's as well.

Salmonella is an ingested bacteria, so you dont have to follow the turtle with disenfectant and hit everything it touches. If there is anything that may get in contact with your mouth however I would disenfect it.

Answer 6

all of them do