Written: 24/5/11
Your Pet Terrapin and Your Health
Good Husbandry for Keeping Pet Terrapins

Reptile keeping as a mainstream pet has grown immensely during the last few years. With the present economic downturn people are tending to sway to more economical options for exotic pets. One of the most cost effective is keeping Terrapins.

The price of a small terrapin can be inexpensive compared to a Snake or a Lizard however you must still provide all the necessary requirements to keep them healthy. Important needs to remember are a good sized living area, UV lighting, Balanced diet and most importantly a well maintained habitat.

Some people are not aware that most reptiles carry the Salmonella bacteria with them. These bacteria can be a threat not only to the reptile keeper but also to other members of the family or public if kept in a store setup. People who may be handling the terrapin within the store could also be at risk of contracting it which is why it is important to keep Byofresh hand foam mousse close by and use it on a regular basis when handling any animal in store. The Byofresh Range offers a compact range of Sanitizers and Cleaning Sprays for a variety of Pet Homes.

Under the genus Salmonella there are about 2000 different forms of bacteria and all of them are considered as a pathogenic or disease causing bacteria. Some of them in extreme cases can be deadly. Generally a disease condition caused by Salmonella bacteria is called salmonellosis.

Like all other reptiles Terrapins have a high carriage rate of Salmonella. The Salmonella disease being passed from animals to humans is called a zoonosis but fortunately Salmonella cannot get into the human body through your skin, it can only be contracted through your mouth. Therefore the easiest way to prevent this is from good hygiene practice. Always keep a good habit of washing your hands using soap, antiseptic lotion or with a Byofresh Hand gel every time you come into contact with animals. Keeping their tanks clean and keep handling to a minimum will dramatically reduce Salmonella contraction.

In Summary, Good hygiene practice will reduce getting Salmonella from your Terrapins.

We love our pets we love ourselves too.