Cross-species illnesses?

[Janelle]

We ended up with a spur-of-the-moment unexpected rescue ball python last night. She is being kept in a different room than my other reptiles, especially my sand boa. I'm meticulous about hand-washing (and even changing clothes, if necessary) between handling my animals or messing with anything in their enclosures. However, Vera (my new python) is in my bedroom, and Jayne (my beardie) often snuggles with me as I watch TV in bed at night. Are there any cross-species airborne illnesses I need to worry about between a python and a beardie? I hate to lose my bedroom snuggle time during several months of quarantine. They will never come into physical contact.

 

[PatsyB]

I'm not familiar with snakes but I do believe there are things that can be transmitted amongst reptiles. Bacterial infections, yellow fungus, coccidia and parasites. Things that can be passed by touch. I don't think there are any airborne illnesses that can be transmitted. I keep my dragons in the same room with my tree frogs and my crested gecko, and my chameleon at one point, never had any issues with them passing anything to each other.

 

[Janelle]

Thank you, that’s excellent news! As long as it’s nothing airborne, I think we’ll be fine. I’ll make sure we all continue to use good washing up habits.