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Snakes and PET mice? Advice please

I

IguanaMama

Love at first sight
I have 8 PET fancy mice. If I handle the mice, and then handle the snakes, will that freak them out? Will they smell the mice on me and try to eat me? I usually let the mice roam all over me, so just washing my hands won't help. Anyone else out there have snakes and mice?
 
I would have to say a big yes to that considering mice is their main food. They are going to know what mice smell like and if you have that scent on them then there is a chance they'll try to strike at you. I sanitize my hands before messing with any of my snakes. very good practice.
 
madamwlf said:
I would have to say a big yes to that considering mice is their main food. They are going to know what mice smell like and if you have that scent on them then there is a chance they'll try to strike at you. I sanitize my hands before messing with any of my snakes. very good practice.
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A pretty damn STRONG chance at that!

I keep mice, but not as pets, only a food source. I don't handle or play with them. However, I'm always very careful to wash my hands and arms after messing with the mice. Whether it be feeding, watering, pulling babies or just checking in on everyone!

It's generally a good idea to wash your hands after you handle any type of animal let it be rodents or reptiles. Even vice versa, it pays to always be safe in the long run, rather than sorry!

Quigs
 
As well as a few snakes
ive got a couple fancy mice as pets.. they're pretty fun to play with. They're both satin as well
 
funny..i got bit last night by my little 16 inch corn, i fed my beardie a tiny little pinky, forgot i fed it, and went to change the newspaper in my snake cage at least 30 mins later, the little bugger snapped me right on my thumb. I know for a fact the snake wasnt being mean he just thought my thumb was a big juicy mouse lol.
 
It's a good idea to get in the habit of washing after handling rodents or reptiles. They both can carry various diseases that can be spread to humans, and it will also reduce the chance of spreading disease amongst your reptiles.
 
MegF. said:
It's a good idea to get in the habit of washing after handling rodents or reptiles. They both can carry various diseases that can be spread to humans, and it will also reduce the chance of spreading disease amongst your reptiles.
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Meg is absolutely right. I wash my hands so frequently between handling their food and them, that my hands are dried and cracked. It's just normal precautionary cleanliness. Wash your hands BEFORE you handle any of your herps, and AFTER you've handled one and are moving on to another!
 
JTGoff69 said:
Meg is absolutely right. I wash my hands so frequently between handling their food and them, that my hands are dried and cracked. It's just normal precautionary cleanliness. Wash your hands BEFORE you handle any of your herps, and AFTER you've handled one and are moving on to another!
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Washing your hands?

Doh! You should be using Purel, the stuff is much better.
 
I use purell between snakes, but after I'm done, I wash with soap and water. Nothing beats it for germ control as long as you wash for at least 15 seconds, use warm water and plenty of friction. Working in a hospital, you learn how important it is to wash, and the gel should not be used exclusively. They recommend 4 or 5 applications, and then hand washing. I've never gone that long before handwashing though.
 
Funny, my old thread was resurrected. My DH is an infectious disease specialist and he says that handwashing for 30 seconds is the way to go, better than purell and the like for germs and such. No problems whatsoever with the mice and the snakes, they are in separate rooms and oblivious to each others existance.
 
Ya i have pet mice to...well i have pet mice for the 15 minute drive home from the pet store...then my snakes have FOOD.
 
How about for all those who handle the snakes THEN the mice, wahing your hands then too? I'm sure the mice can smell the snakes and this might give them the heebie-jeebies. A relaxed mouse is going to be happier, happier mouse will produce more babies/milk...just an idea...
 
How about we use mice for what there really for...smashing against the wall and watching your snake eat them...not for pets
 
I have to readdress the original question...

Even if you wash your hands...snakes can STILL smell the mouse scent on them. BELIEVE me. I have been the object of feeding response having washed my hands TWICE between handling frozen mice and handling a snake.

Since you allow your fancy mice to climb on you...I would agree that it is probably better to handle your snakes BEFORE you handle the mice.
 
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