My brother has strep. Can he still feed and play with our tortoise?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes, you should tell your friend about the worms. Intestinal parasites are quite common & over time can cause some serious problems for your tortoise, as well as your friend's. It is important to check a fresh stool sample, at least twice a year, & deworm your pets with an appropriate medication. This should be a part of the routine care that should be given to all tortoises. As for the children, hopefully they know to wash their hands after handling any animals, as all parasites & most other infectious diseases are transmitted through the fecal oral route. Hope this helps. Take care.

Thanks for reaching out about Iggy. Reptiles can not acquire respiratory infections from humans, but possible from another turtle that has an infection. One night might be long enough to pass on the contagion. Check and correct husbandry such as water quality, water temperature, basking temperature and UVB exposure, as these are more likely components of illness. It is not legal to prescribe medications without a veterinary-patient-client relationship, meaning a physical exam. See your local veterinarian. Good luck.

Check the temperature across the enclosure. Low temps can affect activity, appetite and digestion in reptiles. Expect Raph to be a bit skittish in his new home. Make sure he has fresh food and clean water. Give him a week or so to "settle in". When around the cage, move slowly and speak softly. Being that he is "new", he should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to make sure the runny nose is not due to a developing respiratory infection.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. While I would recommend your mother consult with her doctor about their recommendations for her, I see no reason why they couldn't be in the house. However, be aware that Salmonella bacteria is part of the natural skin flora of many reptiles, so I would take that into consideration and limit her contact with the pets. But, again, her doctor would be the best person to offer her guidelines. Hope this helps.

Hello. It is very important that you always wash your hands after handling any reptile & before handling your birds or any materials belonging to the birds. I do not think you need to keep the gecko in a separate room, just use common sense care & everyone will stay safe & healthy. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Not only is soaking safe, it is recommended to maintain hydration. You don't need to worry about wiping him off or drying him. He will dry on his own. Place the food on a flat surface or shallow bowl near the warm side, not under the heat lamp. He will eat when he is hungry. The white "glob" is probable stool. Clean it up every day or so to keep the cage clean.

Thanks for your question about Nugget. For the human health part of your question, the biggest disease that we worry about passing from reptiles to humans is Salmonella. There are other bacteria that they can also carry, but they don’t seem to cause as many problems for humans as Salmonella does. I would recommend washing your hands thoroughly after handing Nugget or cleaning the enclosure to help with this, and to clean the area where you dump the water (ie if you use the sink). For issues relating to a dirty enclosure for Nugget, there are many health problems that can occur with poor husbandry. They can get very sick from exposure to the high levels of bacteria present in their poop, and may stop eating, growing, etc. Often these infections take a long time to treat, and some reptiles don’t recover. I hope that answers your questions, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.