- Joined
- Aug 29, 2012
- Messages
- 8
Hello everyone. I'm new to the forum. My wife I just received a beautiful less than year old ornate box turtle. We also just found out that my wife is pregnant. My mother did some research on the net and found some info from the FDA warning not to have turtles and a less than 5 year child due to the risk of salmonella infection. I am a chemist and started premed in college. So I have a background in microbiology. I did my own research and found the warning stemmed from a incident 20 years ago with a red slider and a 4 week old. The rest seems over blown and no higher risk then being around chickens or bringing raw chicken into the house. I made an appointment with a vet who specializes in reptiles to have a fecal test for salmonella and consultation of any possible risk of infection. If the turtle doesn't already have it then I don't see the possible risk if I maintain proper housing conditions and handling. This however hasn't swayed my mother and she begging us to get rid of our new boxy. Any advice or info anyone may have on this topic would be greatly appreciated.