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When caring for your reptilian pets, you need to be concerned not only with their health, but also with your own. Most reptiles harbor various strains of salmonella in their intestinal tracts. Human contact with the reptile excrement can, and often does, result in salmonella poisoning of the human. Depending upon the strain, this may merely result in flu like symptoms or generic food poisoning symptoms. However, some strains can induce spontaneous abortions and can be fatal to some individuals.

Your reptile can be tested for salmonella, but due to the variety of strains that exist, this can be an expensive proposition. Wearing disposable gloves when cleaning your pet's cage, and not allowing your pet free range of your house can reduce your family's exposure to the potentially infectious excrement.

Your best defense against acquiring an illness from your reptile is to wash your hands every time you come into contact with your reptile.

In addition, for your own safety and the well being of your pet, handle it as little as possible. Most reptiles will do better when not handled.

Reptiles can be kept in just about any sort of cage that will provide it with sufficient ventilation and which is escape proof. Cages can range from large glass jars to wooden creates – what you choose will depend upon what and how many reptiles you plan to keep in one cage.

• Fish tank's make good reptile homes. They are easy to come by, relatively inexpensive, provide a large unobstructed viewing area and with the addition of a securely fastened wire screen lid, they are fairly escape proof.

Reptiles are cold blooded and they naturally adapt to the air temperature of the room that they are in. When cold, they move slowly, when warm they will be more active. For most, a temperature within the 75° -85° F range is best. Reptiles can survive colder temperatures; however, if they get too cold, they will go into hibernation. During this time they will not eat, but be sure to provide them with plenty of water.

• If the air temperature is hotter than 85° F, move your reptiles to a cooler area of the house, such as a basement. Too much heat will kill a reptile.

Reptiles require at least eight hours of light a day to mimic their natural environment. This can be provided via sunlight or with a fluorescent Vita-Lite. Never place a cage, especially an aquarium, in direct sunlight. The cage can quickly become too hot for your pet.

• Always provide a source of shade in the cage.

Unfortunately, diagnosing a sick reptile can be very difficult. If you notice that your pet is sluggish, is losing color, is not eating, or is simply not acting like 'itself' – this can be a sign of illness or merely that it is in its hibernation cycle. Other signs that your pet might be ill are:

• Rapid weight loss
• Refuses to eat
• Open sores that will not heal
• The eyes and scales are dull looking
• Scales are rough and raised, rather than flat
• Moves oddly or makes a wheezing noise when moving
• Has a discharge from its eyes, mouth or nose
• If a turtle's shell becomes soft

If you do notice that your pet is ill, you will need to have it evaluated by a reptile veterinarian in order to have it properly treated.

The most common health problem that you will encounter with a reptile is mite infestations. Mites are tiny blood sucking parasites that infect almost all wild reptiles.

In small numbers, this is not really a problem, but a severe infestation can be debilitating to your pet.

Most methods that will kill a mite will also kill a reptile. The best you can do is to try to minimize the number of mites that live in your pet's cage.

• When your snake or lizard sheds its skin, remove the skin immediately, which will be covered with mites. By removing it, you can help prevent a reinfestation, or at least minimize the population living off your pet.

Your best resource, in caring for your pet, is to thoroughly research your particular pet. By learning what is natural and unnatural for that particular species, you will be better able to care for it and to identify illnesses.