Investigation notice
These outbreak investigations are over. Although any turtle can carry Salmonella germs that can spread to you and make you sick, turtles with shells less than 4 inches long are a known source of illness. Always take steps to stay healthy around your pet turtle.
Fast Facts
United States
- Cases: 63
- Hospitalizations: 28
- Deaths: 0
- States: 22
These outbreak investigations are over. Although any turtle can carry Salmonella germs that can spread to you and make you sick, turtles with shells less than 4 inches long are a known source of illness. Always take steps to stay healthy around your pet turtle.
Turtles and Salmonella
A federal law bans the sale and distribution of turtles with shells less than 4 inches long as pets because they have caused many illnesses, especially in young children. Despite the ban, these turtles are sometimes still sold illegally online, at stores, flea markets, and roadside stands.
Pet turtles of any size can carry Salmonella germs in their droppings even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to their bodies, tank water, and anything in the area where they live and roam.
You can get sick from touching a turtle or anything in its environment and then touching your mouth or food with unwashed hands and swallowing Salmonella germs.
What you should do
If you are thinking of getting a pet turtle:
- Only buy turtles with shells longer than 4 inches and buy them from a reputable pet store
- Reputable pet stores do not sell turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.
- Reputable pet stores do not sell turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.
- Pick the right pet for your family
- Pet turtles are not recommended for children younger than 5, adults aged 65 and older, or people with weakened immune systems. These people are more likely to get a serious illness from germs that turtles can carry.
- Pet turtles are not recommended for children younger than 5, adults aged 65 and older, or people with weakened immune systems. These people are more likely to get a serious illness from germs that turtles can carry.
Always take these steps to stay healthy around your pet turtle:
- Wash your hands
- Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching or feeding your turtle and after touching or cleaning the area where it lives and roams.
- Adults should make sure young children are washing their hands properly.
- Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching or feeding your turtle and after touching or cleaning the area where it lives and roams.
- Play safely
- Don't kiss or snuggle your turtle, and don't eat or drink around it. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.
- Keep your turtle out of your kitchen and other areas where you eat, store, or prepare food.
- Don't kiss or snuggle your turtle, and don't eat or drink around it. This can spread Salmonella germs to your mouth and make you sick.
- Keep things clean
- Use a wash tub and sponge or scrub that are just used for your pet and its tank or other items.
- You can also use a laundry sink or bathtub, but make sure to remove people's items from the sink and tub before cleaning pet items. Then thoroughly clean and disinfect the sink or tub immediately after.
- Using a kitchen sink may spread germs to your food. If the kitchen sink is the only place you can clean pet items, thoroughly clean and disinfect the sink and the area around the sink immediately after.
- Use a wash tub and sponge or scrub that are just used for your pet and its tank or other items.
If you decide pet turtles are not the right fit for your family:
- Don't release your turtle outside
- Call your local reptile rescue, animal shelter, or pet store about options for safely rehoming your turtle.
- Releasing pets into the wild can disrupt wildlife and may be prohibited by law in certain states.
- Call your local reptile rescue, animal shelter, or pet store about options for safely rehoming your turtle.
What businesses should do
- Do not sell or distribute turtles with shells less than 4 inches long.
- A federal law bans the sale and distribution of these turtles as pets.
- Many states have additional laws about the sale of turtles as pets.
- A federal law bans the sale and distribution of these turtles as pets.
- Educate customers about how to stay healthy around turtles.
- Learn more information on how to stay healthy around turtles.
- Consider putting these stickers right by the turtle area and giving a copy to customers who are buying them.
- Learn more information on how to stay healthy around turtles.
- Learn more about how to protect your customers and employees from Salmonella and other diseases shared between animals and humans.
Symptoms of Salmonella
- Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
- Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
- Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
- Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
- For more information about Salmonella, see About Salmonella.