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Gloves?

scratchypen

scratchypen

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I notice alot of pics recently where people are wearing latex gloves when dealing with their snakes. Is there something Im missing, i.e. some health benefit for the snakes for wearing gloves? Just seems like more and more people are wearing gloves when dealing with them, I never have. Strange question, I know, just kind of starting to make me wonder if I missed something.
 
I've heard of some people wearing gloves to help make sure they don't transmit anything between animals. If that's the reason you're going to wear them, you have to change gloves for each animal or you're wasting your time (I bring this up because I've seen people do it).

I've also heard of another breeder than said he didn't get as bad of a reaction when he picked up his snakes with gloves, as opposed to without. Something about his body temperature being much more evident without them.
 
Some people do it when cleaning cages, too - as mentioned above, it doesn't do anything to prevent cross contamination when they aren't changed between cages (though that is the reason a lot of people give...and they'll argue more than I care to, so I don't bother any more), but it keeps your hands clean :D
 
hhmoore said:
Some people do it when cleaning cages
Click to expand...

I use an inside out ziploc bag. Grab the stuff I'm spot cleaning and then seal the bag. No dirty hands that way. :rofl:
The gloves. Never did understand that. You would really need to buy in large bulk quantities and go thru a lot to even get a small benefit from using them.
 
I wear them when cleaning, just because I have no desire to have to dig snake crap out from under my nails.
 
dirty nails means one's been working hard - look at the snake not the nails
;)


I figured some people used gloves when dealing with eggs but I also wondered why people were wearing them other times, good to know.
 
I don't use any gloves, but then again I'm a biologist and used to having dirty hands and fingernails. :) Just seems like a waste of plastic to me when a good antibacterial soap works just as well. Only time I would even consider using plastic gloves is if I was dealing with a definitely sick animal. Hopefully I won't run into that problem. As the owner of a fairly small collection I can afford to be extremely choosy about the animals I acquire and the breeders I purchase from.
 
Shadera said:
I wear them when cleaning, just because I have no desire to have to dig snake crap out from under my nails.
Click to expand...

I definitely don't like digging crap (literally) out from under my long fingernails! But I can't wear latex gloves either--the nails poke right through the ends! :D I've found a way to mostly wash under fingernails, so I just do that. With a lot of soap!'

I really like the inside-out baggie idea.
 
Shadera said:
I wear them when cleaning, just because I have no desire to have to dig snake crap out from under my nails.
Click to expand...

:ack2::ack2:That really got my attention as I know several nail biters. I wear them when cleaning also but it is for my own sake not the snakes If you ever cleaned up a three pounder after a Blood Python you know what I mean!! :rofl:
 
I wear gloves if I'm cleaning a particularly vile bin. Otherwise, I don't bother.

If I had a sick animal (which thank the snake gods I haven't yet) then I'd wear gloves when I handled it and keep it in the isolation cage for the sake of my other snakes.
 
I will wear them in the winter months. I do it so I don't have to continue to wash my hands as I move around the room. My hands dry out fast and crack in the winter and that saves me from getting stuff in the wounds. Fortunately, I am a Firefighter/Paramedic so I cost isn't an issue (if you know what I mean).
 
I can understand wearing them for cleaning, I have to for the dermatitis I get from cleaning. However, what isnt making sense to me is people wearing them while holding animals and dealing with eggs. Seriously, contamination of the eggs? Are you kidding? They live in termite mounds in Africa and seem to produce just fine. As far as the animal being more calm when picking them up with the gloves, I would think that would do just the opposite. Sorry that its such a strange thread, I just couldnt help myself. :)
 
axeman said:
Fortunately, I am a Firefighter/Paramedic so I cost isn't an issue (if you know what I mean).
Click to expand...

Yeah - you steal them from work, letting your company (or, as is likely the case, the taxpayers) absorb your costs.
Granted, gloves are cheap, so the impact is small; but, at the same time, gloves are cheap.
 
SPJ said:
I use an inside out ziploc bag. Grab the stuff I'm spot cleaning and then seal the bag. No dirty hands that way. :rofl:
The gloves. Never did understand that. You would really need to buy in large bulk quantities and go thru a lot to even get a small benefit from using them.
Click to expand...

:iagree:
except I save all those Walmart/Farm Fresh bags and use them. It's great because you can put it over your hand, grab the feces/urates, flip the bag inside out, tie it off and throw it out. The best part is they're free and I just kinda recycled :D

I tried the plastic glove thing once and I went through a box in like two days. It wasn't really a thing for me but sometimes I wish I had a box for emergencies. I breed a decent amount of rats now so I might go back just for them.

I can see why some people would use them though. I'm lucky enough to have a bathroom for my snake room so I can frequently wash my hands. Without a nearby sink, gloves would be very practical for some. Some people have kids, and while it may be made out to be a bigger issue than it actually is, I am fearful of spreading an salmonella around the house. I have found myself, quite frequently actually, running out of the snake room to tend to my son when he needs milk or a Spiderman movie needs to be restarted. Pulling off gloves would be easier than having to stop to wash my hands. No one wants to hear a screaming child :D
 
I wear gloves when doing my weekly mass cleaning for my own sake. Scrubbing the poo from 70+ tubs in one day and dipping your hands in and out of soapy water gives me dish pan hands. During the daily spot cleaning I don't wear them. Also scrubbing all the water dishes as well.

As the preacher said though, if your cleaning up after ball pythons little poo you may not think it is needed, but when you clean up poo from a blood that is almost as big around as a pop can you may think twice about it.
 
hhmoore said:
Yeah - you steal them from work, letting your company (or, as is likely the case, the taxpayers) absorb your costs.
Granted, gloves are cheap, so the impact is small; but, at the same time, gloves are cheap.
Click to expand...

Sorry, your are wrong. I do pay for them because I get a particular kind because I am sensitive to latex. It is a preference to buy them myself. I just don't have to pay much. Besides, it isn't tax payers money anyway. They don't pay for the supplies we use. No impact to the community at all.
 
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