The problem with reptiles and not washing your hands is that reptiles can carry salmonella. From what I have read, it usually comes from them eating rodents and is carried in the feces and in minute amounts in the skin. Not all reptiles carry it, but I think it is something like 80%...and not all people are susceptible to salmonella...but it is wise to wash your hands after handling your snakes to ensure that it is not transmitted to you if the reptile happens to be carrying it. It is also good for the reptile to wash your hands before handling the reptile because we carry many germs on our hands that can be transmitted.

Also, if you are feeding mice to your snakes, always wash your hands after handling mice and do not prepare mice near where you prepare food in your kitchen. Wash any utensils used to prepare the mice separately from utensils, plates, pots and pans used to prepare human food. Clean surfaces used to prepare mice with disinfectant. Rodents have been found to carry salmonella. I also double bag my mice in the freezer and keep them separate from the food that my family eats.