Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've read these 2 posts, but still have a couple questions:

viewtopic.php?f=45&t=8286

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4227

It seems to be the consensus that an AP system is inherently safe because the fish are cold blooded and the pathogens won't carry over to human. But even here there are posts of turtles (which are cold blooded) having salmonella. I've been able to find lots of warnings about it, but not why they carry it (as well as lizards, snakes, newts, etc. which are also cold blooded).

I can find a plethora of information stating they can carry it, but not why vs. why fish can't. This seems confirmed by salmonella.org:

http://www.salmonella.org/faq.html

The thread discussions were more related to E-coli... rather than Salmonella....

E-coli can only occur in warm blooded animals and their excrement... fish, being cold blooded can't/don't produce E-coli....

E-coli can only contaminate food/produce by introduction/cross contamination...

Slamonella on the other hand can exist in a "motile" water bourne form.... i.e typhoid....

Turtles, and other reptiles, are known sources of Salmonella...

If I am not mistaken all turtles carry salmonella.But I personally wouldn't want to use any kind of AP where there was turtles in the pond.They're really nasty and dirty for the most part. I think turtle poop would probably be the last thing I'd look to use for growing food.

Not all turtles carry salmonella, but have the potential too, so do fish, birds, dogs, and many more animals. The animal has to come in contact with salmonella inorder for the bacteria to grow on the animal. That is whay it is advised not to use certain manuers as fertilizers such as chickens since they are low to the ground. But the bacteria is not as common as most people think. Many look at slimy bull frogs, or wet turtles, and instantly think Salmonella.

Most fish do not carry it since they live in cooler waters ( not just cause they are cold blooded), but turtles are known to carry it since they bask frequently in high temps. ( even up to 120). This allows the bacteria to thrive on the wet shell, and crevas between legs and neck. It is especially around the vent of most animals to where the bacteria will thrive.

I recently posted about keeping turtles in AP, and I currently have 4 hatchlings in a 110 gallon tank connected to my system, but I am not concerned about it for 2 reasons. 1..... I have raised many animals, ( chickens, rodents, many reptiles,) and have not had any issues, and 2..... The veggies raised in the AP system will be fed to other animals.



Also, turtles produce tones of waste if kept warm enough and fed alot, so I think they would work great if one was to grow large amounts of plants.