I didn't think to ask about the water. Most city sources now contain chloramines, which are stable and don't dissipate with ageing the water like chlorine does. You can treat it with one of the aquarium water products such as Aqua-fix, which will also remove some of the heavy metals if these are present. I use my well water for everything but misting, but although it is rather hard because it comes from a deep limestone aquifer, it is free from heavy metals and other contaminants. The State uses my well for bi-annual testing of the aquifer, so I'm very fortunate to get a complete report from them in return. (They test for about 120 different elements and organic contaminants, so it's really thorough.)



It's also safe to use distilled or RO water, as these pick up electrolytes from the environment quickly, so don't remain free from electrolytes for long, although frogs have permeable skins and soaking them deliberately in pure distilled water would cause them to lose electrolytes to the water. It works well however if there are plants, mosses, leaf litter in contact with it. It's especially nice for misting, because it doesn't leave any deposits on the glass. Some of the bottled drinking water and "spring" waters are just treated tap water, often by reverse osmosis with salts added back for "taste," as humans seem to like water to taste like something.



Keep us posted on the results.
-----
Patty

Pahsimeroi, Idaho



Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

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