>>>>Distilled water is perfectly healthy. The simplified explanation of the distilling process is that the water is boiled and the steam is collected while the other things in the water is left behind.
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>>It IS NOT safe for snakes.
>>I do not remember why...yet....but I do know it is not safe to give reptiles distilled water.
>>I will find out why.
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This is from an articlae in Reptiles Magazine
"I think everyone needs to know about the differences between the varieties of bottled water offered for sale versus using tap water that has been altered in some way (i.e. through filtration, chemical dechlorination, etc.). It is probably safest to use bottled water if you are unsure if your municipal water is fish-safe. Chlorine is easily removed from tap water by the use of drops that dechlorinate the water, however, many areas of the country now use chloramines as sanitizing agents, and these compounds are much more difficult to safely remove. Cities that use chloramines in their water usually include information about it in the monthly billing statements, and this information is also available online or if you call their office and request information about the safety of using tap water for aquarium fish. If the water is not recommended for aquarium fish, then you should also not use it with herps, especially amphibians.
Amphibians are unique in that they can absorb oxygen through their skin, and dissipate carbon dioxide, as well. Because their skin should be kept moist in order for them to “breathe” and also because the skin absorbs water, the type of water they are given is very important.
Distilled water is basically water with nothing else in it. That means that there are no dissolved salts and minerals. This is a type of water that a wild animal would never be exposed to. All water found in nature has some salt and minerals dissolved in it, and this is important for something called osmotic regulation. Suffice it to say that this term means how water passes into and out of cells and is regulated, in part, by the dissolved solids in the water. Water routinely passes in and out of cells, which is how the body regulates almost all bodily functions. So, dissolved minerals and salts are very important for normal physiological functions. Distilled water, with no dissolved salts and minerals, cannot support those normal bodily functions. That is why your poor salamander blew up from absorbing water because there was nothing in that water to prevent absorption.
When a human or an animal is given intravenous fluids that fluid is far from distilled water. It is sterile, however, but it contains dissolved sodium chloride (salt) at the same percentage as blood, which is 0.9 percent and is called physiological saline. Other sterile IV fluids may include one called Ringer’s Lactate, which is a combination of salts dissolved in the fluid, and pH buffered for IV use. A type of sugar called dextrose can also be dissolved in the fluid to provide some energy for the patient.
Tap water also has dissolved salts, but also may have fluoride, chlorine or chloramines added. The pH, or how acid or alkaline the water is, may vary greatly in tap water. There are usually a variable number of harmless and potentially dangerous microscopic organisms in the water.
Bottled water also has dissolved salts and minerals in it and may also have a wide range of pH. Some bottled spring water is just that, natural spring water with dissolved minerals. Most spring water comes from deep in the ground, having been filtered through porous limestone or other rock, purifying it along the way. When being bottled, spring water is often treated with ultraviolet light to kill any live organisms that may be present in the water, such as algae, or it may be run through a micron filter to remove particulate matter, such as fine sand, silica, etc. Natural spring water is usually not carbonated (containing bubbles); however, rarely a spring may produce naturally carbonated water (Perrier is an example). Bottled natural spring water is probably the safest to use for amphibians, although it is probably a good idea to use a pH test strip to ascertain the pH of the water, to ensure that it is suitable for the particular species that you are keeping. Low pH means that the liquid is acidic, and a high pH means that the liquid is alkaline. A pH of 7.0 is neutral, being neither acidic nor alkaline.
Distilled water being demineralized, contains more hydrogen and is considered an acid, with a pH of less than 7.0. Any time a human or animal consumes or, in the case of an amphibian, is soaked in distilled water, the body pulls minerals from teeth (if they have them) and bones to produce bicarbonate to neutralize the acid. This can prove dangerous over time. Another problem with distilled water is that acidic liquids will result in the production of more free-radicals, which are molecules that can increase the risk for cancer. There are people who feel that distilled water is safe and healthful to drink, but the mainstream medical community discourages the consumption of distilled water. Likewise, providing pet herps with distilled water is not recommended. Because amphibians respire through their skin and also absorb water through the skin, distilled water can be particularly dangerous to them."
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes
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