Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If your home is equipped with a water softener is it safe to give your snakes tap water?

I had a hamster when I was younger and when we mooved to a new house with a watersoftener I gave her tap water in her bottle. After she got sick I was told the water was bad for her. She later died.

Is the water bad for animals or was it something else? My land lord decided to put one in because of the hard water in the building. To be on the safe side I have been buying save drinking water for my snakes and drinking the tap water myself.

Any info would be apreciated.

Thanks,
A
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1 BP
4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het
3 Alb Corn
1 Rev Alb Nelsons

Water softeners are generally designed to eliminate or greatly reduce manganese and calcium molecules from the water. They do this using charged plastic beads in the main tank. The electrical charge on the beads draws the manganese and calcium ions from the water.

Periodically, the beads are cleaned. The system flushes either salt brine or potassium solution over the beads. This displaces the manganese and calcium from the beads. Then fresh water is brought in to flush everything out to a drain. The beads are ready to soften water again.

If a water softener is old or faulty, I suppose the salt can get into the water. Perhaps a high salt level is bad for small animals. Other than that, there really aren't dangerous chemicals used as far as I know, but I am no authority on this, especially for large building installations.

Household water softeners say safe for people, pets and plants.
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Mark

Thanks for the info.

The salt is what I was worried about.

I think the unit in the other house (where I lost my hamster) may have been an old one and where I live now they just put in a new one so the risk of salt getting into the drinking water is very small. I think I will continue to buy them water thow. I have found sediment in the tap water from time to time and don't want to risk my babys. It doesn't cost that much to keep their bowls full.

Gallon of water: $.87 Peace of mind: priceless.

A
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1 BP
4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het
3 Alb Corn
1 Rev Alb Nelsons

I agree with you, and I do the same thing. Small price to pay.

Little animals are more affected by "stuff" in the water than we are.
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Mark