Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi

I recently moved to a new place. I think there might be something wrong with the water. I have been using tap water and have noticed that the surfaces of the water bowls have a film on them, I'm sure it's some kind of mineral deposits. But what I am not sure is if it is harmful to my boas. Does anyone else have this issue?

What kind of water is everyone else using?
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1.1 Bredli Carpet Python
2.4 Columbian Boa morphs
2.1 CA Boas
2.2 Argentine Boas
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 Hermanni Tortoise

I moved to a new house with well water and continued to use the tap for my boas. There ended up being too many impurities and a couple of my boas died from it. I use distilled water from the store now and nothing else! Even though I can still drink the tap water (and I do drink a lot of it), the boas just couldn't handle it. I haven't had one problem since switching to distilled water and it's only 88 cents a gallon so I think it's way worth it.
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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

Years ago I lost a lot of my boas to kidney failure as my well water had to much iron in it. I now use only bottled water or filtered water I buy at the grocery store by the 5 gallon bottle. My well water would leave a film to on the water. You could have your water tested and make use it's safe or do as I have done and just use bottled water. I have to much invested in my boa collection to take a chance so I only use bottles water now.

Take care
Tom
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McCarthyBoas.com

Distilled water. Because of the act of distillation, you can't get anything purer. I buy a couple dozen gallons a month at wal-mart. Haven't had a problem since.

It also keeps your Chlorhexadine from clouding up.
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Sublime Boa Constrictor

A great majority of tap water used for human consumption is totally unacceptable. We use distilled water purchasing anywhere from cases of small bottles to five gallon jugs purchased for use in our dispenser here at home. We noticed a film when using tap water here, and it also would develop crystals on the snakes who soaked a good bit. Purified is the way to go.
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1.0 red phase western hognose
1.0 100% het albino columbian
1.0 pastel columbian
0.1 hypo columbian
0.1 guyana
1.2 jcp
1.0 irian jaya
1.2 normal balls
1.0 spider ball
0.1 pastel ball
1.0 granite al burm
0.1 granite het al burm
0.1 albino burm
1.0 sunfire retic
0.2 tiger retics
0.0.1 sulcata tortoise
1.0 potbelly pig (Oscar)
1.0 pug (Frank)
1.1 pit bull terriers (Marlboro & Coco)
1.1 house cat (Kitty)& (Alice;pos gravid)
0.1 wife who puts up with me
2.0 rabbits (Paco & Zorro)

Reverse Osmosis unit.They're around $200, and it's worth it in the long haul. You also need to buy the filters for it every year that are around $33-35.

IF you have a large collection, it would be worth it.

To make others aware...

Hi

Thank you everyone for your input. I will definately switch to the distilled water. I don't want to take the chance on losing any of my boas or my other reptiles.
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1.1 Bredli Carpet Python
2.4 Columbian Boa morphs
2.1 CA Boas
2.2 Argentine Boas
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 Hermanni Tortoise

Just out of curiousity... what would you think of one of those brita filters?
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1.1 Bredli Carpet Python
2.4 Columbian Boa morphs
2.1 CA Boas
2.2 Argentine Boas
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 Hermanni Tortoise

Filtering water will help to remove a lot of the minerals, but not all. I've tried the PUR filters at the tap, and the under the sink, so called RO filter system. Not saying they won't help, but I think in the long run, the money spent on the distilled has more then paid off for me, more so then all the filters I went through.
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Sublime Boa Constrictor

ok thanks.. I will go for distilled water.
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1.1 Bredli Carpet Python
2.4 Columbian Boa morphs
2.1 CA Boas
2.2 Argentine Boas
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 Hermanni Tortoise