Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recently switched water dishes. I went from ceramic bowls to deli cups and pvc couplers. I really like the setup, but I was thinking about how much more water I'm going to use. And since I use jugs of drinking water I want to limit the waste the best I can. I think I might be a little anal as far as changing the water and I wanted to see what everyone else does. I know that snakes need fresh water every week. With the smaller dishes I was using before I would dump out the dish every week and refill with completely fresh water. So with my recent switch in water dishes I was wondering. Would it be acceptable to just top the dish off every week. Unless of course there was feces in the cup then I'd swap it out for another cup.

U

you really should do it more than once a week....

and topping off creates bacterial pools waiting to happen...

....dump and rinse at least....

how much os water where you live? $$$$$......

.....5 gallon buckets, dump out in that and change from there...

some people used to throw the whole cup out every week and replace.....but the cups are more than 2 cents now aren't they....

....
-----
........JY

like they said...tap water?.....

....
-----
........JY

Sorry. It might be because I'm in the middle of a grave yard here, but I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or serious, but everything seemed to be in broken english..

Ok I'm changing every week and you say change more that's fine. And just so we're clear here I'm not trying to save any money at the expense of my animals, but at the same time I see no reason to through away or waste pefectly good water. Which is why I'm here asking the question. So topping off is no good. And I'm glad I haven't started yet. Secondly you said change three times a week. To me that seems like a little bit of over kill, but ok I can live with it.

Now back to the sarcasm. Are you being sarcastic about the tap water? I've read that tap water can be extremely bad for reptiles depending on how it is sanitized and depending whether or not flouride is added. If chlorine is used you can let it sit in the sunlight and the chlorine will be depleted, but there's a nother chemical that a lot of cities have switched two which is cheaper and more effective and safe for humans. I can't remember the name, but I've read where it's killed reptiles and it can't not be depleted without filtering.

Anyway I just figured that bottled drinking water was the best option and especially with it not being an expensive item. Again it seems like the first thing everyone wants to put people down which if you weren't intending the sarcasm I appologize fore being defensive, but It's not exactly unique to see someone bashing someone for no good reason. But my point is I'm not concerned with the expense it's more the waste. Why use 2 gallons of water a week when I could use 1. Why 100 deli cups a month when I could use 50 or 25. It's not the money as you mentioned... Some people just wish not to be wasteful.

Well you mentioned several times not wanting to waste water by throwing away "perfectly good water" that has been sitting around with snakes crawling through it for several days. Personally for the health of "my" animals water changes at least every 3 days is minimum. Tap water has never been a problem with my snakes either. Granted now I have a well but even when I used city water, my snakes never had a problem with it. I was actually shocked when you said you think you are more anal about your water changes then said you do it once a week, I know people that change water every other day.
-----
Josh & Krysty Hutto

Various Ball Pythons, boas, dogs, cats, fish, a couple sulcatas and a few other odds and ends.

a BAD dog is MADE not bred, support the American Pit Bull Terrier as the greatest breed of dogs on Earth!!!!!

water...at least once a week changed out....

people as I said...used to throw the whole cup out every week...

I actually rinse and clean as needed...I use crock bowls...and plastic.....crock is better for me...heavier .....

water....I also have a well....and I use hundreds of gallons a week I bet...sorry...I am like a racoon...I am always in the water ...my hands crack from the constant cleaning....

....so....city water?...no idea...Google it...there may be something bad....but if humans drink it...snakes can too...can't be worse than a pit bull drinkin from a dirty old tire..?...well...maybe....

really...once a week rinse it all out...and try city water... at least let it set a day if you are afraid of it...gallon jugs and set a day....but I like to use cold water...the snakes can smell it better...warm water is staler ...and won't give off the smell of good fresh cold water....I see snakes going to the water as I change all the time..from huge balls to little milksnakes...they semll it and like it...

good luck....
-----
........JY

Apparently I am one, because I just top off the tap water throughout the week then do a full change out on the weekend when I clean cages. I dump the water in a large tub or bucket, clean the bowl, scrub if needed, rinse, disinfect with bleach, rinse, dry, and refill. I sometimes use the discarded water to water plants in the house or yard. Yes, I know this could cause salmonella transmission, but since I am not supposed to chew on my Pothos plant anyways, I am not terribly concerned.

AND, I use tapwater.

Having said that, our water is pretty nice. We get an extensive report of what is put in and not put in the water, nitrate levels, hard water test, etc. The water does come with chlorine in it, but we let the fresh water sit most of the week before we do changes. We keep a turtle and some fish in the same water with NO ill affects. Many other keepers here in town do the same thing. My mice also drink the same water and all I can say about what chemicals might be in it is the Florine definitely makes sure their teeth are hard and sharp (Ouch!....j/k). My domestic mice rarely get tumors or UTIs which are some of the most common causes of spontaneous death that I know of in colonies (other than introduction to Ball Pythons) so that is a note of confidence for our water supply.

If you are that concerned about your tap water versus bottled you could have a test done on your water. Most local universities will perform them for a nominal fee. Many places that handle hard-water issues and install water heaters can also perform the tests.
-----
Lincoln, NE
Ball Pythons - 0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals
Kingsnakes - 1.0 L. m. thayeri, 0.1 L. m. thayeri X L. alterna, 1.0 L. g. californiae
Other - 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 1.0 H. nascicus, ?.? Chrysemys picta, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

i guess i am a terrible person to my snakes. i check waters mid week and top off the ones that need it. on the weekend i dump and rinse out then refill. i use florida city tap water. i have had some of my breeders since 1995 and i have had no problems. i get eggs every year and raise my babies with the same system. i do check for defication in the water and clean it right away if i see it. i think snakes are stronger that we think. in the wild they dont go to the grocerie store to get a drink, they will drink from stagnant puddles, swamps, lakes, and streams. just my thoughts.

I use tap water too and have never had a snake get sick from it. I really didn't know it was something I wasn't supposed to do. I do rinse out their water bowls at least weekly if not twice a week and none of my snakes have gotten sick. I mist them every night with tap water too. I only have around 25 snakes so not a real big collection but have been keeping snakes for about 2 years now. I also just use plastic and ceramic dog bowls that I got from the .99cents store and a few from the pet store. V/R Paige
-----
Balls - As many as my husband will tolerate...other various reptiles, animals, kids and a smoking sweet husband; would be perfect if he only liked ball pythons...

Ditto. Same here. I think unless you live in an area where they are constantly issuing warnings about the water, tap water is probably fine. I keep fish in our tap water and they are better than fine, they are thriving (despite our and the turtle's best efforts).
-----
Lincoln, NE
Ball Pythons - 0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.1 Normals
Kingsnakes - 1.0 L. m. thayeri, 0.1 L. m. thayeri X L. alterna, 1.0 L. g. californiae
Other - 0.1 Whitesided P. catenifer sayi, 1.0 H. nascicus, ?.? Chrysemys picta, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Tap Water is better than bottled water usually.

Might be different in the US but I think it's same law that in canada, or nearly the same.

Bottle water company only need to test there water when they are asking for a permit. Meaning, when they start the production of a new plant (source). So they do a test once and only one, if something happen in between, they don't know unless they decide to test it anyway (we know companies are not throwing money out for no reason).

Tap Water from the city have to test the water periodicly depending on city size. Meaning that if you live in a big city, they test the water at least every hour. Meaning the water is safer.

I remember when I was in university, we analysed different water bottle in the chemical labs. Some had too much fluor or other substance that could kill someone over long periods. Quite nasty IMO.

All this is related to humans, not reptiles, but I suspect it wouldn't be much different. Water is water.
-----
love this world, don't hate it.