Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have read sooooooooooo many different things, that I don't know what to believe or use!! In 1999 I was using strictly distilled, then was told not to. Now I have been using RO water for approximately 3 months, and am reading that is a NO NO as well, What is best, and why? I know little compares to rain water, but that seems like a pain to me. THANKS for any and all comments!!
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MIKE
4.14 Leopards (SHTCT, and Jungle Albino Trempers)
2.13 Fat Tails (Amels, Hets, and Normals)
1.1 Teratolepis Fasciata
1.3 Crested geckos
0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius (Citronellas)
1.0 Diamond Back Terrapin
14 Snakes (Tri colored hogs, subocs, alterna, rosy boas, and black milks)

When I started in the hobby I had the same question and I settled on bottled spring water. It runs me about $.50 a gallon and I use about a gallon or 2 a month. So far my frogs and plants are doing great.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I use the publix brand of spring water for 69 cents, I figure it was the closest thing to what they have in the forest besides rainwater, I add about a teaspoon of blackwater extract per gallon of water for my tadpoles, and I have had very little die. I only use about 3 or 4 gallons of water a week so it is not that expensive, i kept track of it for a year and it only ended up being 64 dollars,and that is not much for the health of my dartfrogs, plus I dont have to let it sit for 24 hours or add a bunch of drops, when I get my pumilio and other things I am on a waiting list for I am definitely going to have to figure a cheaper way to get water because I am going to have almost all my cages set up with drains and a misting system and 69 cents a gallon will get expensive real soon. But if your collection isnt that large 69 cents a gallon is well worth it to me.
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Jacob Pott's collection
As of 1/16/04
1.2.3 Leucomelas (the 3 juveniles are the brightest orange I've seen there almost red, there not from my trio)
1.1.16 Green and Bronze Auratus
0.0.2 Imitators
0.0.1 Vents (more soon)
0.0.2 Nicaraguan Green and Black Auratus
0.0.3 Citronella Tincs
0.0.2 Powder Blue Tincs
0.0.2 Yellow Back Tincs
1.1.0 Surinam Cobalts (extremely soon)

Many of us use RO water because the home filter aren't 'too' expensive. Distilled, RO, and Rain Water basically equate to the same thing, almost no mineral content. In my opinion this will not hurt your frogs. My frogs have always done fine. They absorb water through the skin and ingest minerals from dusted fruit flies. Using pure water is not going to leach the minerals out of your frogs.

With that said, good quality spring water is also quite acceptable as Kyle pointed out.

My problem with spring water is that I have to pay for it, and run to the store to buy it if I need any, not to mention it can leave some deposits on glass, not as bad as city water, but some.

You will find many people that use both pure waters and spring water with very good reasons why. It's your choice.

Joe
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4.0.0 Tinc Patricias (darn it)
0.0.5 Aurotaenia
0.0.2836 Pea Aphids
0.0.4392 Springtails
0.0.1842 FruitFlies

Now I have heard that RO and distilled water are not even good for us to drink. Due to the lack of minerals they can remove minerals from our bodies. I know a lot of people use it, but I plan to use spring water or some sort of filtered tap water. However true the concept is, it does make sense.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

For those using Spring Water, read the label first. Many brands of spring water are purified using .... you guessed it .... reverse osmosis.

Donn

interesting... I will have to check mine. I am planning on moving to tap water soon. I plan to purchase a filter, and then let it sit out for 24 to remove any chlorine.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

yes, it is purified using RO, then minerals are added back in...this way, the water co.'s have a way of maintaining a particular chemical makeup of the water...if they use straight well water, they get whatever the daily mix happens to be (and this can vary with well water).

---Prem

I used distilled water when I first started this hobby with great success, until my Azureus began laying. I know the first few clutches are usually bad but they would get to the tad stage and when I placed them in the distilled water they would die witin hours. I am talking about 7 or clutches here (40 or so TADS). I was thinking maybe it was weak clutches but, a friend told me he used rain water so I tried it. I have not been having any problems since. I think it is the best way to go, (and it is cheap). Anyway just a little input for you to consider.

TonyT
1.1 Azureus
1.2 Imitators
0.1 Mint Terribillis
1.0 Citronella
3.2 G&B Auratus C/R
2.2 Luecs
0.0.4 Oyapoks
0.0.4 Alanis
0.0.3 Yellow backs
0.0.4 Red Vitattus

Tony,

You just have a bunch of buckets sitting outside? This is the only way I can think of collecting rain water!!
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MIKE
4.14 Leopards (SHTCT, and Jungle Albino Trempers)
2.13 Fat Tails (Amels, Hets, and Normals)
1.1 Teratolepis Fasciata
1.3 Crested geckos
0.0.3 Dendrobates Tinctorius (Citronellas)
1.0 Diamond Back Terrapin
14 Snakes (Tri colored hogs, subocs, alterna, rosy boas, and black milks)

I have 2 rubbermaid totes sitting along side my house that catch RAIN not WATER RUNNING OFF THE ROOF. I figure the chemicals in the shingles and stuff would not be good for the frogs or plants.

TonyT

>>I have 2 rubbermaid totes sitting along side my house that catch RAIN not WATER RUNNING OFF THE ROOF. I figure the chemicals in the shingles and stuff would not be good for the frogs or plants.
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>>TonyT

Rainwater is only good for about half of the US, though. It's hard to collect rain water if you live someplace like Pheonix AZ or Dallas TX. I myself live near Seattle WA, so it's not an issue for me. Just recognize that for a lot of people suggesting rainwater does them no good, because they don't have access to it on a regular basis.

That's what I was going to say I mean it harly reains here in souhern California so what is the next best thing?