Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How many of you use tap water for your snakes? I do. If any of you have used tap water for a number of years then switched to distilled or spring water can you tell if if you could see in difference in your snakes?

I used to use tap water, but switched to bottled a couple of years ago...I don't SEE a difference, but it makes me feel better. I've read the chlorine can shorten their life span...although I don't remember where. I've always used bottled water for my frogs....amphibians are ultasensative to everything.
Chris O

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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

Tap water here but I do wonder if it might cause longterm health problems. I question everything. Bottled water with frogs seems to be the only way to go. Probably a good idea with snakes too. To put tropical fish into tap water you can leave the water sitting out open to the air and the chlorine will dissipate (I know that is a less than scientific word here) out of it. Anybody know how long before say 90% of the chlorine is gone? Of course there may be other harmful things in tap water, same with some of the bottled waters too. Like I said, I question everything. It is amazing that I can ever sleep. ;o)
Jeff

>>I used to use tap water, but switched to bottled a couple of years ago...I don't SEE a difference, but it makes me feel better. I've read the chlorine can shorten their life span...although I don't remember where. I've always used bottled water for my frogs....amphibians are ultasensative to everything.
>>Chris O
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>>www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
>>Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

I've read if you leave it out for 24 hours you're okay....
Chris O
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

I've also always used tap water for my snakes. I've never worried too much about the chlorine because I've also heard what Chris mentioned, that it dissipates (I think that's a good word) after a day or so. I've always been more concerned about the hardness of the water and mineral content. Since you brought up the topic, I looked through Mader's book on Reptile Medicine. It says that the calcium and magnesium salts found in hard water are safe for reptiles. It also states that demineralized or distilled waters are "not necessarily beneficial to reptiles". He goes on to say that 8 to 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water can be added to kill coliform bacteria (p. 152). I assume this is taken care of already.

BTW, my name's Mike. I'm new to the forum. You guys have some really good discussion here.

>>I've also always used tap water for my snakes. I've never worried too much about the chlorine because I've also heard what Chris mentioned, that it dissipates (I think that's a good word) after a day or so. I've always been more concerned about the hardness of the water and mineral content. Since you brought up the topic, I looked through Mader's book on Reptile Medicine. It says that the calcium and magnesium salts found in hard water are safe for reptiles. It also states that demineralized or distilled waters are "not necessarily beneficial to reptiles". He goes on to say that 8 to 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water can be added to kill coliform bacteria (p. 152). I assume this is taken care of already.
>>
>>BTW, my name's Mike. I'm new to the forum. You guys have some really good discussion here.

>>>>I've also always used tap water for my snakes. I've never worried too much about the chlorine because I've also heard what Chris mentioned, that it dissipates (I think that's a good word) after a day or so. I've always been more concerned about the hardness of the water and mineral content. Since you brought up the topic, I looked through Mader's book on Reptile Medicine. It says that the calcium and magnesium salts found in hard water are safe for reptiles. It also states that demineralized or distilled waters are "not necessarily beneficial to reptiles". He goes on to say that 8 to 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water can be added to kill coliform bacteria (p. 152). I assume this is taken care of already.
>>>>
>>>>BTW, my name's Mike. I'm new to the forum. You guys have some really good discussion here.

airation will signifacantly help the removal of chlorine and chlora-
mine the latter is a lil more Stable? has some ammoniates?so airate longer.but are bacteria safer than chlorine?
speaking of disipate where does the chlorine GO,the average swimming pool uses LOTs weekly.......neutrilized or disipated, still what is neutrilized (it got to be a compound?)well Jump on in"Chris

Chlorimine is a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. Chlorimine is not a problem if we change the water in our water bowls fairly often and never let urates sit in the water bowl. Chlorimine is more of a problem in fish tanks where the ammonia level can get much higher than what occurs in a reasonably clean snake cage water bowl. Bacteria are definitely more harmful than chlorine. Especially shortterm. We really do not know much about the problems that chlorine may pose longterm with snakes. What we do know is that snake renal systems are much different than mammalian renal systems. Who knows how well snakes can filter out and remove chlorine.
Jeff

>>airation will signifacantly help the removal of chlorine and chlora-
>>mine the latter is a lil more Stable? has some ammoniates?so airate longer.but are bacteria safer than chlorine?
>>speaking of disipate where does the chlorine GO,the average swimming pool uses LOTs weekly.......neutrilized or disipated, still what is neutrilized (it got to be a compound?)well Jump on in"Chris

np
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

I always thought sunlight is what destablizes the chlorine. Just wondering. BTW, do you have any dart frogs?

I work at apet store (www.LostWorldPetsInc.com) and we always tell people to leave the water sitting for 24 hours. I wouldn't put it in direct sun light because it could begin to grow algea.
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Alone, alone, all, all alone. Alone on a wide, wide sea.
-Rime of the ancient Mariner

Linda,
...Sunlight is not required. It even works to place the water in an open container in the refrigerator which would help to inhibit the growth of most bacteria versus leaving the water out at room temperature where the bacteria can reproduce more rapidly. The container must be open to the air or at least have some free air space in the container because the chlorine goes into the air. Small amounts of chlorine in drinking water have been proven to be safe for humans. On a side note, ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is very good at killing bacteria.
Jeff

>>I always thought sunlight is what destablizes the chlorine. Just wondering. BTW, do you have any dart frogs?

Linda,
As Jeff and Viperbixex pointed out, sunlight is not needed...but I do like to keep my water in the reptile room so I don't have to worry about the water temperature.

I don't have any Dart Frogs. I have two Whites Tree Frogs and two Pacman Frogs...and I doubt I will ever own another amphibian. I'm a snake person...and though I would never part with Albert, Humpty, Tank, and Dozer......I won't be looking to get more amphibians...

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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

The test, to me, is if you think your tap water is pleasant to drink. If you think it's acceptable I think it is likely that the snakes will be fine.

That having been said:

I use filtered water, most people think our water is fine, but I can't stand the chlorine taste, so my animals ALL get filtered water.

I definitely agree with Chris about the Amphibians...
Cheers!
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Jeremy J. Anderson
snakepimp.com
gemstatereptiles.com
Of course it's my opinion, I said it, didn't I?
Are they using the beef to control your mind? That stuff in your cigarettes, your beer and the wine Is working its way, infiltrating your spine, Today is the day you should wake up and find That they’re using the beef to control your mind. --(excerpt from a musical I wrote...)

.....everything...but seriously...I definitely don't drink the water in Savannah....so the legless ones get what Star and I get...

Good to see you on this forum Jeremy...sign of things to come perhaps?

Chris O
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

I'd also be concerned about the image of the frog covered in peat moss. I only use smmoth gravel as a substrate, with all my frogs, with a false bottom for easy cleaning of substrate. I use reverse osmosis filtered water for my dart frogs, aquatic dwarf African clawed and Pipa Pipa.

If we've done our jobs right and our animals are happy and healthy than most water is fine. I'd say all water, but I"ve come across a few cities that a) have put huge amounts of chlorine or b) are located near fossil fuel deposits and it tastes like oil... lol, the general rule I use is if you drink it, your herps can swim in it.

I like to keep a supply of standing water in case I have amphibians that may be stressed (sick or new). Reverse osmosis water may be fine for reptiles, but that osmotic balance is too far out for amphibians (draws electrolytes away from the body) who coincidently have done fine on tap water in my collection using Edmonton, AB water. I have to add that I have never actually seen any problems with RO water and it's all published scientific theory. I'd imagine symptoms would include chronic dehydration, again, maybe not a problem in a well planted, proper environment that restores the balance quickly.

On another aside, and yes I realize this is the boa forum, but have you bred and raised your pipa pipa? I have one and it's pretty old, doing great!

np
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www.chrisolsonreptiles.com
Naked I see the camp of those who desire nothing

I use tap water with that aquatize water conditioner in it. It dechlorinates the water...but leaving it sit out for 24 hours works too just not as quick. I was using just straight tap water before finding this stuff though.

Charlene
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