Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just bought a huge r/o di filter and wanted to know if its ok to use for snakes. some people have told me just to use the run off water to feed snakes, because there is still Ca in the water along with other elements which are beneficial. they also stated that the r/o di H2O is too soft for them. ISNT RAIN WATER THE SAME? DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

You definitely do not want to use the runoff. All of the pollutants are concentrated in that. I don't see how it would be bad to use the r/o water. Snakes get all the calcium they need from food. What is wrong with tap though?
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1.2 Het pied
0.2 Normals
0.0.3 1999 hatchling Galapagos torts

I don't think it will hurt them. RO water is deficient in minerals (thats the whole idea) but your snakes should be getting all their minerals from their food anyway. Most people who ask this question thinking that they should be giving their snakes RO water because it's better for them then tap water. If it's good enough for you to drink, it should be good enough for your snakes. (of course there are some places around the country where the water is so bad that people and their snakes shouldn't be drinking it)

Mark

>>i just bought a huge r/o di filter and wanted to know if its ok to use for snakes. some people have told me just to use the run off water to feed snakes, because there is still Ca in the water along with other elements which are beneficial. they also stated that the r/o di H2O is too soft for them. ISNT RAIN WATER THE SAME? DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

I would definately not use it. My understanding is that since R/O water is so pure (lacking nutrients, etc.), it will actually absorb nutrients from the consumers body.
Glenn

Sorry, that just sounds like Baloney to me. If it's safe enough for me to drink it should be safe enough for my snakes.

>>I would definately not use it. My understanding is that since R/O water is so pure (lacking nutrients, etc.), it will actually absorb nutrients from the consumers body.
>>Glenn

R/O water is not intended for drinking! Some bottled water companies use it, but they add nutrients, etc.
Glenn

Sorry to say but I have been useing a RO system for a long time now.

I have not seen any difference with it.

I would say if that is what you have it would be safe to use, but I wouldn't go out and buy one just for my snakes.

I also have an RO system in my kitchen and have been drinking RO water for years. Of course the snakes get whatever comes out of the tap, it's too much bother to bring water from the kitchen.

>>Sorry to say but I have been useing a RO system for a long time now.
>>
>>I have not seen any difference with it.
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>>I would say if that is what you have it would be safe to use, but I wouldn't go out and buy one just for my snakes.

Reverse osmosis water is 100% safe for your snakes. When I worked at the Nashville Zoo, we used R/O water for just about every single one of our reptiles and amphibians. I've never heard of it depleting nutrients from it's consumer so I highly doubt this would happen. Plus why would a nationally accredited zoo use water that was not beneficial to it's recepients? I loved that it never left water spots or calcified residue anywhere. I'd say go ahead and use it if you have it.

Just my opinion. Hope that helps!
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Michael Rehker

The Snake Breeder

"Which of us has not been stunned by the beauty of an animal's skin or its flexibility in motion?"
--Marianne Moore

At my old house I put in a RO unit because we had hard water and it also tasted so bad we could not drink it. I used it for 3 years for all of us my family, dogs and every single snake and in both of my misting systems for my arboreals. Taste great way better than bottled water no plastic taste you get from the bottles. I just bought another house and will buy another RO unit.

O'yeah my vet said as long as your animals are eating healthy rodents you have nothing to worry about.

Tim Rash
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Tim Rash
www.nocturnal-creations.com

Well, it appears r/o water is fine to use! My appologies, I certainly didn't mean to mislead anyone. It was just my understanding from some past conversation that it isn't good to use.
Merry Christmas,
Glenn