Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a dart frog. In one of the books I have it says not to use water that has been purified by reverse osmosis. I have used dasani bottled water which is purified by this method and the place I bought my dart frog just said to use bottled or declorinated water. I also noticed that on a dart frog site there were reverse osmosis machines for sale. I am confused. Does anyone know if it is okay to use the water purified by reverse osmosis?

If you are really worried about it boil it or leave it out over night. I don't have to worry about that sort of thing with well water.

Reverse osmosis water is fine. It's essentially distilled water, so lacks minerals and salts. Reverse osmosis is just a different way of distilling water from heating it and condensing the vapor. However, these salts are quickly replaced once the water comes in contact with the soil or even air. While you wouldn't want to soak a frog in distilled water, because, having a permeable membrane for skin, it may lose electrolytes to the solution and take in too much water if its active transport system for controlling this can't keep up, it's perfectly all right to use reverse osmosis water for misting and even circulating waterways with rocks, plants and soil. Distilled water does not remain distilled for long, once in contact with any minerals and salts. And there is no practical difference between the processes of distillation.

What was the source of the advice not to use it? Were any reasons given?
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)

It was from a book that is all about poison dart frogs and no it didn't give me a reason why. Thank you for your help.

If you can recall the name of the book, let me know. I'd really like to read it and try to figure out their reasoning for this particular admonition.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

Dendrobates: auratus blue, auratus Ancon Hill, tinctorius azureus, leucomelas. Phyllobates: vittatus, terribilis, lugubris. Epipedobates: anthonyi tricolor pasaje. Ranitomeya fantastica, imitator, reticulata. Adelphobates castaneoticus, galactonotus. Oophagia pumilio Bastimentos. (updated systematic nomenclature)