Question about drinking water...

[Eriathiel]

Hey all!
I was reading something (to be honest I'm not sure where) and it said to be wary about giving your snakes water out of the tap - and to declorinate it. Is this really a serious concern, and if so what is the best way to accomplish this?
Thanks!

 

[sbourget]

It's a moderate concern. snakes are more sensative to clorine then us. There's 2 ways to declorinate it that work well. the first is a commercial declorinating agent, usually they also add things like calcium and other nutrients. The second and cheaper way is to simply let the water sit out exposed to the air for 24-48 hours and the clorine will evaporate out.

 

[antsterr]

I believe 12 hours is all you need to de-chlorinate tap water. If you don't have strong chlorine in your water though I wouldn't worry about.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

It all depends how your local water supply is. Some places like urban cities the water can be bad. Have you had your water tested?

 

[ssmith_1187]

The problem with using evaporation only as a ways of “neutrilzing” waters is, while it allows the chlorine to evaporate, chloramine will not evaporate.

That’s why municipal water districts are switching to chloramine instead of chlorine to disinfect the water; it’s more stable and less prone dissipation.

I treat 1 gallon of city tap water with 32 drops (2 drops per 8 oz.) of Repti-Safe, let it sit for 24 hours and then put it into my water jug rotation.

Regards,
Steve

 

[mommyof2]

I usually pour him room temperature Brita water. It takes the chlorine smell out, and the box it came in says it takes out chlorine too. I've not had a problem yet.

 

[snakemom1961]

I've not let my water "sit" before I've given it to my kids. Tiaga has had the same city water for over 3 years without any ill effects.

If I"m wrong in doing this, I would love to hear the affects of giving city water to our babies.

 

[dawnrenee2000]

I am with you. My animals ( about 100 of them) all get water right out of the tap and I have a very healthy collection of various reptiles and mammels. I must say I have thought of getting a britta filter that attaches to the sink, but havent done it yet

 

[Duff]

Right out of the tap for me.

 

[texastailfeathers]

I am with you. My animals (about 100 of them) all get water right out of the tap and I have a very healthy collection of various reptiles and mammels. I must say I have thought of getting a britta filter that attaches to the sink, but havent done it yet

Same here. My animals (dog, 50+ birds, snakes) get their water straight out of the tap. None of them rush to the water bowl the second I change it, so I figure by the time they get a drink the chlorine has had time to evaporate. Even if it doesn't, they haven't suffered any ill effects because of it. I have a Brita filter on my sink, but that's only for me because I think my city water tastes like algae. My animals don't get the filtered water.

I only suggest letting the water sit out for 12-24 hours for people with calcium-deficient birds (i.e. chronic egg layers) or for persnickety people who just can't be satisfied without doing *something* to their drinking water.

 

[Eriathiel]

I havn't had the water tested, but I do run it through I Brita water filter first. There really isn't a strong smell or anything to it, and I've never heard of anyone else havng issues!

 

[Korrin]

My snake gets tap water, though I have lived in areas where even I wouldn't drink the tap water.
It really depends on where you live.

 

[CALIVIK]

I was curious about this. I have read in books that the tap was bad. I asked the breeder this & he has always used tap.
I give all my animals tap, & I have drank tap since I can remember.
I know these little guys are different than the animals I do own. So I am relieved to hear tap is fine.

Vikki
10wk old male candycane