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Tap Water

Solarian_13

Solarian_13

New member
Just wondering if anyone out there gives their snakes distilled water as opposed to tap water... or am I just spoiling the little guy? :p We've got pretty hard water where I live and after seeing what the water does to my showerhead I started keeping a jug of distilled water in the fridge for Toki. Has anyone ever had experience with tap water doing any of their reptiles harm?
 
Mine have had tap water all their lives and are fine. Guess it depends on how much you trust your local supply.

Ours is some of the hardest water in the UK due to the local geology (chalk). Don't worry - your snakes won't "fur up" inside, any more than you do!
 
We have pretty good tap water here, I figure if I drink it they should be okay! I agree with Bitsy - depends how your local water supply is. :)
 
I buy those really cheap jugs of spring water for like 80 cents...but isn't spring water the same as tap water? Well, I live in a city so better safe then sorry I guess:/
 
Not all bottled water is distilled water. Distilled water is heated until it turns into steam and then the condensation is collected, leaving the water completely pure and devoid of anything including minerals. Some people say it has a funny taste. Other bottled water comes from springs and stuff and still has the minerals in it. That might be a better option if your local water supply is questionable.

I did use bottled water for a couple months when I first got snakes, but when I ran out I'd give them tap water and I drink it anyway myself so it just seemed unnecessary to continue (especially since they were still getting baths in tap water). My husband bought distilled water by mistake once and they still drank it. I don't see why it would hurt to give them distilled water, I'm pretty sure they get all the nutritional content they need from mice anyway right?
 
This is stupid. If it`s good enough for humans then its good enough for a snake. They drink pond water or whatever they can find in the wild..
 
I use tap water & ours is pretty hard aswell. I considered bottled water but like most ppl say if it's good enough for me it's good enough for my snakey.
 
bfreewally1 said:
This is stupid. If it`s good enough for humans then its good enough for a snake. They drink pond water or whatever they can find in the wild..
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I was also concerned about the added fluoride and the byproducts of water disinfection such as chlorine dioxide.
 
We use bottled spring water for Malachite. Our water is hard as well (turns the tubs, toilets, and sinks orange) so we have a water softner downstairs that all the water goes through. I heard conflicting information about the safety of the water softners as well as distilled water, so we just went with bottled spring water. The Safeway water in the gallon jugs works well. Arrowhead is another good one too (it lists the spring it is bottled from on the label as well).
 
bfreewally1 said:
This is stupid. If it`s good enough for humans then its good enough for a snake. They drink pond water or whatever they can find in the wild..
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They also eat meals which are full of parasites and are constantly exposed to other environmental dangers.. but we don't subject them to those same challenges in captivity, why should their water supply be any different? While it may not be "pond water" quality, human water is exposed to varying amounts of chemicals and other things to make it drinkable. Maybe these are harmful to the snake?

If I lived in a place like Florida where the water tastes like chlorine and is unpalatable to me, I probably wouldn't give my snakes water I wouldn't drink myself.
 
Chorline dissapates after 24 hrs. just fill a bowl and let it sit if your so concerned.. What kind of chemicals are you concerned about if people drink it that you wouldn`t give you snake?
 
We use filtered spring water for the hatchling. The adult gets tap. The people here drink what they like - the child likes tap and the adults like filtered.

The hatchling will probably switch to tap water when I stop worrying that it's an issue. The child didn't have any tap for his first year, either. I just feel like when they are so little, it doesn't take much to mess them up, so why chance all the weird crap that comes in city water?
 
O.K. but that sounds silly. Your baby is treated better than most human baby`s.. Snake baby`s in the wild drink whatever they can get. Wish I had spring water or filtered water. I still drink tap and am doing o.k..
 
I don't drink tap and my infant didn't drink tap. I'm not giving tap to my hatchling. I'm not shaming you for doing it differently, just sharing my opinion.
 
bfreewally1 said:
Chorline dissapates after 24 hrs. just fill a bowl and let it sit if your so concerned.. What kind of chemicals are you concerned about if people drink it that you wouldn`t give you snake?
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Fluoride, for one. Arsenic, Barium, and Selenium for others.
Radiation and bacteria are other concerns depending on where you live.
Then there are the bacteria and fertilizers.

Of course, I would never regularly drink tap water from certain places, and if I won't drink it the snakes won't drink it.

A report by the Environmental Working Group, called "Into the Mouths of Babes", found that of 29 mid western cities tested, all had at least one agricultural chemical present in a single glass of water, and most had five or more. These are chemicals that are not safe to ingest at the levels found.
EWG recommends not giving tap water to children if you live in cities that test positive for these contaminants.

Snakes are smaller than babies.

Brita filters and the like will not get rid of all these contaminants. You need to get reverse osmosis water, or distilled water with minerals added.

Spring water could be ok, depending on the source.

My city's public works department recommends bringing tap water to a roiling boil for one minute before drinking if you have a weakened immune system.
 
good for you.. Nothing has ever been proven. You can do what you want.. But for a snake is being a bit excessive. Everyone entitled to their opinion.. Thats mine..
 
bfreewally1 said:
good for you.. Nothing has ever been proven. You can do what you want.. But for a snake is being a bit excessive. Everyone entitled to their opinion.. Thats mine..
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No one is calling you silly or neglectful. Maybe you could chill with those kinds of comments? Just a thought.
 
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