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Thread: Is distilled water safe?

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    Question Is distilled water safe?

    Hey, so I have been using distilled water for about a month now and have had no problems with it. My toads love to sit in the water and swim around a bit too. I was just wondering if it is safe or if it is slowly killing them.

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    From what I've read distilled water isn't harmful to frogs and toads, it simply doesn't contain any vitamins and minerals, some of which frogs need. These are absorbed through their skin. This is why a lot of people use tap water with a dechlorinator. I use Amquel, but I t think there's frog-specific water treatment products I've been meaning to look into as a possible replacement. I hope this helps.

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Okay, I was looking on amazon and found a really good one for a really good price. Is this a good product or should I find something else?
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002568SG...ding=UTF8&th=1

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    That should be fine, dechlorinator/ammonia removers tend to be pretty cheap, which is nice. After a little more reading I found that distilled water is very useful for misting/spraying as it is so pure it doesn't leave mineral deposits, so it isn't useless by any means!

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Okay, I was also wondering if it would kill my Bacopa caroliniana water plant? It was about fifteen dollars and I would much rather use it for my hermit crabs and have it be eaten then rot in my Toads water. I ordered it from Josh's Frogs and will be letting it rest in the water.

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Your plant will probably be fine. I can only speak for amquel since I've only used it personally, but my plants ha e always been fine, and I use it for watering and spraying, but I suppose aquatic plants could be different.

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Actually distilled water and amphibians aren't a very good mix. With plants it's fine and it's fine to use in spray bottles for humidity. You can use it in water bowls for a while and probably be fine, but it can actually pull minerals out of the frog through something called reverse osmosis. Some people use distilled with reptiles, but frogs actually drink through their skin so it's easier for minerals to leach out. Calcium deficiency is a real worry with frogs. It's good to dust crickets and give the UVB light (just in case that helps, some studies suggest it does). I wouldn't take the chance. Distilled's also a bit acidic.

    http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Rept...stilled-Water/

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Omg! That is so funny! We have the same name and it's spelled the same too! *ahem* As I was saying, well I wasn't saying I am saying now so I have ordered the reptisafe and it is coming soon so do not worry about my toads. I have also ordered a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement (Rep-cal) which will be arriving very soon (probably tomorrow) Also I will be re-doing their enclosure to a more aquatic environment. Also, this is completely off-topic but while your here would I be able to feed hornworms to my Fire-Bellys? I looked it up and there isn't much information but I got an order from Josh's frogs and got someone else's order mixed up with mine. They also had what I believe is some solider fly larvae? It came in a little cup (like a cup you put condiments in) with dirt and some roots? But no plant. So I don't know what that is and also there were two things of small crickets and one of either medium or large crickets. I think someone was feeding (or going to feed) a leopard gecko or a chameleon. I did send an email to them and told them that someone did not get their order and it seems that someone named ETHAN was the one who mixed up our orders. I feel kind of bad because what if they really needed it and I imagine a starving lizard with no food and the owner wondering if he would be able to feed him ANYWAYS! Yeah, my toad's are great. I will post a picture of their new setup in a few days but I want it to be a surprise. Anyways, yeah thanks for the answers! helped a lot

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Oh good, I thought about mentioning there was something you could put into distilled to make it better and that Josh's Frogs sold it but I didn't know if you would be interested.

    I'd think hornworms would be too big for firebellies. I'm sure they'll enjoy their new aquatic environment.

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Also I got some live plants and would they be able o grow successfully in plantation soil or ABG mix? I have both which I ordered from Josh's Frogs as well as a Bacopa caroliniana which isn't doing so well. The directions said to cut it into six pieces which I did and then it started to wilt. Well I just got it so hopefully it brightens up and will make a nice water plant for them! Also I got my Rep-Cal today! Copper and Platinum don't mind it but Zinc seems a little iffy :/ Anyways, yeah thanks for the comments btw the plants I ordered were Spathiphyllum 'Kaley' and a Philodendro cordatum 'Brasil' just in case you were wondering. One of them is a tropical plant and another one I think is a tropical too and the Bacopa is a water plant so yeah!

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Distilled water will. Leach. Minerals

    Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    common opinion

    When using distilled or RO water for PDF , it's best to 're-mineralize' it.
    Most people soak indian almond leaves in gallon containers.
    There are 'BlackWater' additives that can be purchased as well.

    For spraying the glass ( never the frogs ) distilled ( supermarket) or RO is fine as it will not stain the glass.

    For other frogs..... tap water should be de-chlorinated. i.e tree frogs should not be soaking tap water

    For mister buckets..... RO or distilled is necessary as even dechlorinated tap water could "damage the pump"

    Tadpole water ( and for water changes ) should be RO or distilled only --- re-mineralized w soaking Indian Almond leaves
    Current Collection
    Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
    Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
    Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
    Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
    Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

    Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
    Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
    Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
    Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
    Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
    Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
    Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
    Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
    Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
    Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"

    Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)

    Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
    Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
    Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
    Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
    Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
    Oophaga histrionica "Tado"

    Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
    Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
    Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
    Ranitomeya vanzolinii

    http://www.fernsfrogs.com
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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    A voice of moderation from someone with a PhD in chemistry and who has kept and bred amphibians most of his life: I use dechlorinated tap water for water bowls and distilled water for everything else. Rain water contains virtually no chemicals other than dissolved gasses, so distilled water is a manmade equivalent. You can spray it on amphibians with no ill effects - they're not made of sugar and won't melt. However I do recommend dechlorinated tap for water bowls / anything that they will sit in for extended periods of time.
    Founder of Frogforum.net (2008) and Caudata.org (2001)

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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    Okay thank you! My water conditioner should be coming today and I was also wondering if I would use distilled water for a fogger? Also, considering the fact that you seem very experienced with amphibians, would there be any foggers you would recommend? Thanks!

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    Super Moderator flybyferns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is distilled water safe?

    I used distilled with/out Indian Almond for a few years..... several years back w no ill effect.
    It got a bit exhausting however, carrying in ALL those gallons when caring for multiple species of dart frogs; not to mention expensive.
    Since.... I have changed to RO.
    A few Indian Almond leaves soaking in the RO or distilled water 'ain't gonna' hurt anything either.......most importantly, the frogs.
    RO is in my 3 Mist King buckets and hands sprayers, and RO w Indian Almond is used for the froglets being cared for outside the parental enclosures.


    Quote Originally Posted by flybyferns View Post
    common opinion

    When using distilled or RO water for PDF , it's best to 're-mineralize' it.
    Most people soak indian almond leaves in gallon containers.
    There are 'BlackWater' additives that can be purchased as well.

    For spraying the glass ( never the frogs ) distilled ( supermarket) or RO is fine as it will not stain the glass.

    For other frogs..... tap water should be de-chlorinated. i.e tree frogs should not be soaking tap water

    For mister buckets..... RO or distilled is necessary as even dechlorinated tap water could "damage the pump"

    Tadpole water ( and for water changes ) should be RO or distilled only --- re-mineralized w soaking Indian Almond leaves
    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    A voice of moderation from someone with a PhD in chemistry and who has kept and bred amphibians most of his life: I use dechlorinated tap water for water bowls and distilled water for everything else. Rain water contains virtually no chemicals other than dissolved gasses, so distilled water is a manmade equivalent. You can spray it on amphibians with no ill effects - they're not made of sugar and won't melt. However I do recommend dechlorinated tap for water bowls / anything that they will sit in for extended periods of time.
    Current Collection
    Dendrobates leucomelas - standard morph
    Dendrobates auratus “Costa Rican Green Black"
    Dendrobates auratus "Pena Blanca"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “New River”
    Dendrobates tinctorius "Green Sipaliwini"
    Dendrobates tinctorius “Powder Blue"
    Dendrobates tinctorius "French Guiana Dwarf Cobalt"

    Phyllobates terribilis “Mint”
    Phyllobates terribilis "Orange"
    Phyllobates bicolor "Uraba"

    Oophaga pumilio "Black Jeans"
    Oophaga pumilio "Isla Popa"
    Oophaga pumilio "Bastimentos"
    Oophaga pumilio “Mimbitimbi”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Colubre"
    Oophaga pumilio "Red Frog Beach”
    Oophaga pumilio "Rio Branco"
    Oophaga pumilio “Valle del Rey”
    Oophaga pumilio "BriBri"
    Oophaga pumilio "El Dorado"
    Oophaga pumilio "Cristobal"
    Oophaga pumilio "Rambala"

    Oophaga “Vicentei” (blue)

    Oophaga sylvatica "Paru"
    Oophaga sylvatica "Pata Blanca"
    Oophaga histrionica “Redhead”
    Oophaga histrionica "Blue"
    Oophaga lehmanni "Red"
    Oophaga histrionica "Tado"

    Ranitomeya variabilis "Southern"
    Ranitomeya imitator "Varadero"
    Ranitomeya sirensis "Lower Ucayali"
    Ranitomeya vanzolinii

    http://www.fernsfrogs.com
    https://www.facebook.com/ferns.frogs

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