Is distilled water safe?

[John]

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.

[Ellybelly18]

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!

[flybyferns]

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.

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

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.