Snakes and hard well water?

So our new house has a well instead of city water. We have hard water and a water softener came with the house. Does anyone else have any knowledge or experience with whether hard water/hard water with added salt may impact snakes?

I'm wondering if I need to start buying gallon jugs to fill up water bowls and if it's fine to be misting with the well water?

I have a well and give all my animals bottled water. Even with a water softener, I don't care for the taste of it. So I don't give it to any of my animals. I do mist with it though.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RebelCue

I have a well and give all my animals bottled water. Even with a water softener, I don't care for the taste of it. So I don't give it to any of my animals. I do mist with it though.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

---

Thanks! I don't like the taste of our water either, so I use bottled for us. I think I'll start using it for the snake bowls too. They've been getting some major hard water deposits on them. Reassuring to hear you still mist with it though.

I have heard, if it's good enough for you to drink, it's good enough for them. If it tastes bad to you, go with bottled. The problem with misting with it, is it can clog up, but if you're just using a hand mister, then probably doesn't matter too much.

One of my friends has hard well water and he gives it to his snakes. He just does water changes more often, like every 2 or 3 days. But he buys distilled water for his humidifier because the hard water leaves a dust film on everything.

You should have your well water tested for safety...sometimes dangerous things turn up in well water, & while they'd not be good for you, especially long-term, they
could be deadly to your much smaller & more sensitive pets. I would think that the "added salt" would not be good for snakes either. A great way to remove any hard
water deposits (from water bowls, misting, etc) is just to use white vinegar full strength, then rinse. I buy it by the gallon, great stuff (& a mild disinfectant too).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

You should have your well water tested for safety...sometimes dangerous things turn up in well water, & while they'd not be good for you, especially long-term, they
could be deadly to your much smaller & more sensitive pets. I would think that the "added salt" would not be good for snakes either. A great way to remove any hard
water deposits (from water bowls, misting, etc) is just to use white vinegar full strength, then rinse. I buy it by the gallon, great stuff (& a mild disinfectant too).

---

Thanks for the vinegar tip! I'll have to try that. We did have the water tested before purchasing and it was fine. It's just very hard water with a definite well-y taste.

I'll stock up on vinegar and bottled spring water next time I'm at the store.

I've never had a place with my own well, but it sure would be nice not to have a water bill...:gj: Some pros & cons, either way.

We have hard water issues here, I get 5 gallon jugs for the snakes and we also drink bottled water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Toad37

..... But he buys distilled water for his humidifier because the hard water leaves a dust film on everything.

---

Well that solves one issue I had :) Thanks for posting that.

P.S. I get that dust film and I have public water that I run through a Brita filter before I use it in my humidifier