Rain water

[cometstream]

Can I use rainwater? I am still going to add topfin tap water dechlorinator. It removes chlorine and chloramine and heavy metals.

[ladybug15057]

I would be VERY leery about using rain water. I researched this awhile back and:

http://crabbywiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Rain+water

With the impurities in rain water a normal dechlorinator wouldn't remove all of them. If one were to use a dechlorinator anyway I would suggest using tap water. (even though dechlorinators do not remove fluoride from the tap water)

[cometstream]

yesterday my dad bought me distilled water. My parents wanted to know if they could use rain water so I asked. thank you for your quick replies.

[ladybug15057]

Distilled water is one of the purest waters there are but there is nothing in it so it is very important to make sure the hermies have a diet with all the vitamins and minerals they need. Also very important to make sure they have a properly mixed ocean water mix made for salt water fish tanks so they can get nutrients from it that distilled water is lacking as well.

[cometstream]

Just thought of this...
Does tap water provide those minerals / vitamins

[ladybug15057]

Tap water is not dead water like distilled/pure water is. However, tap water contains chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals as well as fluoride. There has been no testing on adult hermies that I am aware of (if anybody is please share) but fluoride does cause mutations and defects in zoea. There is no conditioner sold on the market that neutralizes the fluoride in tap water.
To use distilled water is the purest and in reality no difference in diet is actually needed. Hermies should be offered the vitamins and minerals and a high nutritious diet anyway to remain healthy. This as well as a properly mixed ocean water source sold specifically for salt water fish tanks.

[Jadexox]

if i boil it will it be safe

[emmac350]

Boiling tap water will remove the chlorine and any bacteria in it, but will not remove chloramines or fluoride.

[ladybug15057]

or the heavy metals in tap water. And one would also need to consider they type of pot they are using to boil the water in, it should be stainless steel.

[Jadexox]

so will boiling and a declorinizer that gets rid of metals and stuff be ok