chemicals in tap water

[destiny88]

I have started for the last month to use bottled spring water
for willows drinking dish because the water from my tap has been herrendous
for the past month or so .. it realy stinks of chemicals and there is no way
we could drink it so theres no way i can give that to willow
since giving him bottled water ive actually seen him drinking regularly
before id only seen him actually go and drink once!!!
I am still bathing him obviously in water from the tap but im boiling it first and letting it cool as im worried he may drink it as well.
Does anyone else have this problem?
does anyone else give bottled water to their torts..

luv
karen xxxxxxx

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi there.

Water quality does not seem too bad where I am (the west of scotland).

It rains nearly every day here anyway so I can easily collect rain water.

The chlorine in tap water is evaporated after leaving it in an open container for 24 hours which might be one option.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by destiny88

I have started for the last month to use bottled spring water
for willows drinking dish because the water from my tap has been herrendous
for the past month or so .. it realy stinks of chemicals and there is no way
we could drink it so theres no way i can give that to willow
since giving him bottled water ive actually seen him drinking regularly
before id only seen him actually go and drink once!!!
I am still bathing him obviously in water from the tap but im boiling it first and letting it cool as im worried he may drink it as well.
Does anyone else have this problem?
does anyone else give bottled water to their torts..

luv
karen xxxxxxx

I used tap water for about six months, and never saw my tortoises bathe or drink. From then onwards (34yrs) I have always used rain water. And do see them drink and bathe regularly.

[destiny88]

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

Hi there.

Water quality does not seem too bad where I am (the west of scotland).

It rains nearly every day here anyway so I can easily collect rain water.

The chlorine in tap water is evaporated after leaving it in an open container for 24 hours which might be one option.

wow i had no idea the chlorine would evaporate ! i shall certainly try that
or rain water as suggeted above
thanks for that
x

[destiny88]

Originally Posted by sandy

I used tap water for about six months, and never saw my tortoises bathe or drink. From then onwards (34yrs) I have always used rain water. And do see them drink and bathe regularly.

Oh im glad it isnt just me! just goes to show how good their sense of smell
is ect i will certainly be trying rain water next
thanks very much
x

[Tom1980]

Does rain water have to be filtered or anything, or could I literally just leave a bucket outside and then put the collected rainwater straight into his water dish?

[Tom1980]

Do I need to filter rain water at all, or could I literally put a bucket outside and then transfer the collected rainwater to the tortoise enclosure?

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Tom1980

Do I need to filter rain water at all, or could I literally put a bucket outside and then transfer the collected rainwater to the tortoise enclosure?

Rain water is fine as it is, provided its not been in a rain butt for all the Summer without being used.
I have used it for the last 34yrs for my tortoises, and use the rain on my plants as well as for the tortoises, so its fresh most of the time.
Its what tortoises would drink in the wild:0)