0

Can leopard geckos drink bottled water?

If you have a leopard Gecko, no doubt you want to check everything before you give it to him. Water is one of those important things you need to check.

Can leopard geckos drink bottled water?

Yes, leopard geckos can drink bottled water. In fact, many geckos are fine with bottled or tap water. If there is some concerns about it, such as possible chlorine content, spring water can be used as a possible replacement, especially if he is sensitive.

Now that you understand that bottled water is ok, let me go on to explain if it is reliable, the concerns some people have with tap water, why you should have a shallow dish for the bottled water and so much more…

Is Bottled water reliable for Leopard Geckos?

So far you know that bottled water is ok for your Leo. But, it is important to understand what you are using. There is a chance that some bottled water is not as pure as you think. What do I mean by this?

Well, there is a chance that it can include chlorine or even chloramine. While this is not necessarily a problem (more on this later), it is important to understand exactly what you are getting.

The reality is, some people assume that bottled water is the ultimate pure product, but this is not always the case. And, it varies heavily on the brand that you use.

Do leopard geckos need special water?

Click here to check availability on Amazon

Leos require their water served in a dish, ideally a shallow dish (Click here to check availability on Amazon). This serves three purposes:

• Drinking water
• Help with the humidity
• Soaking

Drinking-Water

First and full most, your Leo needs a regular supply of water to drink. Therefore, this dish will help him get that necessary supply of water. Make sure that the water is replenished regularly because he won’t like dirty water.

Help with humidity

As well as drinking, he will benefit from the dish for humidity (Click here to see how to lower the humidity in a Leo’s enclosure). This will help to regulate the humidity basically. However, understand that this can only help with humidity, it is not the full solution.

Soaking

This may seem a bit weird to you. You know, why would your Leo soak in the same water it drinks? Well, it may sound weird to you, but this is just what they do. It helps them keep themselves cool when required.

Also, when they are shedding, this will help them go through the process easier. Because an incomplete shed is painful and a big problem for some lizards.

What water is best for Shedding Leopard Geckos?

As I mentioned earlier, an incomplete shed is painful for Leo’s, so anything that you can do to aid the process, is greatly appreciated.

Firstly, as discussed earlier, providing a water dish big enough for soaking (Click here to check the price on Amazon) is very important.

Soaking in warm water

Another trick that you can use is to let your Leo soak in warm water. This will help them shrug off any excess skin during the shredding process. For this to be effective it needs to be more than once. Ideally, you need to consider two or even three times a week, are you with me?

Why do Leopard Gecko owners prefer bottled instead of tap water?

As I mentioned briefly earlier, some Leo owners are a bit anxious when the word “tap water” comes up. But why is this?

The main reason is the unknown chemicals used during the cleanup process to make it drinkable for us humans. In fact, we all should take an interest in what we drink, not just for the care of our Leo’s, but that’s another story.

The Chlorine content

By far, the biggest concern is the chlorine content. This is one of the known chemicals used to clean up the water for human consumption.

Some of these concerns have stemmed from fish and amphibians. This is because they are known to be sensitive to tap water. And, this fact makes other pet owners ask questions before using it, are you with me?

Aside from this, is the fact that some areas are unlucky and may have contaminated water. This is often impossible to detect until years later after studies have been done.

What are the dangers of chlorinated water?

Regarding chlorinated water, such as ta water. other objections exist, some minor, others are more significant. such as:

• Poor taste
• Unapproved sources (for human consumption)
• Dissolved solids

Poor taste

As you can imagine this is a more minor concern but worth mentioning. Some humans feel that this type of water has a weird taste. Obviously this is subjective. And, is this a concern for Leopard Geckos? Well, it hasn’t been proven.

Unapproved Sources & Dissolved solids

Another issue is using unapproved water sources such as outdoor pipes. You know, maybe that rusty old pipe in your back garden?

The issue with these is, they may contain lead or other dissolved solids because they are not qualified water sources. And, most definitely not to be used for you or your Leopard Gecko.

Can Chlorinated water affect your enclosure?

If you have a glass enclosure (Click here to see why I selected this glass enclosure), chlorinated water can be a concern. This is more of a cosmetic issue, but considering a glass enclosure is all about aesthetics, it is a big deal.

Basically, the minerals in the water can cause hard water streaks on the enclosure glass. Hence the reason some owners are wary of using it.

Why is Chlorine in tap (or bottled) water in the first place?

With all this talk about chlorine and concerns, it makes you wonder why even bother to have it in the water in the first place, right?

The reality is, it is claimed that it is necessary to treat the water to make it safe for use to consume. The assumption is that is safe for non-aquatic animals as well, I say “assumption” because others argue the case. The expectation is that these chemicals will be broken down as we (or the animal) digests the water.

Why should you place your Leos water on the cool side of the enclosure?

Now that you understand the importance of having water in the enclosure, whether that’s bottled or tap. You may be wondering exactly what location should you place it? And does it really make a difference?

On the cool side

Yes, there is an optimal location to place the water in the enclosure. In fact, it should be located on the cool side of the enclosure.

But why?

Well, if it is on the hot side (more on this later) it will get hot and gradually evaporate, are you with me? This will mean there is a danger that your Leo will either will not have enough water or the water will be too warm, make sense.

What is the cool side?

If you are scratching your head wondering what I mean by the “cool side”. Basically the enclosure should have a hot or “basking area”. This where your Leo can warm up.

And, the cool side is where your Leo can cool off when required. This is where the water should be.

Related Questions:

In this section, I will answer some questions that are related to Leopard Geckos, water & food consumption. If you have more questions, please feel free to drop a comment below.

Is distilled water good for Leopard Geckos?

No, distilled water is not good for Leopard Geckos. With all this talk about chlorinated water, and the concerns about it. Maybe you were thinking distilled water could be a safer option, right.

Lack of salt and Minerals

Well, no it isn’t. The main issue with distilled water is the lack of salt and minerals. These elements are typically dissolved in natural water and offer big benefits to your Leopard Gecko. But, none of this is contained in distilled water, hence the reason why it is not ideal.

How can I tell if my leopard gecko is dehydrated?

You can tell if your Leopard Gecko is dehydrated by its skin (maybe wrinkled, trouble shedding, flaky or lost elasticity), eyes (maybe sunken), energy (lack of it) or its feces (reduced frequency or constipated).

Understanding which type of water is just one thing, but making sure you give your Leo enough water is another important factor.

Do you give Leopard geckos baths?

Yes, Leopard Geckos need baths. But, this should be done sparingly. You should only really consider bathing him if he is really dirty, been instructed by your vet or he has difficulty shedding, If you bath him too much he can get dry skin and attract diseases.

Do leopard geckos get lonely?

No, Leopard Geckos do not get lonely. In fact, Leo’s are known to be solitary, meaning they often enjoy their own company. This follows the trend of most reptiles, not being sociable. You may find if they are mixed they will fight.