Needless to say, bearded dragons make up for extraordinary pets. However, before getting them, you must have a fair idea about their diet and hydration requirements. On that note, can bearded dragons drink tap water? Will there be any harm?
Bearded dragons can have tap water as long as it is clean and free from contaminants. Additionally, if the water has too much fluoride, chlorine, and other heavy metals, it can be harmful to the bearded dragons.
So, what alternatives to tap water do you have? Also, what is the process of ensuring that tap water will be 100% safe for bearded dragons? You will get to know about each of these in detail by sticking to the end of this discussion.
Can Bearded Dragons Drink Tap Water?
As mentioned earlier, bearded dragons can drink water that’s from the tap. In fact, most bearded dragon keepers offer tap water to their pets.
Advantages of Offering Tap Water to Bearded Dragons
So, tap water brings some advantages to the table. Some of the highlighted ones are mentioned below:
- Affordable
Compared to bottled water, tap water is very inexpensive. And the difference between the price will be very high when you compare tap water with special reptile water.
- Nutrient-rich
Although many of us think that tap water is full of gunk, the case is not the same for all. Cities with a quality water treatment system will deliver water full of minerals and nutrients. And these elements will be very beneficial to bearded dragons.
- Convenient and Easy to Access
Tap water is very easy to access. You do not need to go through any hassles to obtain it. And if your bearded dragon has gotten used to drinking tap water, you can easily ensure that they maintain a proper hydration level.
Disadvantages of Offering Tap Water to Bearded Dragons
Not everything is great about tap water. You need to consider some drawbacks before adding tap water to the bearded dragon’s diet. They are:
- Chlorine or Chloramine
Most of the tap water will go through chloramine or chlorine treatment. Although these treatments can disinfect the water, they are harmful to bearded dragons. They can cause skin irritations, respiratory problems, and other health issues.
- The Hardness of the Water
In most cities, tap water is hard. In other words, tap water in most cities contains high minerals. That includes magnesium and calcium. Even though these minerals are good for bearded dragons, too much of them can lead to kidney problems.
- Contaminants
In case you didn’t know, tap water can come with loads of different types of contaminants. Even after disinfection, tap water can contain pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria. And these contaminants can severely harm the health of the reptile.
Alternatives to Tap Water for Bearded Dragons
Concerned about the tap water and do not want to feed it to the bearded dragon? Well, you don’t have to stick with tap water if you do not want to. There are many alternatives. Take a look:
- Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water
You will find RO water in bottled form in most stores, including pet stores. At the core, RO water is a form of filtered water free from most contaminants. It is also free from minerals. This water also lacks some of the essential nutrients.
- Filtered Water
If you have a water filter at your home, you can feed the bearded dragon water from that system. A high-quality filtration system will be capable of removing most of the contaminants, which will make the water 100% safe for bearded dragons.
- Distilled Water
Reverse Osmosis and distilled are pretty much the same. Like RO, distilled water is free from most minerals and contaminants. Furthermore, it has a very low nutrient count.
- Regular Bottled Water
You really do not have to go too fancy with bottled water. However, even after sticking with the affordable options, the cost will be much higher than tap water in the long run.
Nonetheless, no matter which bottled water you choose, make sure that the water is free from contaminants and is very low in minerals.
- Spring Water
Basically, spring water is a type of bottled water that is generally sourced from natural springs. And as you can guess, unlike regular bottled water, spring water is costly.
Moreover, even though spring water is mostly free from contaminants, it generally contains a high level of minerals.
How to Make Tap Water Safe for Bearded Dragons?
Some tap water can be very harmful to bearded dragons. On the other hand, some will be pretty safe for these reptiles. However, to make sure that you are offering safe water to them, you can stick with these methods:
- Use a Water Conditioner
You can get water conditioners that are specifically for reptiles. Those can remove most chlorine and chloramine from tap water, making it reasonably safe for bearded dragons.
However, make sure to follow the instructions of the conditioner correctly. Misusing it can make the water very harmful to these reptiles.
- Boil the Water
Boiling water is the guaranteed method to kill most disease-causing germs, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Just let the water boil for 10 to 15 minutes, allow it to cool down for a while, and then offer the water to the bearded dragon.
However, you must note that boiling the water will not remove minerals. So, if the water has too much calcium and magnesium, the boiled version will not be totally safe for the bearded dragon.
- Let the Water Sit for a While
You can let the tap water’s chlorine evaporate by letting it sit for 24 to 48 hours. And by making the chlorine evaporate, it will be possible for you to make the water a little safe for the bearded dragons.
But, do not expect this method to make the contaminants and minerals disappear. It can only evaporate the chlorine treatment.
- Filter the Water
An efficient water filtration system will be capable of getting rid of the impurities from the water. That includes chlorine, minerals, and other contaminants. You can also choose a water filter that is specifically for reptiles.
Can Bearded Dragons Drink Cold Water?
Bearded dragons can drink cold water. But you must remember that they are cold-blooded reptiles. Cold water can stress out the bearded dragon, eventually leading to digestive problems.
For that reason, you should not offer them cold water. Instead, provide them with warm or lukewarm water. That will help bearded dragons regulate their body heat effortlessly.
It is also worth noting that bearded dragons meet most of their hydration demands through insects and leafy greens. Even so, they require easy access to water. Otherwise, they can dehydrate and face different health issues.
Can Bearded Dragons Drink Milk?
Bearded dragons should not drink milk. In fact, you should not offer them any dairy products at all! Their digestive systems are incapable of processing milk and its products.
Another thing you need to note is that milk contains a high calcium level. That can make the kidneys of these reptiles develop stones. Milk can increase the chances of developing other health diseases, too.
Therefore, no matter what, you should avoid offering bearded dragon milk or any milk products. If you want to hydrate these reptiles without water, provide them with high moisture content leafy greens.
Final Words
So, can bearded dragons drink tap water? In short, they can. But not all tap water is safe for these reptiles. The chlorine and other chemicals inside the water can cause health issues. For that reason, it is recommended to avoid tap water.
