Ball pythons and well water ?

[killswitch33]

I don't know if this is the correct place to post this but I had a question that I'm hoping people can help me out with!

I recently purchased a new house which runs on well water and I will be moving in in the next few weeks. When I purchased the house I had to do a water test and the test came back high on nitrates (Acceptable level is 10PPM mine came back at 13 PPM) After extensive research the only thing I can find is that pregnant women and young children should not drink in excess anything over 10 PPM.

Any thoughts if this will be okay for my ball pythons? I figured its very borderline to the 10 PPM and my first thought is I shouldn't worry however Id rather be safe than sorry. If anyone has any experience with this or thoughts please share!

Thanks for your time!

[Dbz4246]

Your fine, I have well water as well. The only adverse effect I'd in the water bowls, you will see lots of calcium lines after awhile

[bcr229]

Even though I'm on city water it's hard as a rock so I have a softener, which gives it an off taste. I run all of the drinking water for the family and two German shepherds through a Big Berkey water filter (http://www.bigberkeywaterfilters.com/berkey-water-filters.html/). They're not very expensive considering how long they last - mine is almost 20 years old and still works.

If you don't have hundreds of snakes then having enough filtered water on hand every day shouldn't be a problem. Also you may want to use filtered water for yourself and your other pets.

Is there any other filtration system in place, like for sediment?

[killswitch33]

I installed a reverse osmosis under sink system for drinking water up stairs. Snakes will be downstairs I also have 3 German shepherds. Just curious if I should be worried about the 3 ppm that the water was over for nitrates. Thanks for the input guys!

[killswitch33]

I have a tub sink downstairs where I will fill water and clean snake cages.

[killswitch33]

And no other filtration systems in place

[hhmoore]

Just curious if I should be worried about the 3 ppm that the water was over for nitrates.
Your earlier post seemed to indicate that you felt the difference was inconsequential...
Consider this.
10 ppm is a miniscule amount, when one actually thinks about it; and that is considered the maximum acceptable level for nitrates. 13 ppm, while it seems a small difference, represents a 30% increase. That doesn't seem quite so small.
Some information:
https://safewater.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/202346267

[killswitch33]

I've read where people have readings of 40 or 50 ppm which is 30 or 40 ppm over the allowable so it seemed miniscule compared to that but yes I realise it's a 30 % increase. My big question is weather or not nitrates are harmful to snakes. Or if anyone has experience or input with this.

[bcr229]

I installed a reverse osmosis under sink system for drinking water up stairs. Snakes will be downstairs I also have 3 German shepherds. Just curious if I should be worried about the 3 ppm that the water was over for nitrates. Thanks for the input guys!
I wouldn't worry about it for washing. For drinking you could always fill water bottles upstairs to top off their bowls.

[Dbz4246]

My big question is weather or not nitrates are harmful to snakes. Or if anyone has experience or input with this.

As I have stated before, from experience, no. I have used well water for 6 years now and no adverse effect on adult ball pythons, or babies. If YOU feel it's a problem, then by all means filter it, or buy jugs of water.