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Caging  Plants/Branches  Lighting/Heating  Watering  feeding Nutrition

WATERING . . .


   

Tree dwelling chameleons do not perceive "standing water" as other ground dwelling herps do.  They recognize "water in motion" as well as the reflected light they see in water droplets. This is how they get water in the wild, so they need this recreated in captivity.

We mist our chameleon's enclosures at least once a day, and more often for those species that require additional water or humidity. It is best to mist the leaves of the plant and not the chameleon. They don't particularly like the startling effect of being suddenly sprayed. Use tepid water, never cold or hot.  We water our animals early in the morning after they have had an opportunity to warm up under basking lamps for about an hour or so. Some like licking the leaves from misting and others respond better to water that is flowing from a drip system. We provide both.

Spray bottles come in a variety of forms. From inexpensive hand held bottles to more expensive tanks with spraying wands (these work well when you have multiple cages to water . . . less trips to the sink for refills and your hand doesn't get so tired!) You can also purchase drip systems that sit on top of the screened enclosure and allow for regulated water dripping over the plant inside the cage. Several different types are available on the market. You can also make an inexpensive drip by putting a pin hole through the bottom of a Dixie cup and filling it with water. Whichever way you go, make sure the water receptacle is thoroughly cleaned once every 7-10 days so bacterial growth does not develop. Note:  We use bottled water on any setups with glass. The bottled water will help keep hard water deposits from building up on the glass and obscuring your view.

All of this "misting and dripping" can lead to standing water at the bottom of your chameleon's enclosure.  We recommend keeping the bottom of your cage clean and dry.