Misting Schedule Question

I will be getting my herpmist.com misting system in the mail shortly. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

My question to any fellow keepers that use automatic misting systems. What is your schedule like? What times do you mist and for how long?

How can I tell if I am misting to much or not enough?

murtasma said:

I will be getting my herpmist.com misting system in the mail shortly. Hopefully today or tomorrow.

My question to any fellow keepers that use automatic misting systems. What is your schedule like? What times do you mist and for how long?

How can I tell if I am misting to much or not enough?

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This is a really good question I was curious about myself.

I mist at the current schedule using my Herp Mist. I mist 4 times a day at 6 min a session. I mist two time pretty close together in the afternoon (2 hr apart). All urates look good on my Chams so they are well hydrated. humid spikes to 75+ % after misting and humidity is never below 40%

@09:00 (1 hour after lights come on) 6 min misting.

@12:30 6 min misting

@14:30 6 min Misting

@18:00 6 min misting.

How much water is generated in 6 minutes of misting?

murtasma said:

How much water is generated in 6 minutes of misting?

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With 4 nozzles in four cages I use appox 1.8 gal a day or .45 gal a misting. 22 quarts lasts me about 3 days

Do you have any live plants in your setup? I have a Ficus and I want to be sure not to over water it.

Mine goes like this.

8:00- shortly after the lights turn on. 3 Minutes
10:30-2 Minutes
12:00-4 Minutes
4:30-5 Minutes

Each nozzel produces 1 ounce of water per minute.

GONNA need drainage with that much misting. this is my schedule and no drainage is required.

8am-2min
10am-1min
12pm-2min
2pm-1min
5pm-2min


chameleons are happy and hydrated, and no unneccessary water mess.

22quarts last 3 weeks

murtasma said:

Do you have any live plants in your setup? I have a Ficus and I want to be sure not to over water it.

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You just have to be sure the plant can drain properly. I have a ficus and an umbrella in each enclosure.

JoshCrane1 said:

GONNA need drainage with that much misting. this is my schedule and no drainage is required.

8am-2min
10am-1min
12pm-2min
2pm-1min
5pm-2min


chameleons are happy and hydrated, and no unnecessary water mess.

22quarts last 3 weeks

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Here is a link to my setup.. Notice drainage - My Chams do not seem to be stimulated unless the misting runs for a few minutes usually more than three. I have a little concern with water sitting for three weeks. That may just be my paranoia. It is not a sealed air tight container. I assume you have not had a problem so maybe just over cautious on my part.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-setup-drainage-mister-14231/

Justin / Josh - Do you guys heat the water?

Ryan Jarosek said:

Here is a link to my setup.. Notice drainage - My Chams do not seem to be stimulated unless the misting runs for a few minutes usually more than three. I have a little concern with water sitting for three weeks. That may just be my paranoia. It is not a sealed air tight container. I assume you have not had a problem so maybe just over cautious on my part.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/my-setup-drainage-mister-14231/

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Hey Ryan,
I see you have your lllreptile cages on a table there with the plastic bottom insert but I don't see any holes in the insert? How is the water drained? It looks like you have a really nice setup.


HerpMist Mister

How fine is the mist that is produced. I looked at the video on the website. It looked pretty fine but it was hard to tell. Also how much of the mist escapes the screen cage and goes outside? My cage is very close to a wall. Would it be a good idea to put some plastic sheet on my wall to prevent water from damaging it or does the water tend to stay inside while misting?

murtasma said:

Hey Ryan,
I see you have your lllreptile cages on a table there with the plastic bottom insert but I don't see any holes in the insert? How is the water drained? It looks like you have a really nice setup.


HerpMist Mister

How fine is the mist that is produced. I looked at the video on the website. It looked pretty fine but it was hard to tell. Also how much of the mist escapes the screen cage and goes outside? My cage is very close to a wall. Would it be a good idea to put some plastic sheet on my wall to prevent water from damaging it or does the water tend to stay inside while misting?

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I have a hole in the table that holds a funnel. It sits right up to the bottom of the PVC. I did drill a few small holes to allow it to drain into the funnel then into the bucket. In the pics I may not have the holes drilled yet. I used all weather duct tape to create a sort of lip around the bottom of the PVC in the cage that prevents the water from running out the sides. I place some paper towels in the bottom to catch waste (Poop) and that also absorbs some of the water. I change the paper towels every day or two. The plants and leaves catch a lot of the water so my drainage system is a little overkill. I only have to empty the drain water every couple of weeks or so. Even then only about a 5th of the bucket is full.

The mist is very fine. Like you would see on a patio at a restaurant. Some water does escape from the cage during misting but very very little and dries really fast.

Ryan Jarosek said:

I have a hole in the table that holds a funnel. It sits right up to the bottom of the PVC. I did drill a few small holes to allow it to drain into the funnel then into the bucket. In the pics I may not have the holes drilled yet. I used all weather duct tape to create a sort of lip around the bottom of the PVC in the cage that prevents the water from running out the sides. I place some paper towels in the bottom to catch waste (Poop) and that also absorbs some of the water. I change the paper towels every day or two. The plants and leaves catch a lot of the water so my drainage system is a little overkill. I only have to empty the drain water every couple of weeks or so. Even then only about a 5th of the bucket is full.

The mist is very fine. Like you would see on a patio at a restaurant. Some water does escape from the cage during misting but very very little and dries really fast.

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Excellent thank you for the response. I can't wait to setup my misting system. If I don't have such a vigorous misting schedule as you (6 minutes) maybe I wouldn't even need drainage. I will have to watch it for a day or two closely to watch the water buildup and make sure Skittles drinks every now and then. When I do mist him by hand the water evaporates in less then 10 minutes.

I just hope he doesn't have to much of a problem with me installing the system while he is still in the cage. That little sucker is really mean and would prefer if I did not have to move him if needed.

How hard was it to install? It looks pretty easy. Do you have any pointers for installing the system?

murtasma said:

Excellent thank you for the response. I can't wait to setup my misting system. If I don't have such a vigorous misting schedule as you (6 minutes) maybe I wouldn't even need drainage. I will have to watch it for a day or two closely to watch the water buildup and make sure Skittles drinks every now and then. When I do mist him by hand the water evaporates in less then 10 minutes.

I just hope he doesn't have to much of a problem with me installing the system while he is still in the cage. That little sucker is really mean and would prefer if I did not have to move him if needed.

How hard was it to install? It looks pretty easy. Do you have any pointers for installing the system?

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It is simple you won't have any problems. Place screen cage adapter where you want it . Poke a hole. Stick nozzle through and there it is. Make sure you push the tubes in all the way.

You will love it.

I was actually glad to see my mistings isnt too different from anyone elses

9am- 2 mins (1 hour after lights on)
noon- 2 mins
3pm- 5 mins
6pm- 5 mins

i dont think long sessions or warm water is neccessary. i dont heat my water; my female didnt like the misting sessions for the first couple weeks, but now she's used to it and bathes under the nozzle now, my male always didnt mind the room temp. water. also, my chams dont need to mist to be on for a couple minutes to stimulate drinking; after a week or so they KNOW the misting schedule and will go to the nozzles prior to the session and wait for the mist. but everyone's chamys might not be like mine.

and as far as water getting outa the screen, doesnt happen, just aim the nozzles correctly and your golden. remember the normal nozzles are 80degree, so if you spraying the screen your doing somethin wrong.

and as far as water being in my resevoir for 3 weeks, i dont think its bad since i use ultra purified spring water. my problems yet.

JoshCrane1 said:

i dont think long sessions or warm water is neccessary. i dont heat my water; my female didnt like the misting sessions for the first couple weeks, but now she's used to it and bathes under the nozzle now, my male always didnt mind the room temp. water. also, my chams dont need to mist to be on for a couple minutes to stimulate drinking; after a week or so they KNOW the misting schedule and will go to the nozzles prior to the session and wait for the mist. but everyone's chamys might not be like mine.

and as far as water getting outa the screen, doesnt happen, just aim the nozzles correctly and your golden. remember the normal nozzles are 80degree, so if you spraying the screen your doing somethin wrong.

and as far as water being in my resevoir for 3 weeks, i dont think its bad since i use ultra purified spring water. my problems yet.

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Sounds good, Thanks for the info. I do warm the water using an in-line heater. I may try adjusting the schedule after some observation.

Thanks, again. I would love not to have to add water every three days.

Halleluah

I just got my HERP MIST. I am no longer sitting on my porch half awake at the crack of dawn exercising my hand. (ok that didn't sound right). spraying the chams. I got it installed yeasterday about 30 mins

Although for the first cycle dopey me made the mistake of not checking am or pm and the chams got a rude awakening at 5am and ran about 12 quarts of water through both cages. Despite running for an hour with water. pump was surprisingly cool

Misting cycle supposed to be:

0700 5 min
1000 5 min
1300 5 min
1700 5 min

I have no warming system, but I firgure the chams don't get one in the wild.

OPI

sounds good, enjoy the system, it will pay for itself in no time. time=money

murtasma said:

Do you have any live plants in your setup? I have a Ficus and I want to be sure not to over water it.

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Try a Sheflera...i mist my chameleons at least an hour a day and the plants do very well.