DiY Drippers for less than $1ea!

For all of you trying to find a good dripping system, here is an idea. I actually have a automatic mist system, but my chams are always showing signs of being thirsty, so in order to make sure they have enough water, I wanted to have a dripping system.

The challenge, a) don't want to poke the screen on top of my cages. b) don't want to spend much on it. c) The commercially existing ones are expensive and cheesy,

So here is what you need:

1. A soft plastic container, like the ones for yogurt.
2. I bought at pet smart an air connector kit, ($5ca) The only piece you'll use is the valve with a regulating knob at the top. If you could find the valve by itself, It will be even cheaper.
3. Water

So poke a small hole on the container, and insert the longest end of the valve, make sure the hole is smaller than the with of the valve, so the valve opens it up as it is inserted. This way the hole will be tight enough not to leak.

Add water and regulate the drops as you like, I placed mine on top of the cages and right above the plants, so the cham can drink right from the leaves and the excess of water drops on the plant pot. You can add an air hose if needed to reach the spot you like.

On the last image you can see the dripper in action! If you still have questions, feel free to ask. Hope this helps.

good idea

simply poking a hole in the bottom of any plastic container will do the same thing, start with small hole, and make it bigger if you have to.

you may need to end up clearing the hole due to hard water build up

dont forget to poke a hole or "carb" in the plastic container if it has a lid so the water can be displaced with o2

That's great!
I am confused about the "less than $1" statement though.
Are there several of the valves in the kit?

-Brad

Brad Ramsey said:

That's great!
I am confused about the "less than $1" statement though.
Are there several of the valves in the kit?

-Brad

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Yeah I have the same ones, and I think there was about 4 or 5

mmm cool. I heard you can buy the individual valves at home depot I'll see If i can verify as I'm making a trip now

reyesjoshuacruz said:

simply poking a hole in the bottom of any plastic container will do the same thing, start with small hole, and make it bigger if you have to...

...dont forget to poke a hole or "carb" in the plastic container if it has a lid so the water can be displaced with o2

Click to expand...

Al tough this way you can actually control the drip, I set up mine to drip slowly, but continuously, I fill it at 3:15pm and it still running water right now (5pm).

I prefer to fill mine 2 times a day (one very early in the morning, around 6:30am, and one at night around 6pm), so i leave the container open and just fill it with a small cup.

Brad, forgot to mention, there is 5 valves on each package.

Great idea, thanks for sharing!!

If the hole you poked is too wide, you could always seal around the valve with hot glue, just a thought...I always seem to screw up these DIY ideas on the first try

You can also tape a leaf on the ceiling screen, and have a cup drip thru the screen down the leaf. My chameleons choose to drink off of leaves. I've only seen them drink off of the screen if they were for some reason really thirsty.

Have you guys ever seen a chameleon shoot his/her tongue out an inch or two, in order to catch some water...

I had my sister look over my chameleons for a couple days. One of my chameleons was so damn thirsty! When I filled his cup and it started dripping, he didnt bother climbing all the way up the vine, he just extended his tongue 1.5-2 inches out, and licked that way.

haha i do that!!!!

I put a length of hose on the end of the valve, and this hose hangs into the cage, near a perch. The chameleons drink direct from the hose.

ColorCham427 said:

Have you guys ever seen a chameleon shoot his/her tongue out an inch or two, in order to catch some water...

I had my sister look over my chameleons for a couple days. One of my chameleons was so damn thirsty! When I filled his cup and it started dripping, he didnt bother climbing all the way up the vine, he just extended his tongue 1.5-2 inches out, and licked that way.

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My dummy chameleon seems to only do it that way. I've seen him drink off plant stems a couple of times, but he's always shooting water droplets. He's still young though (4 months) hopefully he'll learn.

great idea!

Wow! That's pretty darn nifty! Thanks for the idea!

I just bought a pack of those valves at Petco. There are also some T's in there. I was thinking about using one water container with 2 hoses and 2 valves. better regulation I think/hope. I HATE the ones that come with the little drippers.

BocaJan said:

I HATE the ones that come with the little drippers.

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Currently my dripper gives me the option of waterfall or off. :/ I am going to have to make one of these later today.

Are these ' Valves ' The same as the ones that you buy for fish air pumps..? if so i have LOTS and some lil hose to go with it..

Yes, these are air connector kits, for about $5 with 5 valves in it

NewOwner said:

Are these ' Valves ' The same as the ones that you buy for fish air pumps..? if so i have LOTS and some lil hose to go with it..

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ColorCham427 said:

Have you guys ever seen a chameleon shoot his/her tongue out an inch or two, in order to catch some water.....he just extended his tongue 1.5-2 inches out, and licked that way.

Click to expand...

omegian said:

haha i do that!!!!

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Omegian - I bet the ladies love you