The other side of the coin is the consumer's ability to distinguish between valid information and verbal jetsam. I'm afraid "poorly supported" information is an unavoidable by-product of an open system. I teach my younger students to not believe anything until they have cross referenced for...
I have experienced the following situation:
1) a few perlite bits that where covered with rocks "reemerged" after some serious rainfall.
2) I witnessed a male hoenelii shooting said perlite bits.
3) He passed the bits without issue.
Perlite really has no business being anywhere near...
Tap water is not automatically bad. Not all tap water is heavily mineralised or alkaline like mine. If you just need the chlorine removed, then get an inexpensive brita type activated carbon filter. Or for cheaper-in-the-long run, an undersink carbon filter. This will make quality tap water...
If your animal is badly dehydrated, then I would not worry about tap water or chlorine. Get him into a misting or raining shower situation with 100% percent humidity. Offer him feeder insects that are fat with wet gutload. Try to keep the temps high 70's - low 80's. He will need a few days...
In their ideal world, chameleons drink and are washed by essentially "pure" water with a pH of ~5.4. This comes to them as rain and dew. I like to provide water as close to this natural state as possible. This is not just drinking water that goes straight to their stomachs. Chameleons use...