Automated Misting Systems

[jajeanpierre]

I'm getting a new sub-adult Trioceros quadricornis in a few weeks, once he has recovered from the stress of shipping from Cameroon (or maybe Equitorial Guinea) earlier this week. He is a "farmed" chameleon, so basically a wild caught with a lot less stress at capture and holding before shipping.

He needs a lot of humidity and mistings.

I have been hand misting my veileds, but I don't think that will suit the T. quadricornis--he needs more and has more exacting requirements.

What sort of automated system would be reasonable for one or two cages?

I've got about three weeks before I'll bring him home--I need to get the set up right the first time. He's a wild caught and a very shy species, so I don't want to be mucking about with his housing.

Thanks.

 

[mvad]

Do it right the first time. Granted, it's the only one I've had, it's excellent.
http://www.mistking.com

 

[kplatvoet]

I would suggest either an aquazamp or a mistking with the rain attachment- I had a monsoon that ended up breaking and you want to go with the more reliable systems- your probable going to want to quarantine the new one for a bit but I would get one that you can eventually use with all three- though your veiled will not need the same timing - I give my Jackson extra hand watering and use a dripper and have a cool mist humidifier so she gets the extra humidity she needs.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I learned the "do it right the first time" lesson a little late... At least this time I have a good three weeks to get this right.

Is there anything out there besides the AquaZamp and the MistKing?

Is one better than the other?

Thanks.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I would suggest either an aquazamp or a mistking with the rain attachment- I had a monsoon that ended up breaking and you want to go with the more reliable systems- your probable going to want to quarantine the new one for a bit but I would get one that you can eventually use with all three- though your veiled will not need the same timing - I give my Jackson extra hand watering and use a dripper and have a cool mist humidifier so she gets the extra humidity she needs.

I ended up ordering the AquaZamp with extra nozzles.

I don't know where to put the new one. I don't think I want him in my office sharing the same air as my two resident Veileds, but at the same time I want to see him and enjoy him. My living room is too busy at night. I maybe should just do what is right for the individual animal and put him in the spare bedroom where he won't be bothered by seeing scary things--no dogs, no parrots, no people and no one watching TV or using a computer at night.

I've also ordered a new cage with solid sides and back that has a drainage pan that it sits on. I lucked out that the seller of the cage system also is very heavily involved with the species.

 

[kplatvoet]

Sounds like you got a Dragonstrand - I have one as my middle cage and it's great as you don't need a divider - I'd start out your new one in the spare room giving a quarantine time - and see how he does. If you have an outside area you can protect from birds and such when it gets warmer I found that going between the two makes it easier to clean and do any adjustments while they are enjoying some sun-

 

[jajeanpierre]

Sounds like you got a Dragonstrand - I have one as my middle cage and it's great as you don't need a divider - I'd start out your new one in the spare room giving a quarantine time - and see how he does. If you have an outside area you can protect from birds and such when it gets warmer I found that going between the two makes it easier to clean and do any adjustments while they are enjoying some sun-

How long should this new wild-caught be quarantined?

I read some articles from maybe 10 years ago about some deaths in green houses after the introduction of some Mellers chameleons. That was kind of scary. I know from the quarantining protocol of exhibition chickens that just because an animal is healthy doesn't mean it isn't carrying a pathogen that it is immune to but can transmit to my own chickens that have never been challenged by that particular bacteria/virus, and vice versa.

I would expect the same to be even more true for wild caught African chameleons--the pathogens in Cameroon are very different from the common pathogens in captive-bred American facilities.

The shop owner who imported these chameleons wasn't worried about air borne pathogens, but he's not a vet. My new one will be acclimated to captivity by the importer and not released to me until he is doing really well. I expect to get him in about three to four weeks.

Yes, I bought the largest breeder Dragonstrand cage. I had already ordered the smaller all-screen cage with laying bin for the female veiled. I'm just waiting for both to arrive. I needed a better cage for the Quadricornis than the reptibreeze to deal with the humidity it demands.

I will have a big (48" tall) spare Reptibreeze that I intend to use as an outdoor cage and rotate my chameleons through it. My house is built on a slight slope, so the back deck is about six or seven feet off the ground with a big live oak shading much of it. It is perfect for them--the chameleons can be in the top part of the cage that is a good ten feet off the ground and pretty much right inside the tree. I'm just a bit worried about how to get this new one natural sunshine since I am told they generally don't like to bask and they like cool temperatures and a lot of humidity. I'm thinking of ways to enclose one of the branches from the tree for him.

 

[kplatvoet]

Having never had a wild caught I don't know on time for quarantine.. I gave my flapneck a month but she was captive born. I also have never had a quad.. My Jackson likes the outside though .. I make sure it's not to hot out and that she has shade.. I think it will depend on how he settles in. But I don't have enough experience to really know.