Wolfloveschams
New Member
Is this a problem? He never drinks off the leaves.
Cham drinking out of a water dish.
- Thread starter Wolfloveschams
- Start date
trickedoutbiker
Avid Member
how long have you had your cham?
although some will, chameleons don't typically drink out of standing water dishes (and those can be breeding grounds for all sorts of bacteria anyways, so it's best to try to avoid them if you can). some people have waterfalls, water dishes, or chameleon cantinas in their cages - all are not really recommended because as stated before, standing water is a heaven for bacteria. chameleons also (for some reason) like to leave droppings in water dishes, or at least most do from what I've researched and read about. so that's not good - like "gotwqqd" stated before, at the very least, try to make sure the water dish is as high up as possible to reduce the chance of droppings getting in it.
do you have a dripper in his cage at all? my panther chameleon will flick his tongue at the dripper hose coming through the side of his cage and take water straight out off the end of the tubing before it even drips onto his plants. I personally have a dripper dripping at all times when my cham's lights are on, dripping onto a few plants in his cage every 15-20 seconds - and I turn off the dripper valve at night. I also hand mist with a pressure mister 2-3 times a day to add humidity. these two methods combined, gives him water available to drink, whenever he wants. that's just my preference. you definitely don't want him to dehydrate. I also have an automatic mister, set on a timer, that I use when I am not home for long periods during the day and can't be home to manually hand mist.
although some will, chameleons don't typically drink out of standing water dishes (and those can be breeding grounds for all sorts of bacteria anyways, so it's best to try to avoid them if you can). some people have waterfalls, water dishes, or chameleon cantinas in their cages - all are not really recommended because as stated before, standing water is a heaven for bacteria. chameleons also (for some reason) like to leave droppings in water dishes, or at least most do from what I've researched and read about. so that's not good - like "gotwqqd" stated before, at the very least, try to make sure the water dish is as high up as possible to reduce the chance of droppings getting in it.
do you have a dripper in his cage at all? my panther chameleon will flick his tongue at the dripper hose coming through the side of his cage and take water straight out off the end of the tubing before it even drips onto his plants. I personally have a dripper dripping at all times when my cham's lights are on, dripping onto a few plants in his cage every 15-20 seconds - and I turn off the dripper valve at night. I also hand mist with a pressure mister 2-3 times a day to add humidity. these two methods combined, gives him water available to drink, whenever he wants. that's just my preference. you definitely don't want him to dehydrate. I also have an automatic mister, set on a timer, that I use when I am not home for long periods during the day and can't be home to manually hand mist.
AlienCreeper
Member
Yeah my guy had a small water dish/water fall that I tried out for a few days. The very first day he aimed his droppings right at it and missed by about a 1/4th of an inch, the next day he got his target as well as the third day. I took the hint and removed it from his cage lol. 
trickedoutbiker
Avid Member
Yeah my guy had a small water dish/water fall that I tried out for a few days. The very first day he aimed his droppings right at it and missed by about a 1/4th of an inch, the next day he got his target as well as the third day. I took the hint and removed it from his cage lol.
yea I don't know why they tend to do that, but that tends to be most chameleon nature.
oneillchameleons
Established Member
I've always use a mister and a dripper. I've only seen my chams drink about three times, usually after a female lays, but it gives me peace of mind to know they have options for hydration.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
It could be that his previous keeper (breeder, wholesaler, pet shop) had water dishes in his setup and he learned it was a place to drink from. Sometimes if a cham is extremely thirsty and searching for water they discover that the dish has some. As long as you can keep the water source clean its technically OK. You may help encourage him to start licking foliage by providing little pools of water in large fake leaves nestled horizontally in his cage foliage. Keep misting the foliage so there are lots of water droplets available. He may or may not switch.
Wolfloveschams
New Member
thanks guys! I do mist 4 times a day and have a dripper going down some leaves all day except for when I turn the light out at night. Also, I am having a tough time keeping in the heat. He is in a screen cage. I have had him for about 2 weeks now. I live in PA and we are going through an "arctic blast" right now so it is 14 degrees during the day and below zero at night. Any suggestions?
oneillchameleons
Established Member
Turn on your furnace. Set thermostat to 72 degrees lol. I'm in Alberta and winter is one big arctic blast. Its -14 Fahrenheit here right now. has never really had an effect on them (but I do constantly worry about my furnace going out) I also have a humidifier in the furnace, and raise mistings/humidifier during the driest months.
Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
As long as the room doesn't get colder than about 50 F at night he'll be OK as long as he can bask every morning. If he gets too cold he'll spend a lot more time right under the basking light. Watch for any discoloration along the top of his spine and casque. A cham can get burned from sitting under one intensely focused hot light too long. A second lower watt bulb could help moderate the cage temps so he uses more of it and doesn't sit in one hot spot too long. You could drape a towel or sheet over the cage or add sheet plastic to slow down heat loss.
Avkidd1980
Member
I do this too! But only for the satisfaction that I can actually see him drinking. He does not always let me but seems to appreciate it when he does.
