jamest0o0
Chameleon Enthusiast
The chameleon's tail being in the water dish over night should not be a problem IMHO. I'm not a vet and what I say comes from experiences (mine and others) and reading, etc.
When I first started keeping chameleons over 30 years ago I DID have water dishes in the cages...and chameleons DO/WILL drink out of water dishes...some even sleep in them. I always cleaned every dish out every day...but decided after a while that I didn't want to risk bacteria being a problem and quit using them. My initial reason for having them there was to also provide water for the insects in the cage.
Just for the record...chameleons also drink from water that pools in the floor of the cage...which also can carry bacteria.
Also...just for the record...I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING WATER DISHES FOR CHAMELEONS...just because of the possibilities.
Just like I've never recommended using a substrate which can also cause problems. It's often easier to prevent problems than to correct them. For years now I've felt, why risk things....give the chameleons what they need with the least risk to them.
Oh no, you had to bring up substrate. You ready to go to war with me on that subject over some dirt??
Joking! To each their own, I see benefits in substrate, but that's a whole other topic that we won't get into.