drip/misting system
- Thread starter kelso
- Start date
chambabysitter1
New Member
A dripper is supplemental to misting, and doesn't need to be used as long as good misting is applied.
What kind of species do you have? That will help people decide how long you should mist for.
What kind of species do you have? That will help people decide how long you should mist for.
cushcameleon
New Member
If I were you I would use all 8 cycles. Chams can easily dehydrate so its better to be safe then sorry. I set my first cycle a little before the lights go on (to mimic morning dew) and my last cycle is put on about an hour before the lights go out (that way the cham can get a last drink if needed and the hour spacing before the lights goes out, allows the cage to completely dry before bedtime). Here is a breakdown of my 8 cycles; notice that from cycles 3-7 I have mistings every hour, I do this because I noticed this is the time when my chameleons tend to drink the most. Your cycles should match the drinking behaviors of your cham.
1) 8 am
2) 11 am
3) 1 pm
4) 2 pm
5) 3 pm
6) 4 pm
7) 5 pm
8) 7 pm
You need to answer this question in order to get a better estimate of how long you should set your 8 cycles for. Chameleons that need more humidity will need longer misting sessions.
1) 8 am
2) 11 am
3) 1 pm
4) 2 pm
5) 3 pm
6) 4 pm
7) 5 pm
8) 7 pm
You need to answer this question in order to get a better estimate of how long you should set your 8 cycles for. Chameleons that need more humidity will need longer misting sessions.
chambabysitter1
New Member
You mist your chameleon in the middle of the night?
cushcameleon
New Member
toddmkeller
Avid Member
Cush,
is your cage getting COMPLETELY dry between mistings? What can happen is if the cage stays wet all the time you have a lot higher chance of bacterial issues. Also if the humidity levels being too high can cause URI's. I would recommend two long cycles one in the morning and one in the evening, and one or two 5 min cycles in the middle of the day. This will ensure your cage dries out.
See Ya,
Todd
is your cage getting COMPLETELY dry between mistings? What can happen is if the cage stays wet all the time you have a lot higher chance of bacterial issues. Also if the humidity levels being too high can cause URI's. I would recommend two long cycles one in the morning and one in the evening, and one or two 5 min cycles in the middle of the day. This will ensure your cage dries out.
See Ya,
Todd
cushcameleon
New Member
Yes it completely dries out. Each of my cycles are set for about 45 sec to 1 minute (it varies). I do so because I have to keep the humidity very high for my montane chams, but also because in the Vegas heat and dry air my cage dries out very fast. Thats why I also had to add a humidifier.
cushcameleon
New Member
I made a typo kelso
. First misting starts at 8 a.m. and the second starts at 7 p.m. in the original post I forgot to change some of the a.m. to p.m
toddmkeller
Avid Member
...
Cush,
I can understand with the low humidity your cage completely drying out with that short of cycles. For montane species (I have two mellers) I have two 30 Minute cycles. A cham that requires a lot of water can't really get enough to drink with a short mist cycle like you described especially considering the whole cage is drying out in less than an hour. I would recommend a dripper if you plan on using cycles that are only a minute long.
See Ya,
Todd
Cush,
I can understand with the low humidity your cage completely drying out with that short of cycles. For montane species (I have two mellers) I have two 30 Minute cycles. A cham that requires a lot of water can't really get enough to drink with a short mist cycle like you described especially considering the whole cage is drying out in less than an hour. I would recommend a dripper if you plan on using cycles that are only a minute long.
See Ya,
Todd
cushcameleon
New Member
I also frequently disinfect and the cages are full screen and have a fan above to provide superior airflow.
chambabysitter1
New Member
Don't alot of chameleons need to be sufficiently misted for a few minutes before they are stimulated to drink?
I think it would be wise to take the advice of a keeper with real experience. Todd's knowledge is based off previous experience, not speculation of reading sources.
I think it would be wise to take the advice of a keeper with real experience. Todd's knowledge is based off previous experience, not speculation of reading sources.
cushcameleon
New Member
Well I have a carpet and rudis, they are very small and don't drink a whole lot in one sitting. Since their smaller they can dehydrate faster (they can't store as much water as a big meller), this is why I keep a relatively constant flow of water throughout the day. The humidifier also adds water to the leaves. The cages are small, so it does not take very long to thoroughly mist it down. I will look further into my misting session durations, your suggestions will be seriously taken into mind. Thank you
cushcameleon
New Member
Thanks for the looking out chambabysitter
. Could someone with a panther answer kelso's question about humidity?
summoner12
Avid Member
At the meeting this weekend we talked about misting. A person Dr. Greek knew would take his chams outside and mist them with the garden sprinkler for long periods of time and noticed the chams flushing their eyes.
I witnessed Henry on Sunday taking a soak under the mister... time was almost up (15 minutes of misting) and because he seemed very involved in drinking and cleaning his eyes I left the misters on for longer. In fact I ran it for a good 25-30 minutes and he just sat there soaking it all in. This might be because he is starting to shed...
Sorry went off on a tangent.. I meant to say, longer is better. I say, if you have a mister and a way to drain the water, 10-15 maybe 20 minutes twice or three times a day. I think two long mists, one in the AM and one early afternoon for 15-20 minutes is good. Since the Mist King has the ability to mist multiple times, do a in between mist for when its hot and dry.
I witnessed Henry on Sunday taking a soak under the mister... time was almost up (15 minutes of misting) and because he seemed very involved in drinking and cleaning his eyes I left the misters on for longer. In fact I ran it for a good 25-30 minutes and he just sat there soaking it all in. This might be because he is starting to shed...
Sorry went off on a tangent.. I meant to say, longer is better. I say, if you have a mister and a way to drain the water, 10-15 maybe 20 minutes twice or three times a day. I think two long mists, one in the AM and one early afternoon for 15-20 minutes is good. Since the Mist King has the ability to mist multiple times, do a in between mist for when its hot and dry.
cushcameleon
New Member
Ok, I'm working on revising it now. Thanks for the help everyone.
summoner12
Avid Member
Run it for 15-20 minutes two times a day.... if you notice its dry... put one or two small sprinkles into the mix. don't make the second long misting too late, you wanna give your guy a chance to bask and dry off before night time.
