Fan for bottom of cage.

[Salty]

I have a moisture problem.
I only mist about 3 times a day... Moisture NEVER completely drys in the bottom of the cage. I can not keep up with drying it out with a towel all the time. The cham rarely ever goes to the bottom of the cage. I bought a small 6" desktop fan to clip to the outside of the cage. Thinking about mounting it outside of the cage pointing at the floor of the cage... putting a timer on it so the floor drys out a couple times durring the day and before the light goes out at night...

Small fan for drying floor good idea or bad?

 

[Hoj]

im thinking not a great idea, could you look at doing some sort of drainage instead. or larger potted plants to catch the excess water

 

[Solid Snake]

I concur.
The fan will mess with your temps and RH levels.
It could also potentially cause a "draft" situation.

What does your setup look like?
How long do you mist for?
What is the ambient RH in the room the cham is in?

 

[Salty]

I don't really mist... it's the raindome....
I usually run if for 3 to five minutes three times a day.
I have a drainage system.... the floor is still always damp.
Here is what my cage looks like...

https://www.chameleonforums.com/sneak-preview-cage-77506/

 

[Salty]

I wouldn't run the fan all of the time, just for a few minutes about a half hour after misting... just long enough to dry the floor. Then the timer will kick it off again.... It's rather small and not verry powerful....

Here is my train of thought on why I thought it would not be harmful, There are occasional gusts of wind in the wild.......

 

[Solid Snake]

The rain is going to put more water on the bottom of the cage, and less on everything else.
(nothing against it, I would prefer a "rain" myself, just sayin)

The solid sides at the bottom are going to make it harder to dry out, since the humidity is bound to stay high as there is less ventilation.

I would say that you are probably ok, as long as you do a nice cleaning every month.
It may start to damage the cage eventually if it stands too long though.

How much water do you have pooling down there?

 

[Hoj]

from what i know the rain dome keeps the rain area to about 6 inch around.
i would place a big pothos in like a 8 inch pot and place right below to catch the water, just put a drip try under the pot and empty it as needed

 

[Solid Snake]

I wouldn't run the fan all of the time, just for a few minutes about a half hour after misting... just long enough to dry the floor. Then the timer will kick it off again.... It's rather small and not verry powerful....

Here is my train of thought on why I thought it would not be harmful, There are occasional gusts of wind in the wild.......

If thats enough to dry it, it may be fine then.

It all depends on the temperature of the "gust" in comparison to the ambient temp.

Is there a way to angle the bottom towards the drainage?

 

[Salty]

The water does not pool any where.... it is just always damp. The solid pieces at the bottom are "splash guards" to help keep moisture from splashing out of the cage.... My couch and wall would get wet without them.

You know, I guess I could just mist 5 or 6 times a day for less amount of time....??

Already have 4 potted plants.... tons of vegitation

 

[Solid Snake]

I think changing the cycle times isnt going to matter much.

The splash guards are holding the RH in, and keeping it damp.
If its just sly damp, I dont see an issue, JMO.

 

[Salty]

The front of the floor was built so that it is elivated, and water naturally flows to the back..... The water does not collect any where, it's more like a morning dew all the time..

The biggest contributor to this problem is that I have a ton of foliage and light does not penitrate to the bottom of the cage.

 

[Whatcamo]

On my new free range I set up drainage to get the very best possible drainage to leave behind as little water/moister as possible but it still leaves very little behind but by morning it's completely dry which is the important thing so there is no water born bacteria breading also prevents it from becoming stagnate which stagnate water gives off airborne pathogens which could possibly make your Cham sick so I guess what in getting at is it dry by morning? If not give the bottom just a good wipe out the best you can before lights out and you should be fine!