Haven't seen her drink

[ZPavDesign]

Since I've had my female jackson chameleon (6 days) I have yet to see her drink. I have a dripper and I mist the enclosure till it is dripping 3-5 times daily. I've also put her in the shower for 5-10 mins yesterday. She's pooped probably 3 times since I've had her and urinated twice. First time looked normal, second looked white and slightly orangish/yellow. Is there anyway I can ensure she is actually drinking? Any tricks to get her to drink? I feed her gut loaded crickets and also super worms. Is her poop cycle normal too? Pooing every other day?

Thanks in advance!
-Z

 

[ZPavDesign]

Ideas anyone?

 

[Solid Snake]

If you dont have one of these already, Id suggest investing in one:
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/outdoo...llon-translucent-polyethylene-tank-91022.html

They come in all shapes and styles, and can be found almost anywhere that has a "outdoors" section for around $15.

They can do a fine mist, all the way to a drenching rain.

Its not uncommon for a chameleon to not eat/drink for a bit shortly after being placed in a new environment. Especially if a human is around.

To ensure she is drinking, give her a LONG shower, 20-30 min is great.

The above sprayer makes this fairly easy, or you can place her in an actual shower, and bounce the shower off the wall, onto whatever you have her sitting on (ideally a plant). She WILL drink eventually.

She is likely drinking, your just not seeing her do it.

Mine will wait for 5 or so min sometimes, before actually starting to drink.

It may take longer though.

 

[ZPavDesign]

Alright cool, I'll have to go pick up one of those. Right now I'm just using a spray bottle and I have it turned to the finest mist I can get it to.

 

[skittles1234]

Since I've had my female jackson chameleon (6 days) I have yet to see her drink. I have a dripper and I mist the enclosure till it is dripping 3-5 times daily. I've also put her in the shower for 5-10 mins yesterday. She's pooped probably 3 times since I've had her and urinated twice. First time looked normal, second looked white and slightly orangish/yellow. Is there anyway I can ensure she is actually drinking? Any tricks to get her to drink? I feed her gut loaded crickets and also super worms. Is her poop cycle normal too? Pooing every other day?

Thanks in advance!
-Z

They don't urinate though. They produce urate which you should see either attached to fecal or near it but it is deposited at the same time. So when they poo they pee. Simply put lol. Do you see a white urate? If its orange in color it's a sign of dehydration. It looks like bird poo almost.

 

[Solid Snake]

The pump-style one will save you from hand cramps.

They put out a lot more water though, which is good, but can be "dangerous" for indoor setups lol.

Definitely makes misting easier though.

In my opinion, actual misting is good for humidity, and lowering temps, but not much good for promoting drinking behavior.

Actual drops of water hitting them seems to trigger something in them, to make them drink.

She is not going to like it at first, but she will settle in, and start to understand what is going on, and she will start drinking.

You dont want to blast her or anything, just try and replicate rain.
Start off with a gentle mist, and increase it to a light rain, then heavy rain, then maybe light rain again. Once she starts drinking, continue with the raining until she stops.

My jackson hardly ever drinks from a dripper, although I do keep one going.

 

[Elizadolots]

Hi!

Solid Snake gave you excellent advice. I'm going to add that I really hit the top of the cage (that wand makes it so much easier). Get that soaked and it will "rain" on the cage.

 

[PantherEnvy]

The best success with all of the excellent advice from Snake is to make sure your enclosure has good drainage.

 

[Swayne8998]

She is still getting used to you, so it is not unusual that you don't see her drink. Most chams do not prefer an audience when they drink. I agree with everyone else's advice too.

 

[ZPavDesign]

Alright awesome, I thank and appreciate you all for your input and advice. I'll have to try that and see. She didn't used to eat in front of me but after two days she started. Still won't eat from me but I just toss a couple crickets in and she goes wild. Hopfully in time I'll be able to hand feed her.

 

[Psychobunny]

When I saw this thread title I thought it had to be jacksons, they are notorious for not wanting to drink in new places.
I guess it comes from the stress of being in a different place!?

I just wanted to say, you can also get a battery opperated version of the lawn and garden sprayer for only a few extra bucks.
It will save you from having to manualy pump it.

 

[ZPavDesign]

Yeah she's being a stinker lol. Thanks for that, may have to get that one. I may just even stick with the spray bottle and wait till payday and pick up a monsoon system.