colin ladegaard
New Member
How often and how long and also I have read it is bad to mist my Cham while misting the cage is this true?
Misting the cage
- Thread starter colin ladegaard
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jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
Your question has no definitive answer. It depends on many, many factors that are all interconnected: species, ambient humidity, cage (screen versus solid sides), furnishings (living plants versus non-living), ambient temp/humidity of the room and temp inside the cage, lighting (basking bulbs or not), and on an on and on.
For example, a panther will require a different overall humidity level than a quadricornis and a different approach to humidity levels. A quadricornis in my chameleon room requires a different misting schedule/amount than a quad housed 10 feet away in the main part of my house.
Everything "depends" and there are no pat answers. Care sheets mean little if you don't have a grasp of the natural history of the species so you can understand the "why" behind suggestions. How can you provide for an animal if you don't understand the climate, etc., where they developed? Bear in mind, also, that climate has changed dramatically in the past 20,000 years. The western escapement of the Arabian Peninsula where Veiled chameleons originate is a dry, harsh albeit often humid area. The Arabian Peninsula was lush 20,000 years ago, nothing like it is today. Chameleons would be better served if more people approached chameleon keeping as a puzzle that needed to be solved rather than relying on a "one size fits all" answer.
Figuring out a species is an education that is both interesting and frustrating.
To answer your question, in general, most people keep their chameleons far too dry and basically in desert habitats. Any time I see a cage with no drainage pan on top of a wood table or carpet, I KNOW that animal cannot be getting enough humidity and water.
ChameleonTide
Member
Well tell me what my misting schedule should be. I have a veiled cham. In a 4 foot by 2 foot all screen cage that has a good bit of foliage inside.
I just set up my Mistking yesterday. I set it for a daily mist of 8 am (30 secs) 1pm (45 secs) 5pm (25 secs) and then a once a week rain on Sunday around 11:15 am for 3 minutes.
I just set up my Mistking yesterday. I set it for a daily mist of 8 am (30 secs) 1pm (45 secs) 5pm (25 secs) and then a once a week rain on Sunday around 11:15 am for 3 minutes.
etclement
Established Member
I have a Veiled. He is in a 2x2x4 screen cage with tons of foliage and no sides covered. I mist 3 mins at 7:00, 3 mins at 4:00, 2 mins at 7:00 and 3 mins at 8:00. The humidity stays around 60% for me.
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jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
Not enough. He should have once or twice a day of misting for at least three minutes plus many other shorter periods just to to humidify the cage.
