Questions Questions Questions!

[camchem]

Hello All,

Just got a few questions regarding cleaning and maintenance:

What do you all do for waste management, what are the urine/fecal matter like, where does it usually go, do you usually have to immediately remove it, all the good stuff.

In regards to misting, doesn't all the water eventually end up at the bottom of the enclosure, so would you need a drainage tray and constantly empty it?

If the fecal matter gets deposited onto the tray and it gets moist from all the misting, does it smell?

I just want to get all the facts straight and see how much work its going to be before I decide to take the leap forward. As always, thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[Duhjoker]

I don't know about your other questions I'm still a Newb but I can answer you that yes all the water ends up on the bottom of the cage so proper drainage preparation should be done.

My cage came with a White PVC bottom to which I drilled a couple hundred holes into with a 3/32 drill bit. I did it in a starburst pattern. You can make a drainage stand to which you can put your cage on quite easily and cheaply. I took a 3/4 inch piece of ply wood and cut it to the dimensions of the bottom of the cage then I took three 1x2's and made a u shape on the plywood and screwed it together. Now I can put a tray under the cage to catch the extra water as it filters through and empty it easily.

The drill bit size is a lil crucial. If you feed using crickets or some kind of mealy worm you won't want them escaping so lil holes are needed.

Here's a pic of my set up including my drainage platform. I've since then added more foliage but you can see the bottom where a tray can be easily added and removed.

 

[Duhjoker]

I hoped that helped and I feel like I should add that moisture buildup can build Bacteria and mold which can make your chamy sick or give breathing problems. The cage needs to be humid but any standing water should be removed.

 

[kplatvoet]

Chameleons don't poop more than once or twice a day when they are young and less when they are older- and it's pretty easy to wipe the bottom out with a paper towel - one of the reasons substrate isn't recommended -
Drainage is important
I suggest you take a look at this thread for some ideas-
https://www.chameleonforums.com/drainage-systems-cages-get-creative-102038/
Smelly poop would be a sign of a possible problem - I have 3 cages that drain into buckets underneath - I dump the water - wipe the cages and fill the mister bucket before work every day - takes me less than 1/2 hour including feeding and such - the cricket are a much bigger pain (and more smelly) -