Quick ? about misting..

[vgaines]

I have read in several threads that you should not directly mist your chameleon because it may cause respiratory problems . Well, every time I start misting Rebels enclosure he leaves where ever he is and comes over and stands where the water will hit him and he drinks. When hes done he walks away. I have also seen him drink from the dripper by shooting out his tongue from the other side of his cage. Should I move the mist when he comes over or let him decide when he has had enough. I know this is a silly question and I tend to be over protective but I really want to do whats best for my boy.

His droppings look great.. brownish black with bright white on one end..

Thanks so much

 

[carol5208]

if he likes it then let him stay under the mist. Just don't every spray directly into his mouth or down his throat and you should be ok.

 

[vgaines]

if he likes it then let him stay under the mist. Just don't every spray directly into his mouth or down his throat and you should be ok.

Thanks... I never directly spray his mouth or directly down his throat. I just mist the plants and vines and he comes directly over to stand under the mist.

 

[Yamajee]

Yeah my chameleon does the same he would just stand there and I'd mist him, he likes it! just don't do what carol5208 said.

 

[Olimpia]

I use a Mistking and all my chameleons will walk over and stand directly in line of the nozzle, with their eyes closed, just soaking and drinking. They love getting right into the mist at least once or twice a day.

If he's walking into it you don't have to stop doing what you're doing, he knows where he is comfortable or not. It's just nice not to surprise a chameleon with water by spraying them directly with cool water if they don't see it coming, usually no one likes that and will walk away. But usually if they see a nice misting going on they will wander over and drink from the spray.

The respiratory thing comes from small hatchlings, typically, who are small enough where small droplets could clog their nostrils and they could aspirate water. I've never noticed it to be an issue when raising babies but that's the worry, anyway. It's not something I think about when misting older chameleons, personally, since they seem pretty competent at coordinating breathing and swallowing respectively.