Along with what you said, which I 100% agree, I think chameleons are such sensitive creatures and each one needs just slightly different needs.
All reptiles are high maintenance. Chameleons DEFINITELY being the most high maintenance. And like you said, there isn’t a lot of scientific funding. Who knows what is actual “fact” anymore.
And all because of this, that’s why I do trial and error with my boy. Like I know increased humidity has helped my boy, so I go for it. But for others like
@Mawtyplant , not doing a thing different may have helped.
It’s a lot of trial and error and personal experience.
I have huge respect for Petr Necas and the research he is doing in the field. It is invaluable. That said just because they survive in the wild one way does not necessarily mean that that is optimal care.
He says they shouldn't get showers to remove sheds because it can increase bacterial growth and the possibility of infections and that they don't get a lot of daytime humidity and there are only two rainy seasons per year when they would get daytime moisture and they tend to hide in the vegetation during the rains. Night time humidity is 90-100%. All great observations and good to know.
In the wild they usually only live to be two years old, just enough time to reproduce.
My personal in captivity observation is my chameleon will avoid the mister spray unless he is about to shed and than he will make an effort to get into it.
So I apply Petr's ideas by not having high humidity and high heat at the same time. All showers and long mistings are done at lights on or just before lights off. I do short mistings just to provide water for drinking midday because I can improve on nature by providing a drinking opportunity with out much humidity increase. If I had an automated reliable dripper that would be better. I use the fogger at night when it's cool to get the high humidity and replicate nature.
I give a couple hand showers a week to make sure their eyes are getting cleaned. Their eyes are unique specialized structures and I believe require maintenance as they are quite vulnerable.
This is just how I do it. Seems to be working but I just changed from the old traditional system a couple months ago.
@todd2010 you should look at
@kinyonga 's old posts she links a lot of good references
i let you the entire quote of Petr,
Petr Necas Often, people ask: “What should I do when my chameleon is shedding?”
And often, many people rush with good advices like:
“Increase humidity!”
“Spray the enclosure!”
“Spray with warm water!”
All these recommendations are uncritically parroted for ages.
And, they all are totally WRONG.
WHY?
Increased humidity brings problems for shedding once it is in process!!!
In chameleons, unlike e.g. in snakes, the old skin gets separated from the new one by AIR LAYER.
So, if you increase the humidity or even spray, the old skin gets glued to the new one and the shedding process gets stuck!
On Contrary:
Keep the humidity low when the shedding happens, it is over in several hours.
Never spray chameleon with warm water! You will burn him! Warm perceived by humans is around 110F, even lukewarm is at our body-temperature at 98,6F: that is too high for a Chameleon!
Only in case the old shed gets stuck, make it moist with cold (room temperature) water and remove mechanically!
Never use any oil nor vaseline to do so! It is useless, it can be harmful! Water does the job best, easiest, most natural way!
Some people will object: but I was advised so for long time.
OK, please ignore it! We were also told for centuries, our earth is flat and people saying it was round were crucified...
Some people will object: but I spray my chameleon and it sheds!
OK, then please understand, he/she is shedding not BECAUSE you spray but DESPITE OF your spraying and you are lucky that it does not cause problems.
So,
“WHAT TO DO, once I notice my Chameleon is shedding?”
Do nothing!
Do not spray on him!
Do not spray the enclosure!
Do Not increase humidity!
Let him/her get rid of the old skin.
Personally i have no shedding problem, only had some shedding problem due to a fungus infection but this is another story!
but the showering method im really not sure about it.. this seem more stressfull than helpfull
ps.. as some of you notice.. im not anglophone! so sorry for my writting accent!
