Even when hydration is an issue... I don't "Shower" my Chams anymore... I realized how
incredibly wastefull it was... and we do not need to be wasteing our supply of fresh water more than necessary. I have drainage system on my Cage Rack that allows me to spray the cages as much as needed for any amount of time without flooding. So if I think extra hydration is needed, I don't have to take the cham out into a noisy shower, which stresses them out everytime. I use a pump hand pressure sprayer that I fill with water give it several pumps and hang it pointing into the cage and walk away. It takes about 5-7 minutes for the 44 oz in the sprayer to run out and then I refill it and do it again, I do have to occasionally come and give a few more pumps for pressure. It is the same as a shower, except they don't have to leave their cage... I am not wasteing rediculous amounts of water, and because it is less stressfull, I think it is more effective at hydrating them than a loud hectic shower head(a stressed cham won't drink). If you don't have a drainage system on your cage, you can temporarily move the cage to the bath tub, but don't use the shower head... Use a hand sprayer...And give the needed extended misting by spraying in the tub (just fill, pump for pressure, put on continuos spray, set on the edge of the bath tub, come back in a few minutes to repump and fill.)
Our planets fresh water supply is crucial! Don't be wasteful please.
When we run the shower for our chams, we are told to bounce the water off the wall so that they only get misted. I would estimate less than 5% of all of the water down the drain during the shower became mist and benifitted the cham in any way... The rest is perfectly good drinking water down the drain.
OT Note: I was at the liquor store buying some brew during the crazy heat wave last month, and the store clerk was standing out in front of the store, in 100' heat, spraying the ground with a hose... I watched him carelessly spray a 3'x10' area of sidewalk for for at least 5 minutes from my car when I decided to go say something... I pulled up and said..."What are you doing?" He replied, "Spraying the leaves into the gutter." I said.."Come On Man! That is our drinking water!!! Haven't you ever heard of a BROOM!?!?!". We just don't think about what we are really doing sometimes.
Thanks for the advise.
