Soaked Substrate!

[lthrbecks]

I started using a little dripper water dispenser today, it holds 2ltrs. Unfortunately, i didnt realise, that the majority of water, was inadvertently falling into the peat moss and substrate below! Its obviously too late to do anything about it now. I've 'forked and prodded' the substrate to try and disperse the waterlog.

Anything else i can do?

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

Mark

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Isn't there drainage or water balls under the peat? What is under the peat?

 

[lthrbecks]

Glass bottom base. The humidity should eventually dry it out

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Glass bottom base. The humidity should eventually dry it out

Only if it's lack of humidity.

You might try burying some water balls (or equiv.) or a sponge under the peat.
If it were me, I'd probably remove the whole substrate shebang & start over―but that's me.
Someone else may have a better suggestion.

 

[MissSkittles]

Do you have a bioactive set up?

 

[Pickle-cham]

Humidity will add too it, it will evaporate, you need a drainage on substrate to prevent swampy bio

 

[lthrbecks]

Trust me, if it doesn't dry up by the weekend i might remove it. Its only its a planted vivarium that's putting me off! ?

 

[MissSkittles]

Stealing the diagram from @GoodKarma19 on setting up bioactive layers for drainage. You’ll have to periodically drain the excess water thru the pvc pipe. If you don’t have a fully bioactive system, just bare floor is easiest to keep clean.
*edit...is clay balls on the very bottom

 

[lthrbecks]

That's too much like hard work! I'll just let it dry with heat and humidity.

Thank you so much for your message

 

[Beman]

That's too much like hard work! I'll just let it dry with heat and humidity.

Thank you so much for your message

If it is not set up correctly then it will just be a soggy mess consistantly. This creates a disgusting floor and much higher humidity levels in the cage that the cham has to deal with. Dirt on the floor is only recommended when it is set up properly bioactive with Cleaner crew bugs to keep the floor clean.

 

[lthrbecks]

Its only a one off error. I had misplaced the plastic container to catch the drips of water. The water dripped from a large leaf, as planned, but it then travelled along its stem on to another leaf, which I, inadvertently missed!

 

[salty dog]

A one of error...ok, should be perfect the way it is from here on out!!!! This is a very common statement....I've had 2 return cham sales, after 5&6 months because they didn't listen... chams were messed up

 

[kinyonga]

You said..."I'll just let it dry with heat and humidity"...when the air is humid the water won't evaporate into the air...the air can only hold so much water before its saturated. Dry air will accept evaporated water...until it becomes too humid/saturated....that's what @Klyde O'Scope was trying to tell you.

 

[GoodKarma19]

I just removed the substrate from my 36x18x36 bioactive enclosure after having let it sit unattended for a full month without any water at room temperature. The soil was still evenly damp to the touch.

You need some way to remove excess water, believe me. You can't just forgo misting/a dripper until things dry out. I highly recommend either removing everything, adding a drainage layer, and making a proper bioactive, or going barebottom. With a glass enclosure in particular, I personally feel that bioactive is the way to go!

 

[lthrbecks]

Whats bioactive? I don't think i can remove the substrate as its several well established plants. I'm hoping that the heat and humidity will dry it up! Its unfortunate that i didn't realise i was overlooking were the water was dripping, as in not into pot!

 

[salty dog]

The mold and fungus is what's gonna get the op chameleon, gonna result in an irreversible uri.... if you don't listen to us, you will lose your cham to infection, we are trying to help you save your chams life

 

[lthrbecks]

That's not going to be a problem as I'm disturbing the soil to ensure the moisture is evenly spread and not given a chance to grow mold or fungi

 

[Beman]

That's not going to be a problem as I'm disturbing the soil to ensure the moisture is evenly spread and not given a chance to grow mold or fungi

I don't think you understand the gravity of not having it set up correctly.... Trust the members here when they tell you this is not good enough. If you want your cham to live a long healthy life then you have to have it set up correctly. There is no "half way" in cham keeping. That is how Chameleons die.

This is a good blog on setting up bio active. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/intro-to-bio-activity.2429/

 

[lthrbecks]

I bought it from a guy who owns and runs a pet store specialising in reptiles etc. He set it up for me. I don't want to jeopardise my chameleons health.
Thanks for your message. Cheers

 

[Beman]

I am by no means trying to sound confrontational but why ask us for help if your not going to take our advice?

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

^^^^ You said this. So we tell you it is incorrect and tell you how to fix it so your chameleon is not at risk and you come back with this:

I bought it from a guy who owns and runs a pet store specialising in reptiles etc. He set it up for me. I don't want to jeopardise my chameleons health.
Thanks for your message. Cheers

If this is how your "specialist" set it up then they do not know what they are doing. But obviously you trust them more then the many many Chameleon keepers here that were trying to help you and your chameleon.

Good luck... I will take my leave from this thread now.