Spraying cham directly for eye health? Yes or no?

[Twitchet]

Hi there, I was told not to spray chameleons directly and not in their eyes but I'm seeing lots of people say it's good for their hydration and also most important for them to be able to clean their eyes so should I mist / spray ( with suitably warm water) the chameleon directly and not do any harm to him? I use mineral water so not chlorinated in a pressurised sprayer, I am always worried about lung infections , I know it sounds silly but is there anyway I can cause respiratory problems with the water going over or up his nose? can he breathe it in and get an RI? or is this brief shower of water safe? How many times a day/week should you spray him for eye cleaning? Is a light spray over him enough or a heavier misting? Should I spray the plants in the viv as normal and let him decide if he wants to have a shower and not spray him at all?
- I'm careful to not to let him have stagnant humid air so I obviously spike the humidity over the day and I am also aware not to drench him or subject him to spraying if he doesnt want to. Many thanks

 

[Chachi]

Most people don't know that chameleon's nose isn't like ours. They have a hole in the bottom of their mouth. Do not spray water in their mouth when they are holding it open because they could possibly aspirate the water and possibly get an infection. Google it, I'm not explaining it well.

 

[Chachi]

Sorry, that wasn't what you asked.
I sometimes shower my guys for different reasons . When I do, I point a warm temp flow of water on thE wall. I check, after it bounces off the wall, to see that it's room temp. The water gets in their eyes. They blink, move it around, flex these muscles in and out and clean it them selves if I supply the mist. I never hand hold a sprayer and spray directly in their eyes, ever. I also leave them in there for a bit so their (it has been a swollen nostril, a cut on a different ones head, loosing a nail) hurt area is clean and washed out real good. I think this would be a great way to help him clean out his eye, too

 

[cyberlocc]

I cant say if this is true for all. However my guy didnt want to be sprayed by the squirt bottle, however when I installed the Misting system, he runs into the mist at the top of the cage himself. Sometimes he runs away from it, sometimes he runs up for a drink and sometimes he runs and sits under it and gets a shower.