still water??
- Thread starter leela
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CammieNLeno
New Member
I recommend that you break this habit, it is not a wise idea to have them drink from a bowl as stale water sitting there is breeding grounds for bacteria, things that accelerate this is your little girl pooping in the water, crickets/other feeders drowning and floating around.. etc. It is more trouble than it is worth, as you will need to constantly disinfect, clean, replace, refill, etc over and over.
Pick up a misting system and have it set on a timer, it will alleviate this bad habit you have put into place.
Alot of the times people never really observe their chams drink in front of em, but it happens. I had a male jackson that i NEVER EVER saw drink in front of me, yet for the 1.5 years I had him, he was never dehydrated. My panther will instantly start to drink the moment i start misting, so it all depends on the cham and his/her comfort level with you watching them drink.
Pick up a misting system and have it set on a timer, it will alleviate this bad habit you have put into place.
Alot of the times people never really observe their chams drink in front of em, but it happens. I had a male jackson that i NEVER EVER saw drink in front of me, yet for the 1.5 years I had him, he was never dehydrated. My panther will instantly start to drink the moment i start misting, so it all depends on the cham and his/her comfort level with you watching them drink.
leela
New Member
i didnt make her drink from it to start with. i had a dripper system in place with a collecting bowl undeneath when it was full she went down and started drinking from it? now im worried that if i dont provide the bowl she will refuse to drink from plants?? can anyone else help??
CammieNLeno
New Member
"anyone else" that is going to help is going to tell you the same thing, but since i don't think you want to hear it from me
ill just let them all chime in below
Amy J
New Member
I totally agree with CammieNLeno. Since this is a collecting dish I can't imagine the water is very clean. The key with keeping chameleons is cleanliness. The cleaner the water the better. A water dish can be dangerous if not kept constantly clean. If you have seen your chameleon drink of plants at all, this is more often than some people. Like CammieNLeno said, she probably drinks when you are not looking. It is highly unlikely that she will refuse to drink if you take away the water dish. You cannot guarantee that the water is constantly clean, so it is a dangerous habit to get into keeping one. Have you tried letting the water drip into the pots of your plants?
Electric
New Member
I wouldn't worry about the animal 'refusing' to drink off plants. She might not drink for a few days because what she was used to dissapeared all of a sudden, but when she feels the need for water, weather she 'likes' drinking off plants or not, she will drink.
it's like a kid refusing to eat his vegetables, he might be stubborn and starve himself a day or two, but eventually he won't have a choice and is going to give in because he and his body knows they need it. (i guess the kid could get away with eating other things to not starve but you get the point lol)
it's like a kid refusing to eat his vegetables, he might be stubborn and starve himself a day or two, but eventually he won't have a choice and is going to give in because he and his body knows they need it. (i guess the kid could get away with eating other things to not starve but you get the point lol)
leela
New Member
i dont have pots in my cage put since my chameleon injured herself i cant put the bowl in my cage. so i have been dropping drops of water in her mouth thats fine. by the way this is for chamieNLeno. why if i want to ask people for help it starts in to a massive argument that is hurtfull. my chameleon nearly died last week because of me i dont need this. i just asked for an answer off someone else. not YOU!!
do you perhaps have a pic of how you have your enclosure set up so that we can get a better idea of what it looks like.
i wouldn't worry to much about her refusing to drink. just make sure to mist,and keep the bowl dry. i would probably put a towel(from the dollar store) so that it is cheap and you can just throw it out daily,in there to get the water out and keep it clean.
i have heard that panthers can go some time with out water. so i wouldn't be too worried about it.
i wouldn't worry to much about her refusing to drink. just make sure to mist,and keep the bowl dry. i would probably put a towel(from the dollar store) so that it is cheap and you can just throw it out daily,in there to get the water out and keep it clean.
i have heard that panthers can go some time with out water. so i wouldn't be too worried about it.
i just thought of something you could put like a guard on the top. small chicken wire(with no rough edges) perhaps wrap it all the ay around so she can't push it off. that way she can't get her tongue in there to drink.
dunno trying to think out loud here. are her urates white?
dunno trying to think out loud here. are her urates white?
JoshCrane1
New Member
remove the bowl, or put a net over top like i did.
royden
New Member
I also had a drip catcher pan for several months when I was working out my setup. I put a screen over it and that kept feeders and the cham out of it. However, in the end it was all just a huge mess of splashing water, and refilling a tiny dripper every day, and cleaning out the pan every day. And poop on the screen.
Just throw it all out.
Buy a misting system. (ProMist is frigging awesome)
Work out a drainage system - (tons of examples on this forum)
It'll be the best thing you ever did. My feeders are currently more work then my chameleon.
Just throw it all out.
Buy a misting system. (ProMist is frigging awesome)
Work out a drainage system - (tons of examples on this forum)
It'll be the best thing you ever did. My feeders are currently more work then my chameleon.
from your post there are a few things that need to be changed immediately.
you need a screened enclosure the glass one isn't very good for chams at all.
also the leaves should be all around the enclosure so that she can climb on them.in the wild chams are tree dwellers so in captivity that is what needs to be mimicked.
put a dripper on top that will go onto the vines. on the bottom of the enclousre really all you need is a few paper towels to absorb when you mist.
another issue with the glass is they don't get the fresh air that they need to be healthy.
how long have you had your cham?
you need a screened enclosure the glass one isn't very good for chams at all.
also the leaves should be all around the enclosure so that she can climb on them.in the wild chams are tree dwellers so in captivity that is what needs to be mimicked.
put a dripper on top that will go onto the vines. on the bottom of the enclousre really all you need is a few paper towels to absorb when you mist.
another issue with the glass is they don't get the fresh air that they need to be healthy.
how long have you had your cham?
leela
New Member
woah woah woah.... to start with please dont think im cruel to my chameleon guys. she is 5 months old and has recently injured her back badly she has very little movement in her back legs and im doing physio on her daily hense im not allowed to let her climb atall. it was her climbing that she fell and hurt herself. her tarrarium has mesh at the top so there is ventilation. i need some ideas so as to give her water. at the moment im droppping droplets of water into her mouth.
DulcyDoll
New Member
Did you take her to the vet?
Still, substrate is not a good thing for Chams to have in their enclosure, while trying to eat, she may accidently injest some of it and become impacted, which is FAR worse than having to rid the cage of substrate. You can still have vines and such in her cage for her to drink from. Have one going from the top, to the bottom that the water can drip down, she will be stimulated to drink when she see's the movement.
Would you consider your house well ventilated with only one window? i dont think so, she really needs a screen cage, the more ventilation the better. If you ask for help, be prepared to hear everyones opinions on everything. If you are doing something not in the chams best interest, people will let you know, take their advice.
Still, substrate is not a good thing for Chams to have in their enclosure, while trying to eat, she may accidently injest some of it and become impacted, which is FAR worse than having to rid the cage of substrate. You can still have vines and such in her cage for her to drink from. Have one going from the top, to the bottom that the water can drip down, she will be stimulated to drink when she see's the movement.
Would you consider your house well ventilated with only one window? i dont think so, she really needs a screen cage, the more ventilation the better. If you ask for help, be prepared to hear everyones opinions on everything. If you are doing something not in the chams best interest, people will let you know, take their advice.
leela
New Member
i bought a chameleon cage so that ends that. if your chameleon fell and started dragging its back legs would you take it to the vets??? of course i did. i repeat.. i cant put ANYTHING in the cage she can climb up ok? i am using a towel for the bottom of the cage to drag herself along easier. can anyone answer my question without commenting on anything else please?????
CarolenRunsen
New Member
I hope your chameleon gets better, sad to hear it had a nasty fall. Sorry if you take offence to anything these people say, but everyone hear just really cares about chameleons and wants every one of them to live a great life. They are only giving sudgestions to help you, and your chameleon not to attack you or anything.
I think those before me answered your question. Stick with misting, and a drip system. If you need a bowl at the bottom of the cage put a screen (or something) over it. Its their instinct to drink from plant leaves so I'm sure it will have no problem getting used to it.
Hope your little one gets better, follow up and let us know how everything is going.
I think those before me answered your question. Stick with misting, and a drip system. If you need a bowl at the bottom of the cage put a screen (or something) over it. Its their instinct to drink from plant leaves so I'm sure it will have no problem getting used to it.
Hope your little one gets better, follow up and let us know how everything is going.
chamlover
New Member
Hi Leela,
I think you may be taking things the wrong way. Nobody is attacking you. You asked for help and everyone, in their own way is just trying to answer it. We don't know how experienced you are with your cham and that is why some people might be quick to point several things out to you that they think is wrong. And you would be surprised how many owners self-medicate their chams instead of bringing them to the vets. This is the nicest forum i have ever had the pleasure to be a part of and even though i am somewhat experienced i continue to learn from everyone here. I think it is great that you are going through such extremes to help your cham, that is great to hear. Next time you might want to point that stuff out in the beginning that way you won't have anyone saying something that is unnecessary. How did your cham fall? And how long did your vet say he had to not climb? And why? Just curious. As far as the water goes i agree that it is best not to have him drinking out of the bowl. I have one in some of my cages that don't have a drainage system yet and i can't tell you how many times i empty them with poop and dead crickets in them. Now if you are home all the time and willing to check on it constantly and then clean and sanitize that is one thing, but the best way to make sure he doesn't drink what he shouldn't is not provide it. Put a lid of some sort on it so he can't drink from it, he will drink from the leaves. Put a small bunch of leaves down on the floor, most likely plastic, and mist those. If you mist them, he will drink!!
Good luck with your buddy,
Debby
I think you may be taking things the wrong way. Nobody is attacking you. You asked for help and everyone, in their own way is just trying to answer it. We don't know how experienced you are with your cham and that is why some people might be quick to point several things out to you that they think is wrong. And you would be surprised how many owners self-medicate their chams instead of bringing them to the vets. This is the nicest forum i have ever had the pleasure to be a part of and even though i am somewhat experienced i continue to learn from everyone here. I think it is great that you are going through such extremes to help your cham, that is great to hear. Next time you might want to point that stuff out in the beginning that way you won't have anyone saying something that is unnecessary. How did your cham fall? And how long did your vet say he had to not climb? And why? Just curious. As far as the water goes i agree that it is best not to have him drinking out of the bowl. I have one in some of my cages that don't have a drainage system yet and i can't tell you how many times i empty them with poop and dead crickets in them. Now if you are home all the time and willing to check on it constantly and then clean and sanitize that is one thing, but the best way to make sure he doesn't drink what he shouldn't is not provide it. Put a lid of some sort on it so he can't drink from it, he will drink from the leaves. Put a small bunch of leaves down on the floor, most likely plastic, and mist those. If you mist them, he will drink!!
Good luck with your buddy,
Debby
