Strange Drinking Behavior

[Pluto_the_Panther]

I have a panther who is weird about drinking. He has a mister, fogger, and dripper that go off at the appropriate times during the day based on the chameleon academy schedule. Despite this sometimes I find my chameleon thirsty. Sometimes I offer him some water by spraying water on leaves and near his mouth. He doesn't always take it but sometimes he drinks it like he's super dehydrated. Also when he drinks he tilts his head slowly back until it is pointing upwards. I don't think it's a URI but it's just odd. He seems fine and healthy although he is a picky eater. I'm curious what you all think about this.

Pluto Drinking

• Pluto_the_Panther
• Dec 30, 2020

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi. I’m going to venture a guess that he’s trying to not aspirate the water when you squirt his face. Don’t forget that water can and will enter his nostrils. I would stop squirting like that and just continue to mist his plants away from him for at least 2 minutes, 3 times a day.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Yeah. He does the same thing if he licks the water off the leaves though.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Is there anything I could do to make sure he's getting water? I came home yesterday and he was looking really tired. Then I gave him some water which he drank and then he looked a lot better. I don't understand how between the dripper, mister, and fogger he is still dehydrated.

 

[kinyonga]

Why do you think he's dehydrated?
What color are the urates?

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Urates are white. He just looks bleh sometimes in the evening and he always drinks a bunch of water like in the video whenever he looks like this. I'd assume he's drinking the water because he's dehyrdated.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

I just realized this isn't the best video to show what I'm talking about.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

I'll upload a better one where he actually drinks later.

 

[Beman]

He is not dehydrated if the urates are white. I think you are miss interpreting what you are seeing. Your triggering his drinking response by spraying him in the face... Which IMO is not a good thing.

Maybe you should post a picture of the entire enclosure lights down so we can see if anything stands out.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Huh. I’ll post closer attention to his urates but I swear he’s thirsty. I know about the drinking response thing but he seeks the water when I spray near him. That video makes it look like I just spray him in the face and then he licks the water off his face. That’s my bad. He does in fact lick water on his own off leaves near him.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

I can’t post a pic till tonight.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

I found this photo. Wrong angle though.

 

[Beman]

Urates and the eye turrets are a direct way to tell if a cham is dehydrated. White urates mean totally hydrated. I think it is more likely that he is used to you doing this with the spray bottle and now responds the way he has been conditioned to.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Sometimes his turrets look a bit off. I’m going to pay close attention to his next urate. He doesn’t always want the water though. Sometimes he seems fine and doesn’t want it.

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

Sometimes he goes to sleep 30 min before his lights go off. On those days he usually wants it

 

[Pluto_the_Panther]

I’ll stop giving him water if you think he doesn’t need it. I just noticed a correlation between him looking lethargic and him accepting the water. Maybe it’s just cause he’s tired. Idk.

 

[Flick boy]

Sometimes he goes to sleep 30 min before his lights go off. On those days he usually wants it

My girl makes her way to her bed long b4 the lights go off so as she can feel safe and settle for the night. Could you please fill out a husbandry form so as the good members on here could see if anything is missing thks. Chameleons can be shy drinkers if urates and eyes are good thats a plus

 

[Beman]

What uvb are you running and what is the distance to basking? Looks like a double T5 fixture that shares one reflector is that correct?

 

[kinyonga]

I’ll stop giving him water if you think he doesn’t need it. I just noticed a correlation between him looking lethargic and him accepting the water. Maybe it’s just cause he’s tired. Idk.

There's no problem with giving him water if he wants it...it's how you're doing it. Don't spray him in the mouth or face.

 

[QuinnieLeeBlu]

Just make sure your chameleon doesn’t get dehydrated!