Water fountain possibly leaking out into enclosure

[ChamRandall]

My water fountain might be leaking out and I’m unsure if it’s leaking out or my cham is just drinking a lot of water. It seems like I have to refill it once a day or once every two days, will it affect my chameleon until I get a new one?

 

[ERKleRose]

Welcome on here! Waterfalls aren’t recommended because of how quick they turn into breeding grounds for bacteria. How often and how did you clean it? I’d not replace it and stick with misting and dripping. Since you’re new on here, could you fill out this form (in as much detail as possible, including pics of your cham, his/her entire enclosure, and your lights), please?

Here is some recommended information to include when asking for help in the health clinic forum. By providing this information you will receive more accurate and beneficial responses. It might not be necessary to answer all these questions, but the more you provide the better. Please remember that even the most knowledgeable person can only guess at what your problem may be. Only an experienced reptile veterinarian who can directly examine your animal can give a true diagnosis of your chameleon's health.


Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
• History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

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Please Note:

1. The more details you provide the better and more accurate help you will receive.
2. Photos can be very helpful.

 

[redhorse]

Can you take a picture of the water fountain and share? There are a few, not recommended due to bacterial issues.
But! Water evaporates very quick out of the smaller fountains (1/2 to cup a day).
I use to use them many years ago but had issues with crickets climbing into the tubes, then pump not working properly, then the chameleon pooping in the water.... Finally just stopped using them over time.

They do look pretty in the right set-up.

 

[ChamRandall]

I clean the fountain every two days and I used dawn soap to clean it out and a bit of vinegar to disinfect

 

[redhorse]

Well, lf that is what your doing-- maybe taking it out of container and run it so you can eliminate leaky idea.
Simple--- but if difficult to remove--- place paper towel around the bottom area and check if it leaks.
A picture would help.
Plus, if it were leaking your substrate should be wet.

 

[Beman]

Waterfountains + chameleons= bacterial issues. Not a natural or clean way for them to drink. The water consistantly recycles itself through a pump system that gets warm causing bacterial growth. Fecal or feeders falling into it compound the issue.

 

[jamest0o0]

I clean the fountain every two days and I used dawn soap to clean it out and a bit of vinegar to disinfect

I'd highly suggest you ditch the fountain for reasons mentioned above. I do think it is possible, given a full fledged filtration system(lots of time and money to set up), but even then iffy IMO.

However, if you're married to the idea of using a fountain, at least do not use dawn soap. Cleaning off birds(which didn't do much other than help their marketing) isn't the same as cleaning a drinking water fountain. Soaps leave residues which may or may not cause longterm harm to our animals. I'd suggest cleaning with only vinegar or maybe something like alcohol that will easily rinse off.

 

[redhorse]

Picture?