water fall set up

soo in a few days, im going to set up a sweet water/ water fall system, ill be sure to post pics and maybe a video, one quick question, is bamboo harmful to a panther??


chris

ps, any thoughts on a waterfall system??? let me know your ideas!

dccr1234 said:

soo in a few days, im going to set up a sweet water/ water fall system, ill be sure to post pics and maybe a video, one quick question, is bamboo harmful to a panther??


chris

ps, any thoughts on a waterfall system??? let me know your ideas!

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Bamboo is not harmful to a panther, but a waterfall could be.
Most people who keep chameleons recommend against water features in the enclosure.

-Brad

this might sound stupid and stubborn of me but why wouldent the put a waterfall in there?

From my understanding it is not good to have one for the dead bugs and poop that may get in the water. Once that happens its a breeding place for bacteria.

They are impossible to keep clean.
A chameleon is an animal that (in it's natural environment) drinks very clean water. ie: rain, dew, etc.
Having a feature in the enclosure that recycles the same water over and over is creating a harbor and breeding ground for all kinds of harmful bacteria.

Additionally, I have never met a chameleon who (when given the opportunity) could pass up pooping in water. The ramifications need no further explanation.

-Brad

AncientCritters said:

From my understanding it is not good to have one for the dead bugs and poop that may get in the water. Once that happens its a breeding place for bacteria.

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Oh yeah!
I forgot. Crickets love to commit suicide in waterfalls.

-Brad

Brad Ramsey said:

Oh yeah!
I forgot. Crickets love to commit suicide in waterfalls.

-Brad

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It is hard, being a cricket!

waterfalls=no bueno

Focus on your cham's well-being, and stick to tried and true routines that provide ultimate success. I've seem ambitious posts regarding ponds and waterfall systems, but ultimately they are a waste of time and do more harm than good.

If your thought is that it will aid in humidity . . . . In such tight quarters (a wire cage) you really can create an effective microclimate without the need for a waterfall system. That covers both humidity and climate gradient.

If your thought is that it will aid in hydration . . . . waterfall systems require a lot, I mean a lot of maintenance and clean up. It also is a breeding ground for bacteria. The systems are cumbersome and you will spend much of your time fixing, adjusting, and cleaning the damn thing. Focus on your cham. It needs water, clean water. The best way to deliver quality water to your cham is via a misting system that dries in between misting cycles.

If your thought is that it will look nice and realistic to a rainforest . . . . well it's your need not the cham's. As long as you provide a heat gradient, light spectrum, humidity, food, hydration, and cover you've done your job as a keeper.

I just realized you had some problems with a female Jackson's back in October and from what I see in pictures you had some enclosure setup "no, no's" such as substrate, glass viv, and a water dish that is brown and dirty. A typical pet store setup. Now I see you want to install a waterfall system.

Please read up on husbandry practices and see if you fall in line with recommendations? I understand that post is back in October, so things may have changed. But when I over think things, I always apply the KISS rule to myself.

KISS Principle

nateboston, no need to freak out!
i wasent sure about the waterfall so i posted it up on here, and the female jackson is doing great, i hooked her up with a fairly big screen inclosure not sure what the dementions are but its prEtty darn big

Trust me. I am not freaking out ;-)

cool cool,
any body use the habba mister
any good?

It's crap. Hand mist is better. Try searching the forum. The "habba" topic has come up numerous times before.

Nate,

Well said!

dccr1234,

Raising Chams is quite different from other reptiles, and to be successful (keep them healthy, alive, and you enjoying the experience), you need to be pretty selfless in your choices. I would suggest you read and re-read all the enclosure posts, and use the search feature on any specific questions that reading produces. This is a hobby that takes patience, and great consideration for what an animals needs are, that we have taken out of a natural balanced envireoment, and put in a cage. The best to your keeping of the little dinosours of our world!

CHEERSSS!

A dripper is a very viable (and less expensive) alternative to an automated mister for the purpose of providing clean drinking water to the chameleon in a relatively natural way.

what was the reason for wanting to put the waterfall in you viv anyway?

They look cool but can be a night mare to maintain...

Drippers are a good way to deliver water to your chams. just like sandra said. there is a thread by summoner12 (I think) who has put together a mcgyver misting system for under a 100 bucks.

Habba misters from what I read are a poor choice due to the fire hazard they pose if they run dry.

hope that helps..

OPI

I MADE a big waterfall system a long time ago with fish pumps and funnels to bring the water under the cage to recirculate, the chams used to take showers under the falling water. but wayyyy to hard to maintain, aim, not to mention a 3 foot waterfall is very annoyingly loud.

JoshCrane1 said:

I MADE a big waterfall system a long time ago with fish pumps and funnels to bring the water under the cage to recirculate, the chams used to take showers under the falling water. but wayyyy to hard to maintain, aim, not to mention a 3 foot waterfall is very annoyingly loud.

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I bet it look damn cool though...LOL

opihiman said:

I bet it look damn cool though...LOL

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man it was sooo cool. wish i wouldve taken pictures.