Drippers

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

Does anyone have any ideas on how to build a cheap dripper that will work better than the zoo med little drippers? The reason I want to get one is because I've only really seen my new veiled drink from the leaves a couple times after I mist them. I'm worried he's not getting enough water and I think a dripper would be the solution.

Zeke20 · Jan 4, 2009

veiledchameleonyoshi said:
Does anyone have any ideas on how to build a cheap dripper that will work better than the zoo med little drippers? The reason I want to get one is because I've only really seen my new veiled drink from the leaves a couple times after I mist them. I'm worried he's not getting enough water and I think a dripper would be the solution.

From what I have read it's as easy as getting a decent sized plastic cup, positioning it where you want it, poke a small hole or 2 in the bottom and away you go. Will be trying this tomorrow to see how successful it is, I to would be more comfortable if water was available constantly throughout the day.

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

Zeke20 said:
From what I have read it's as easy as getting a decent sized plastic cup, positioning it where you want it, poke a small hole or 2 in the bottom and away you go. Will be trying this tomorrow to see how successful it is, I to would be more comfortable if water was available constantly throughout the day.

Really? you don't need any tubing or anything? I would think the water would just pour out rather than dripping. I guess I'll try that though to see if it works. Thanks

Zeke20 · Jan 4, 2009

veiledchameleonyoshi said:
Really? you don't need any tubing or anything? I would think the water would just pour out rather than dripping. I guess I'll try that though to see if it works. Thanks

You wanted cheap

. Im sure if you wanted you could get the tubing from a local hardware shop for very cheap as well. Im not sure on whether it will just run out or not, still need to test it myself.

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

Zeke20 said:
You wanted cheap . Im sure if you wanted you could get the tubing from a local hardware shop for very cheap as well. Im not sure on whether it will just run out or not, still need to test it myself.

Alright well you should let me know how it works once you try it out. I think I'll try it out tomorrow too and see if I get the results i want

gregdabender · Jan 4, 2009

Personally I do not like the drippers. They do not seem to simulate the cham to drink the way a mister would. Look into getting a garden pump sprayer. Spraying that over the top of the cage for 5 mins will cause water droplets to form as well.

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

gregdabender said:
Personally I do not like the drippers. They do not seem to simulate the cham to drink the way a mister would. Look into getting a garden pump sprayer. Spraying that over the top of the cage for 5 mins will cause water droplets to form as well.

I was actually looking at getting one of those as well. They are only like 7 bucks at home depot so I think I'll probably buy one and use it together with the dripper and see if it helps.

Brad Ramsey · Jan 4, 2009

I mist once or twice a day by hand but have mainly depended on drippers for more than two years and keep marvelously hydrated chameleons.
I agree that being misted stimulates them, but they do drink without being misted as well.

-Brad

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

Brad Ramsey said:
I mist once or twice a day by hand but have mainly depended on drippers for more than two years and keep marvelously hydrated chameleons.
I agree that being misted stimulates them, but they do drink without being misted as well.

-Brad

Thanks. I've noticed a lot of people on these forums use drippers and love them. The main reason I'm worried is because I've only seen him defacate once and the urate part was mostly white but it had a small part on the end that was yellowish orange

Brad Ramsey · Jan 4, 2009

veiledchameleonyoshi said:
Thanks. I've noticed a lot of people on these forums use drippers and love them. The main reason I'm worried is because I've only seen him defacate once and the urate part was mostly white but it had a small part on the end that was yellowish orange

There will always be a little bit of yellow.
People get scared into thinking that urates have to look like virgin snow every time or the chameleon is dehydrated.
If the urate is mostly white, everything is fine.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/picture-agnes-dripper-18947/

-Brad

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

Brad Ramsey said:
There will always be a little bit of yellow.
People get scared into thinking that urates have to look like virgin snow every time or the chameleon is dehydrated.
If the urate is mostly white, everything is fine.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/picture-agnes-dripper-18947/

-Brad

Alright, thanks. I guess I shouldn't really have been too worried in the first place, considering he's acting fine and he looks great.

sandrachameleon · Jan 4, 2009

I use drippers on all my chameleon cages. The vast majority of the hydration needs of my chameleons are met by the drippers running for about an hour and a half to three house (depends how much water I put in), twice daily.

Get a food-safe plastic container.
Go to a pet store, one with aquarium supplies, get a short length of air hose and a valve.
Get a nail that is slightly smaller in diametre than the air hose/valve
using the nail, Poke a hole in the side, at the bottom edge, of the plastic container.
Put a tiny length (1cm) of air host on one end of valve, and a longer length on the other end of the valve.
Push valve with small length of hose into the hole in the plastic container.
Fill container with water.
Open valve.
Water should flow through hose. Adjust to a fast drip.
Use longer length of hose, now dripping water, to aim the water drips on to a leaf or other area the chameleon may find attractive. I find my chameleons drink directly from the hose actually, so splashing onto leaves and such isnt necessary, which is helpful as then all the unused dripps can be directed to fall directly into collection containers.
Fill dripper each morning, and additionally as desired/needed.
If dripper leaks at the hole, could be its too large for the valve and hose - use aquarium safe silicon to seal.
Wash plastic container frequently, especially if it doesnt drain fully, as bacteria etc could grow in it otherwise.

veiledchameleonyoshi · Jan 4, 2009

sandrachameleon said:
I use drippers on all my chameleon cages. The vast majority of the hydration needs of my chameleons are met by the drippers running for about an hour and a half to three house (depends how much water I put in), twice daily.

Get a food-safe plastic container.
Go to a pet store, one with aquarium supplies, get a short length of air hose and a valve.
Get a nail that is slightly smaller in diametre than the air hose/valve
using the nail, Poke a hole in the side, at the bottom edge, of the plastic container.
Put a tiny length (1cm) of air host on one end of valve, and a longer length on the other end of the valve.
Push valve with small length of hose into the hole in the plastic container.
Fill container with water.
Open valve.
Water should flow through hose. Adjust to a fast drip.
Use longer length of hose, now dripping water, to aim the water drips on to a leaf or other area the chameleon may find attractive. I find my chameleons drink directly from the hose actually, so splashing onto leaves and such isnt necessary, which is helpful as then all the unused dripps can be directed to fall directly into collection containers.
Fill dripper each morning, and additionally as desired/needed.
If dripper leaks at the hole, could be its too large for the valve and hose - use aquarium safe silicon to seal.
Wash plastic container frequently, especially if it doesnt drain fully, as bacteria etc could grow in it otherwise.

Thanks. That sounds perfect, and I might actually have some aquarium tubing laying around somewhere.

sandrachameleon · Feb 8, 2009

Pictures of dripper construction

Step by step pictures to go along with previously posted text.
Cost of putting these together:
Aquarium host valve: 50cents
Aquarim hose, bought a few feet from a spool, enough for many drippers: $2
Plastic container: 0 (not including the cost of the take-away that was once in it)
Nail: a couple cents (I had a bag of nails left over from some construction)
optional :aquarium safe silicon $6 (I dont usually need to use this, but if you make your hole too big ....)

Go to a pet store, one with aquarium supplies, get a short length of air hose and a valve.
Get a nail that is slightly smaller in diametre than the air hose/valve
using the nail, Poke a hole in the side, at the bottom edge, of the plastic container.

sandrachameleon · Feb 8, 2009

If you put a little piece of hose on the end going into the hole in the container, I find this acts like a rubber washer and you dont need silicon.

sandrachameleon · Feb 8, 2009

But if the hole is too big, if water drips from around the hole in the container, use aquarium safe non-toxic silicon to seal

sandrachameleon · Feb 8, 2009

Put container on top of cage, fill with water.
Adjust valve open/close until desired rate of water flow / drip is achieved. direct hose such that the water drips to desired location (onto a leaf or into collection bucket). I use long enough hose to allow me to position it close to a branch, and the chameleons come right up to the hose and drink from the end of it.

Syn · Feb 8, 2009

Sandra you should definitely post that in a blog if you haven't already. That is some cool stuff!! I will try to do that.

alhickabee · Feb 8, 2009

Here's my dripper set-up: (everything minus timer and heater found at Homedepot)
Rubbermaid tub
aquarium heater
fountain pump (make sure you get one strong enough to pump the water up high enough)
1/2" tubing (connects to pump)
1/2" to 1/4" reducer (look around the fittings section at homedepot sometimes they have one or you can get a few different brass pieces that screw together)
zip-ties
1/4" tubing
1/4" T-barbs (found by sprinkler heads at HD)
1/4" adjustable dripper head (found by sprinkler heads at HD)
Timer (already had)

I have 8 dripper heads and it basically rains in the cage 4 times a day for 20-30 minutes each session.

sandrachameleon · Feb 8, 2009

Dripper in use

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