Absorb water through skin?

[laurie]

With all the discussions about the importance of hydration and humidity for chameleons, I have to wonder if they are able to absorb water through their skin as well as by drinking. I know most people don’t try to mist the chameleon, but rather the plants around the chameleon. When you put a cham in the shower for a period of time does he just breathe in the mist? Is there any research or opinions about this? I haven’t found any definitive answers but would love to know what the rest of you think about this.

 

[Syn]

I've read somewhere on another thread that chameleons absorb moisture if kept wet long enough on some oddly named party on their body.

 

[Titan]

Honestly I think its about as good as us drinking through our skin. not possible but to a minute degree. Less moisture is lost topically when more moisture is on the exterior. People and animals may feel they are sweating (losing moisture) more in high humidity climates in higher temps, than in a dryer climate in the same temp. But actually the moisture loss is the same in a dry climate as in the humid one, only dif is dry air wicks away the moisture quicker, externally. and sweating is less noticable. But yes the moisture is good for the skin but not so much for any kind of intake, less you were an amphibian.

Now breathing in higher humidity, does account for a small percentage of hydration.

 

[Sporkthedork]

I'm not a 100% sure about this, but I don't think they can. I think the keratin on their skin is on top of the epidermis and thus they couldn't absorb water because the beta keratin would be waterproof (and helps retain moisture). I think that's the reason why they're mostly dry and don't notice that their scales ae being burned by heat lamps and stuff cause the keratin is on top of the epidermis and thus they don't feel their scales burning until it reaches the epidermis layer of the skin which is alive.

 

[Chamero]

Yes there is research and yes they can absorb mist...dont know if its thru their skin but I know their lungs can absorb in hi humid areas. I dont kno...im thinking something along the idea of osmosis

 

[NewOwner]

Just a theory / hypothesis

Maybe there pores absorb skin? much like ours let out oil (I think...?)

That would be my Geuss, but i have no evidence to prove me right / wrong

-Levi

 

[jannb]

Yes, they do absorb water throught their skin. I mist my chams directly with really warm water. When I'm misting their trees they come walking over into the mist. They love it!

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I don't think scales are designed to let water in as much as they are designed to keep water in.
Scalation has developed as amphibians evolved into reptiles in order to allow them to exist away from water.
exterior humidity effects all living creatures to some degree (notice the skin of people living in Fl vs. that of people living in Az)
But, if you are asking if they can drink through their skin ... the answer would be no.
A chameleon that is never misted or showered but receives adequate access to water it can drink (ie: per a dripper) will be just as hydrated as one that is sprayed or showered ... and probably a lot happier.

-Brad

 

[laurie]

I don't think scales are designed to let water in as much as they are designed to keep water in.
Scalation has developed as amphibians evolved into reptiles in order to allow them to exist away from water.
exterior humidity effects all living creatures to some degree (notice the skin of people living in Fl vs. that of people living in Az)
But, if you are asking if they can drink through their skin ... the answer would be no.
A chameleon that is never misted or showered but receives adequate access to water it can drink (ie: per a dripper) will be just as hydrated as one that is sprayed or showered ... and probably a lot happier.

-Brad

Brad should I get rid of my misting system and set up dripper that drip the entire 12 hours the chams are awake? I have drainag to support that, just thought they had to be misted. Thanks for your knowledge, what do you do with yours?

I am up to 8 babies with 2 more starting, how are yours coming along?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I think misting systems are fine, but I do think a dripper offers more water ... available all day long.
Lots of people use misting systems and they do help spike the humidity throughout the day, which a dripper cannot do.
If I had a misting system I would not get rid of it, but I choose to use drippers with the veileds for now.

I am at 8 babies right now as well. I lost at least one that was not able to get out of the egg, and possibly a couple more with the same situation ... we'll see.
The Kitty and Agnes eggs I have left, just sit there ... again, we'll see. I'll have fresh eggs from them in a couple of weeks.
The second Oggie and Green Bean clutch (52 eggs) is 2 maybe 3 weeks away from hatching.

-Brad

 

[Titan]

Brad, excellent!

I don't think scales are designed to let water in as much as they are designed to keep water in.
Scalation has developed as amphibians evolved into reptiles in order to allow them to exist away from water.
exterior humidity effects all living creatures to some degree (notice the skin of people living in Fl vs. that of people living in Az)
But, if you are asking if they can drink through their skin ... the answer would be no.
A chameleon that is never misted or showered but receives adequate access to water it can drink (ie: per a dripper) will be just as hydrated as one that is sprayed or showered ... and probably a lot happier.

-Brad

I live at 20% humidity, rarely water the exterior of my Chameleons, But do make sure the intake is very good (Drinking) and all my Chameleons Thrive really well here. No shedding problems or anything proving that high humidity is needed as long as they hydrate well internally!

 

[sandrachameleon]

I also think it unlikely they absorb much if any water through their scales.
Misters are good for helping with humidity. Drippers are excellent for providing drinking water.

 

[BocaJan]

How many days from laying to hatching? People tell me 9 months, but that isn't very accurate without knowing how many days.

 

[pba110]

Titan,
Do you run a dripper or a mister? If so, at what intervals?

 

[jannb]

I do both by hand 2 to 3 times a day. Hand mist and homemade dripper.

 

[laurie]

How many days from laying to hatching? People tell me 9 months, but that isn't very accurate without knowing how many days.

My eggs were laid on 8/3/08 they started to hatch on 3/15/09 after 224 days. These are veiled eggs, I don't think mine were that early were they????

 

[jannb]

My eggs were laid on 8/3/08 they started to hatch on 3/15/09 after 224 days. These are veiled eggs, I don't think mine were that early were they????

From what I've read on here it seems like the temp you keep the eggs at had allot to do with how long it takes them to hatch.

 

[Titan]

PBA110, I use primarily, drippers and dual filtered "timed" drip systems. That run at intervals all through the day, and the water for those is completely fresh all the time. As for my cup type drippers I put water in twice a day.
Im a very active outdoors person, so Im working to get all my setups on the Filtered timed drips.
I free range the majority of My Chameleons, thats why I use the drippers. And Honestly I dont worry about the Humidity much either. I have some pretty choice montaine species living and running around here, happy and very healthy for many years! As stated by Brad and myself all the time Its all about getting hydration into your Cham, not onto it.! you would be surprised by that, but I have many years to attest to it!

 

[Miss Lily]

When I first got Lily I was told that chams can absorb a certain amount of water by breathing in the humid air that we create by misting.

 

[jojackson]

Ive never read any validating scientific evidence to suggest any reptile (with the exception of aquatic turtles) has amphibious skin capable or intended to absorb ambient moisture.
Quite the opposit, Brad is right on the money. Reptile skin is designed to retain water and prevent evaporative dehydration. They have no sweat glands either.
You can spray your lizard till the cows come home but if it dosent ingest any it will still dehydrate eventually.

Chameleonidae= Reptiles (moisture retentive skin)
Frogs= Amphibians ( moisture absorbant skin)
jojacksonii =Human? (anal retentive but thick skin )