Can you put a fountain in the chameleon's enclosure for them to drink?

[ShrekdaChameleon]

I bought my 2 year old panther chameleon about 1 month ago and noticed that his eyes have sunken in just a bit. (Nothing too drastic just a slight difference from when I bought him.) It is my first chameleon so I just wanted to make sure he was okay, so I called the pet store I bought him from and they recommended a fountain for his enclosure. However, I heard from a few threads it's not recommended. Any thoughts?

 

[Scottsquatch]

Avoid the fountains. They are bacteria traps. Your cham will eventually poop in it and that leads to very bad things. Honestly, the very best thing you can do to keep your cham properly hydrated is to invest in an automatic misting system. Mistking has a basic system available for $119.00 if I remember correctly. If you can't do that right now, I would get a dripper at the very least. Good luck!

 

[ShrekdaChameleon]

Thanks! I have a dripper and I mist him at least twice a day. I am looking into an automatic mister though.

 

[jamest0o0]

You're not misting nearly enough, they need about 15 minutes misting a day. I usually like 10 in the morning and then a few more couple minute sessions. Once a week I drench them with a 25 min session in the morning

 

[ShrekdaChameleon]

Really? The pet store owner said 2-3 times a day for about 30 seconds. Goshhhh, I'm glad y'all are telling me this. Thanks!

 

[Scottsquatch]

Thats why we're here. ☺

 

[jamest0o0]

Yeah, they don't know much most of the time... That's pet stores for ya :/

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Really? The pet store owner said 2-3 times a day for about 30 seconds. Goshhhh, I'm glad y'all are telling me this. Thanks!

F*** the pet store owner trying to sell you something off his shelf.

Go put together a fake ficus tree with sturdy bird perches in it that you can easily put in the shower. Then turn on the shower with room temp water and put him on the thing. Soak him 2-3 times a week for 15-30 mins a pop until you can get a mist king system going. I soak my animals twice a week despite having a mistking system so consider that

 

[zordtaz]

You can try diy for misting as well.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/my-diy-rain-nozzle-misting-system-for-under-75.159973/

 

[NickTide]

Here is my take on the fountains. Using one for a day or two could be useful. I have one from a yard sale that I haven't used yet but keep it around for an emergency, rehydration or a weekend vacation (mist king could die the day before your vacation and I wouldn't rely on a sitter to do things correctly) After two days I would clean it out with 10% diluted bleach, then rinse the heck out of it, let it dry out completely then put it away. All ways give items like that the smell test to make sure all bleach is gone.

I wouldn't have bought one new because I may never use it and for the money, i could just about buy a cheap back up mister.

I occasionally fill in at a privately owned pet shop. A very good one, where for the most part, they know their stuff. They seldom carry chams but do use a fountain there because it's better than wondering if the chams has been properly watered by whichever of the (approx. 10) opened or closed the reptile room that day. In the case of a pet shop, the risk of bacteria is probably better than the chams being dehydrated.

Ps. I have yet to see my chams drink from the dripper.

 

[Tortdad]

If you do the shower method make sure the water is pointed at the wall and splashing/misting the plant your cham is on. You don't want to pound them with water. The shower is a great way to get a dehydrated cham back where it should be. I stick mine in the shower once every 7-10 days even with my mistking working.

 

[jamest0o0]

I don't get why people shower while having a mister. It terrifies my chams, it's loaded with chlorine/chloramine, and it doesn't even do as good a job imo. I guess it does a nice raise in humidity for a little, but I'd rather just run my mister long 1x a week. No disrespect, many people do this, I just personally don't like it. It's enough of a pain getting my chams out of their cages.

 

[ShrekdaChameleon]

Yeah, I haven't tried showering because when I bought my Cham he came with Burns and I have to apply an antibiotic every other day, and I'm worried it'll wash off the antibiotics and the dead skin. Thanks for all your help guys!
☺

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Yeah, I haven't tried showering because when I bought my Cham he came with Burns and I have to apply an antibiotic every other day, and I'm worried it'll wash off the antibiotics and the dead skin. Thanks for all your help guys!
☺

Shower him. The extra humidity will help with the scabs coming off on their own. After done, dry the animal by dabbing it with a paper towel then apply a fresh coat of your ointment.

 

[Stinger]

Really? The pet store owner said 2-3 times a day for about 30 seconds. Goshhhh, I'm glad y'all are telling me this. Thanks!

Oh no the Pet Store response. Not Good . The best advice is right here the knowledgeable ones of CF .

 

[Monta]

I bought my 2 year old panther chameleon about 1 month ago and noticed that his eyes have sunken in just a bit. (Nothing too drastic just a slight difference from when I bought him.) It is my first chameleon so I just wanted to make sure he was okay, so I called the pet store I bought him from and they recommended a fountain for his enclosure. However, I heard from a few threads it's not recommended. Any thoughts?

Hi , everyday I'm up before Tyrion,and the first thing I do be for I even turn his light on is rinse out his dropper fill to the top put his light on. I grab a cup of coffee and head back over to him . By than he's heading up towards his favorite spot to get a drink .i turn the dripper on full throttle , a steady stream over his favorite Pothes leaf.That seams to get his a tension fast. He drinks pretty good and when he's done I turn it down to a drip and then his on his way over to the basking light. I swear if I don't see him drink than I don't think I'm doing a good Job carrying for him. I'm paranoid his going to dehydrate I guess.

 

[Stinger]

Nothing beats a Mistking ,won't have it any other way . Keeps the humidity at a good range also.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Nothing beats a Mistking ,won't have it any other way . Keeps the humidity at a good range also.

Mother Nature beats a MistKing. In your face youngster!

 

[ShrekdaChameleon]

Lol