I recently adopted a female Veiled from a US vet who was taking okay care of her, not prime care but it wasn't really a rescue either. She is extremely picky and won't drink dew off of the leaves in her 16in x 16in x 21in screen enclosure (upgrading to a larger one soon, this is what she came in.) Her urate is always half yellow to two thirds yellow, poop is far too moist and she won't drink any other way unless I make her mad and spray in her mouth. Humidity stays around 52-49%, she has a great appetite for crickets and is currently eating 8-10 a day. Sorry I can't give you guys and exact age but I eatimate she's about 10 months old. How can I get her to drink from a dripper?
Chameleon won't drink unless I force her?
- Thread starter Laisper
- Start date
Devokid
Established Member
I bet she will drink from a dripper, she just won't do it I'm front of you. I never saw my veild drink, but he stayed hyadrated. From the sounds of it, your problem is the watery poop. I would try and solve that first, then the urate should take care of itself. I would get a fecal float test done right away and try and figure out what is up.
The thing is, I'm ALWAYS in the same room as her. I'm a stay at home spouse and recently I've been watching her like a hawk for any signs that she's hydrating herself and I haven't seen her do it not once. Maybe for the few minutes I have my back turned to fold laundry she does it and I'm just over reacting 
.
.
First I would not spray water in her mouth....you may get water in her lungs. It's much better to drip it on the end of her nose and let her drinking herself. It takes patience.
Are you aware that she can lay eggs without having mated? I recommend providing her with an egg laying container in her cage in case she needs to.
Are you aware that she can lay eggs without having mated? I recommend providing her with an egg laying container in her cage in case she needs to.
laurie
Retired Moderator
This will not solve your problem long term, but any time I see any sign of a cham needing more water, or me thinking they need more water, lol,I will fill both crickets and dubia full of water with a syringe. For me it is just a little insurance policy.
Yes I am very well aware that she will become gravid and start laying, I already have a tub set aside and a 60/40 sand/soil mixture for when it happens
!inlinefourpower
New Member
I can second the comments of the others. Hose the cage down real nice. If it's a glass cage get the walls, leaves, etc. If you have a screen cage, maybe spray down from the top. You won't want to hit your lights with the spray because they get hot and don't react well to suddenly getting hit by cold water. Not to mention the electronics. But the dripping from the ceiling will extend the drinking opportunity window. Then leave. I almost never see my dude drink, but I know he does because if he didn't he'd be dead by now!
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
edit - wow, Old Thread!
I suggest you do NOT spray into her mouth - she could aspirate
I suggest you spray the leaves, top down, for at least 5 minutes continuously, add a dripper as well, then walk away / give her privacy. She could be settling in still after the change of environment and be especially sensitive.
offer some juicy prey (injecting water into a roach cant hurt either)
tell us about what vitamin/mineral supplementation she's been getting?
I suggest you do NOT spray into her mouth - she could aspirate
I suggest you spray the leaves, top down, for at least 5 minutes continuously, add a dripper as well, then walk away / give her privacy. She could be settling in still after the change of environment and be especially sensitive.
offer some juicy prey (injecting water into a roach cant hurt either)
tell us about what vitamin/mineral supplementation she's been getting?
Last edited:
Sundragon
New Member
Please don't spray in her mouth. Ever heard of waterboarding?? Those guys don't like to drink anything for quite a while after experiencing something like that.
Similar threads
