Dripper help?

[AmandaB1982]

Hello. Hopefully I have found the right place for help in answering my dripper problem! I have a large reptibreeze cage for a juvenile panther chameleon. I made my own dripper with a soft plastic container, a valve thingy (that's the technical term) and some plastic tubing. It's just about perfect except that when I set it on top of the screen cage, the drops eventually start collecting on top of the screen and won't drop through. I tried to wash the screen with some warm soapy water, hoping to remove anything that might be helping to create all that surface tension. I really don't want to cut/poke any holes in the screen if I don't have too. Anybody ever had this problem? Oh, I also tried to raise the height of my container by setting it on top of another container. This seemed to help it drip for a while longer but eventually starting building up on top of the cage again. I appreciate any of your ideas!

 

[aaron9069]

I have the same problem. Even with a small hole cut into the screen. Somebody help!

 

[melble68]

i just made this little guy this evening. container was from Walmart. i was able to completely peel the label off. i'm expecting to snip a hole in the screen or actually drill a dinky hole in the DIY frame just big enough for the tube to go thru.

 

[MelissaB]

I poked a small hole in the screen and squeezed a rubber grommet (from the low voltage electrical supply aisle) into the hole, and fed the dripper tube through it. I use the same hole for my thermometer/hygrometer probe, you put the probe through first. You could also try rubbing your finger on the screen from inside the cage to try to break the tension and get the water to go through where you want it.

 

[melble68]

I like the grommet idea. I know exactly what you are talking about. Heck yeah, just give me another reason to go wander around the Depot. LOL!!!!!!

 

[MelissaB]

Thank you. I love to wander around the hardware store, too! If you put the grommet in just right, you'll know what I mean when you're doing it, you won't have any sharp points from the screen, and it makes a nice clean opening, too small for any feeders to get through. The rubber is nice and flexible, so you can keep your opening small.

 

[carol5208]

If you don't want to cut a hole in the screen this is what you can do: Remove the tube altogether and just let the water drip out of the valve. The trick is you have to set the container up higher off the screen. You can set it on the lid of the dripper if you want. By doing this, it will drip through the screen and not pool on top.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I agree with Carol. The tube is only useful if it goes through the screen and your chameleon drinks direct from it or you use it to direct where the water will fall.

Another option is to use a toothpick bluntted wire or similar poked through the screen (not making a hole, just using the existing opening in the screen). This gives the water something to travel down / breaks the surface tension.

 

[AmandaB1982]

great ideas

Thank you for all of your ideas. I will try the toothpick thing first and go from there. If I have to, I can go the grommet route for sure.

**I cut a toothpick in half and stuck it sharp side down just far enough to stick and I put the Dripper so that it drops directly above the toothpick. It's been running straight for about 20 min with no pooling on the screen. Super easy fix!

 

[carol5208]

I agree with Carol. The tube is only useful if it goes through the screen and your chameleon drinks direct from it or you use it to direct where the water will fall.

Another option is to use a toothpick bluntted wire or similar poked through the screen (not making a hole, just using the existing opening in the screen). This gives the water something to travel down / breaks the surface tension.

I like that idea about the toothpick! Smart!! We have some real genius' on here! lol

 

[MelissaB]

Very cool, I like the toothpick trick, too!

 

[AmandaB1982]

toothpick

Toothpick definitely does the trick. I'm sure I will eventually move on to a mister or find a better system, but for now it's working perfectly. Thanks again for everyone's ideas!!

 

[sandrachameleon]

Toothpick definitely does the trick. I'm sure I will eventually move on to a mister or find a better system, but for now it's working perfectly. Thanks again for everyone's ideas!!

glad it worked for you