Dripper

[katzemrak]

I recently lost my chameleon, Kona, because of having a bowl to catch the water from the dripper and she fell and couldn't get out of the bowl which was filled with water.

I'm looking to get another chameleon, but I'd like to know, how do you deal with the dripper water? My cage is all screen so what could catch the water? Otherwise it could overflow. I do need more foliage, maybe that would help? I loved Kona dearly, and I can't stand what happened and how that didn't come to mind before that that could happen.

 

[xcrystalx]

hi and welcome to the forum.

im so sorry to hear about you loss you must have been devastated.:-(

the best way to deal with water is to have drainage.its as simple as drilling holes into the bottom and having a bucket to catch the water.mopping up any water at the end of the night with a towel is a good thing to do aswell.

heres a link to a thread with drainage ideas for you xx

https://www.chameleonforums.com/drainage-systems-cages-get-creative-102038/

 

[katzemrak]

Thank you so much. I like the idea of using a rubber maid underneath it. I was definitely devastated. It happened yesterday, so it's still fresh, I'm only glad that I knew what happened and it wasn't a mystery.

 

[xcrystalx]

your welcome.yeah a rubbermaid will do just fine hun.x

im so sorry once again x

 

[ir0k]

Im very sorry to hear about your cham :-(

Great post tho and information given about drainage systems. Something ive been pondering myself

 

[zsazsa85]

I am so sorry! What a lost....
Definitely drainage system is the answer!
We just built my cham's new enclosure and cut a hole in the middle and a bucket underneath! I will post pictures but check out the link xcrystalx posted! That's where my idea comes from.

 

[KWALA]

Drainage systems you can get a tray from LLLReptile.com for most size screen cages and just get some tubing from Home depot and drill some holes in the tray run tubing into a plastic tub voila

 

[Kuzco]

Plastic drawer

I put a plastic drawer under my plant with holes in the top to catch the water and also let the water drain from the plant to not drown the roots.

 

[fluxlizard]

So sorry to hear of your loss.

For baby chams spray alone can supply enough water.

For larger chams that are too small to climb out of the catch bowl, simply putting a twig in the bowl so the lizard can climb out will suffice. Or I've also placed a largish stone in a bowl for the same effect. Or you can use a smaller catch bowl and less drip. I've used dipping bowls for catch bowls on many occasions.

For adults- the drip bowl really shouldn't be too large to climb out of. Drips only need to run 20-30 minutes at a drip rate of one drip every second or two...

 

[Dannowar]

lll reptile has some awesome water catching trays that are designed to fit under screen cages.


this is what i use for my baby veiled,
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-cages/-/16-x-16-x-30-screen-cage-water-tray/


just drill a hole in the bottom center and put it on top of the tray

 

[Jamire]

Im not sure why everyone here recommends dripping at such a fast rate.

I believe 1 drop per second is far too much and the key reason why everyone has drainage issues.

I have NO DRAINAGE SYSTEM, and my golden pothos leaves are always heaping with water droplets (literally they are like spoons, they hold a lot of water) I make sure that I have my dripper placed in an essential spot, over top of a chain of pothos leaves.


I really believe that live plants are a solution to drainage issues. I have a baby tears plant located in the centre of my enclosure at the bottom. The pothos is above it and draped on top of it. The drops fall on a series of pothos leaves before entering my baby tears pot. It is large and can handle lots of water. (I actually have to water it more than the dripper gives it, its growing like crazy)

I realize not everyone here has a pothos plant, but you should consider it, IT will help with dripping and drainage and it a great plant. The key to making this work is manually positioning the leaves on top of one another (they kind of do this naturally) and angled towards a catching plant.

That being said, the next step is to SLOW DOWN YOUR DRIPPER. My runs at one drop per 10-15 seconds. I used to run it at more like 5-8 seconds, but that was not even nessesary. I would run it slower but I like to have the water moving so its fresh.

Any excess water caused from my mist king (which runs heavy 8x 1min-1.75min cycles) is absorbed by paper towels on the bottom, which I replace every other day (or longer, they dry out at night)

I say you should do your best to eliminate the waste of water that you don't need to be putting into your system. Use a humidifier to keep your moisture up.

Just my $.02

 

[fluxlizard]

I never thought/tried to run a dripper that slow.

For me, when I used drippers (I use misters now) I very much preferred a faster drip rate and catch bowl combo. The reason being that the chameleons were very attracted by the faster drip rate and splashing in the bowl, and most soon learned to drink directly out of the bowl around drip time.

After seeing many times chameleons tanking up at drip bowls for several minute drinking sessions, and even longer sometimes nowadays in the misters, I have to wonder how long it would take a chameleon to get enough water from 1 drip every 10-15 seconds which then disappears into a substrate where the water is no longer accessible to the lizard.

That's my thinking and why I've never thought to run a dripper that slow. I guess if you run one that slowly and it runs all day and the lizard has nothing better to do anyway I don't see why it wouldn't work. So while I'm explaining my reasoning, I'm not disagreeing with what works for you.

Still like my way better though

 

[Jamire]

Well like I said, There is standing water on many leaves in my enclosure at all times, and drops move every ten seconds.

You think they have a constant dripping source in front of them in the wild?

Aren't we trying to replicate wild conditions? Making it look like there is "dew" on the leaves.

Chameleons will recognize water that isn't moving on leaves and drink it. no reason to have a stream of water.

Plus it is unsanitary to have a catch tray at the bottom, Especially is your chameleons are drinking out of it. That's a recipe for bacteria, and sickness for your cham.

Don't just go what what you know, there is always a better way. Constant improvement is my motto. Given new information, I will change my ways instantly. If I realize its for the better.

Not saying your way is wrong either, but I would be careful letting your guys drink out of a drain bowl, unless your clean and disinfect it everyday.

 

[fluxlizard]

Well like I said, There is standing water on many leaves in my enclosure at all times, and drops move every ten seconds.

You think they have a constant dripping source in front of them in the wild?

No- I only drip for 20-30 minutes 1x per day. In the wild there is dew only in the morning when they awaken, and it might remain for a short while until it dries out. Or a rain storm might happen.

Aren't we trying to replicate wild conditions? Making it look like there is "dew" on the leaves.

I'm not. Wild conditions = chameleons that live a year or two at most. And wild conditions = impossible to replicate in a 2x2x4' box.

All I'm trying to do is understand what ingredients from the wild provide the chameleons' needs and then provide those specific ingredients in some form or other that the chameleons can understand and use by instinct.

Unless you are releasing predators and parasites and famine and territorial competition, and native plants and feeding primarily bees and flies etc in your terraria, you are probably doing what I am doing.

Chameleons will recognize water that isn't moving on leaves and drink it. no reason to have a stream of water.

Good point. but 1 drip per second or two is not a stream. It is a drip. It is quickly recognized and used. I agree with your results- what you are doing will work- you have proven it.

But here is a little experiment for you. Take a thirsty chameleon out of an enclosure, put your slow drip on one side, and my faster drip on another. Replace the lizard and see which drip he goes to.

Plus it is unsanitary to have a catch tray at the bottom, Especially is your chameleons are drinking out of it. That's a recipe for bacteria, and sickness for your cham.

Yeah- that's not what I'm doing. I'm using a catch bowl, not a tray with a drain or a tray under a drain, etc. The bowls were made of glass (small glass salad bowls or glass dip bowls depending on the size of the lizard) and emptied and cleaned daily. They are no more unsanitary than any other bowl of water in any other lizard cage. The drip lasts plenty of time to attract the lizard to drink, but not so long that the bowl overflows.

Don't just go what what you know, there is always a better way. Constant improvement is my motto. Given new information, I will change my ways instantly. If I realize its for the better.

I agree with looking for better ways and I am never afraid to experiment. I have learned things through experimentation about the lizards I have bred over the years that I have not seen published or posted anywhere else.

Changing ways that have proven to work for you instantly in light of new information is a little foolhardy though.

First I challenge the new information and then experiment some with it and then compare the results with what I've done previously before changing if I feel change would be for the better after evaluation. The result is a stronger knowledge foundation.

Not saying your way is wrong either, but I would be careful letting your guys drink out of a drain bowl, unless your clean and disinfect it everyday.

Again- catch bowl, not drain bowl, and yes it is cleaned every day.

Cleaning doesn't have equal being disinfected. I'm not someone who believes in a sterile environment. Complete sterility leads to a weak animal with a poor immune system. All it takes is to rinse the bowl out and follow that by drying it by wiping it out firmly with a paper towel. If something has pooped in there, a little soap can be used and then thoroughly rinsed before drying. It is no more dangerous or unsanitary than a bearded dragon water bowl, or a leopard gecko water bowl, etc.

I used drips and catch bowls with dozens of breeders of several species over several years in the 1990s before I switched over to misting only. I've used drip cups and catch bowls temporarily with dozens of other individual chameleons both short and long term during winter months in the years since that time, if I don't have the mist system rigged up indoors to handle new acquisitions.

I think I've proven through experience over many years with many chameleons that my method is effective and safe and sanitary. At least to my complete satisfaction.

 

[Jamire]

That's great information. I didn't realize you only do your dripping for a limited time. That makes sense. I just thought that maybe it would be better to always have a drip source of water. But since most of us feed in the morning time, some water after the meal is good then most of the day is basking, I suppose you may not need that steady source all day.

I agree with what you say about a chameleon being attracted to the heavier drip. And about how we are not really replicating wild conditions.

Just goes to show there are many ways to "skin a cat". You have the experience to show that your way is great and will make for happy chams.

Im glad we can discuss things like this in a professional manner, im not by any means saying that my way is gospel, I just want to share my views and see what people think. I love being corrected, that's how we learn.