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.
yeah a rubbermaid will do just fine hun.x
What a lost....
