Fake or Real?
- Thread starter Lucille
- Start date
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
I use mostly live plants, but utilize benda-branches and some silk ivy for filling in spaces and background.
-Brad
-Brad
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
Yeah, those are safe.
Not a lot of people use them because as a functional plant (ie: cham can climb or perch on) they're no good, but in my opinion they are a great aesthetic addition for the lower part of an enclosure or if you get the kind that grow on trees like some orchids do that could be cool too.
-Brad
Not a lot of people use them because as a functional plant (ie: cham can climb or perch on) they're no good, but in my opinion they are a great aesthetic addition for the lower part of an enclosure or if you get the kind that grow on trees like some orchids do that could be cool too.
-Brad
dkollaritsch
New Member
I go out in our woods and find nice large branches,(clean them well!!) and then attach a bunch of draping silk flowers with a green floral wire. It looks really nice. Very jungle! I wash everything of course and let the silks air outside for a week or so to off-gas the plastic. The great thing about this is they don't drop leaves and you don't have to worry about them dying or watering them. For a watering system I use those little fountains with water cascading down (from Bed,Bath and Beyond about $25.00 a piece) and the chams all LOVE them. It sounds nice and they seem to love the flowing water. And you only have to fill it once a week!!! All the lights and water fountains are on times of couse! Works great!
Heika
New Member
Fountains also grow bacteria, drown feeders, and serve as toilets for many chameleon species. I hate to be critical, but only filling them once a week? Do they ever get cleaned? Sounds like illness just waiting to happen.
On the discussion of plants.. I use live except for with neonates. Then, I use a combination of live and fake. I like to clean neonate enclosures every other day or so, and fake vines are quite handy for that schedule. I have enough on hand that I can stick the dirty ones in the dishwasher and put clean ones in the enclosures.
Heika
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
Heika,
Thank you for addressing the fountain issue.
I was going to earlier but felt to tired.....
I have responded to this issue so many times recently.
The fountains need to be removed.
-Brad
Thank you for addressing the fountain issue.
I was going to earlier but felt to tired.....
I have responded to this issue so many times recently.
The fountains need to be removed.
-Brad
dkollaritsch
New Member
Well, I have been using the fountains for almost 2 years now and no problems yet. I wash and disinfect them every 3-4 days and fill with fresh RO water(not water from the tap). This helps cut down on any bacteria. (I hope no one is using water from the tap to give to their chams anyways).... You can buy the same type fountain through many reptile stores on the web, which I also have 3 of those.
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
I would be interested to know how long it takes you to properly clean all those fountains
I find water from the tap to be absolutely fine, I don't even treat our water here before putting fish in it.
Unless you're in an area with some extreme water problem or live in a home with really rusty pipes the rule about treating water before using it for animals is kind of old school.
Do you give your chameleon showers?
How do you treat the water coming out of the shower before it hits the chameleon?
-Brad
I find water from the tap to be absolutely fine, I don't even treat our water here before putting fish in it.
Unless you're in an area with some extreme water problem or live in a home with really rusty pipes the rule about treating water before using it for animals is kind of old school.
Do you give your chameleon showers?
How do you treat the water coming out of the shower before it hits the chameleon?
-Brad
dkollaritsch
New Member
I rotate when I wash them....I wash 2 every other day..takes about 20 mins.. As far as the water...have you tested your water??
All municipal water has some if not all of the following: ( and alot of wells also)........
THMs and Chlorine- municipal water systems use chlorine to eliminate bacteria, but recent studies show that chlorine can react with organic material in water to form chemicals called Trihalomethanes (THMs). One of these THMs is chloroform, a suspected cancer-causing agent.
Lead-The Environmental Protection Agency says that lead in drinking water can cause serious health problems. At low levels, reduced birth weight and premature birth, delayed mental and physical development, and impaired mental abilities in children in general, may result. At high levels of exposure, anemia, kidney damage, and mental retardation can occur.
Radon- this is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no taste, odor, or color. Waterborne radon released into the air from showers, washing machines, etc. Can be inhaled and increase the risk of lung cancer. There also is accumulating evidence of a relationship between the ingestion of radon in drinking water and increased risk of stomach cancer.
Cysts-Protozoan parasites, such as Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts in drinking water, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, an other flulike symptoms that are longer-lasting and more debilitating than most cases of flu.
Pesticides and Herbicides-Many agricultural chemicals like atrazine and alachlor have found their way into groundwater sources. Many pesticides are toxic and are associated with a variety of health problems.
Industrial Chemicals-Though necessary in manufacturing, many industrial chemicals, if ingested, may cause increased risk of cancer and others illnesses. Some of the industrial chemicals that now threaten the purity and safeness of our drinking water include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polynuclear aromatics (PNAs), and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), such as TCE, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride.
Other Particulate Contaminants- Small fibers of asbestos, dirt, and other particles are found in drinking water.
Now this I would be CONCERNED about.
Our WHOLE house is filtered and the water from the kitchen is reverse osmosis...this is what I use to water and mist my chams.
My cages are quite large and have not had much of a problem with feeders drowning or feces in the water...
I know that was a mouthful, but I am really cautious about my health and my lizards.
Do you use a misting system and drip system?? What type?? Would like to know..I have never found any set up that was not messy or did not need to have the water piped in....Thanks!
As far as the water...have you tested your water?? All municipal water has some if not all of the following:
( and alot of wells also)........THMs and Chlorine- municipal water systems use chlorine to eliminate bacteria, but recent studies show that chlorine can react with organic material in water to form chemicals called Trihalomethanes (THMs). One of these THMs is chloroform, a suspected cancer-causing agent.
Lead-The Environmental Protection Agency says that lead in drinking water can cause serious health problems. At low levels, reduced birth weight and premature birth, delayed mental and physical development, and impaired mental abilities in children in general, may result. At high levels of exposure, anemia, kidney damage, and mental retardation can occur.
Radon- this is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no taste, odor, or color. Waterborne radon released into the air from showers, washing machines, etc. Can be inhaled and increase the risk of lung cancer. There also is accumulating evidence of a relationship between the ingestion of radon in drinking water and increased risk of stomach cancer.
Cysts-Protozoan parasites, such as Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts in drinking water, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, an other flulike symptoms that are longer-lasting and more debilitating than most cases of flu.
Pesticides and Herbicides-Many agricultural chemicals like atrazine and alachlor have found their way into groundwater sources. Many pesticides are toxic and are associated with a variety of health problems.
Industrial Chemicals-Though necessary in manufacturing, many industrial chemicals, if ingested, may cause increased risk of cancer and others illnesses. Some of the industrial chemicals that now threaten the purity and safeness of our drinking water include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polynuclear aromatics (PNAs), and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), such as TCE, benzene, and carbon tetrachloride.
Other Particulate Contaminants- Small fibers of asbestos, dirt, and other particles are found in drinking water.
Now this I would be CONCERNED about.
Our WHOLE house is filtered and the water from the kitchen is reverse osmosis...this is what I use to water and mist my chams.
My cages are quite large and have not had much of a problem with feeders drowning or feces in the water...
I know that was a mouthful, but I am really cautious about my health and my lizards.
Do you use a misting system and drip system?? What type?? Would like to know..I have never found any set up that was not messy or did not need to have the water piped in....Thanks!
Kazza
New Member
I have fake plants in at the moment but will be investing in some real ones now i know which ones are safe
As regards for water, i personally wouldn't want to use a fountain - they look and sound good but they're high maintanance for sanitising.
But i do use RO water, i use this for water changing my fish so have a constant supply.
As regards for water, i personally wouldn't want to use a fountain - they look and sound good but they're high maintanance for sanitising.
But i do use RO water, i use this for water changing my fish so have a constant supply.
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
I do use a drip system. The water is collected in a container in the bottom of the enclosure which is dumped every morning. The collection container has a screen over it to prevent any possible accidents.
The misting system is me and an air pressure tank with a misting wand. The misting happens at least three times a day.
I don't know where you live (glad to know you have a full house filtration system..that's great) but in Colorado we have few if any concerns with the quality of our water.
-Brad
The misting system is me and an air pressure tank with a misting wand. The misting happens at least three times a day.
I don't know where you live (glad to know you have a full house filtration system..that's great) but in Colorado we have few if any concerns with the quality of our water.
-Brad
blood4eva69
New Member
Brad i would like to se eyou mist system. do u have any pictures?
Will Hayward
New Member
Brad Ramsey
Retired Moderator
Thanks Will.
I know this probably seems labor intensive to those of you who have several enclosures or don't have the opportunity to do hand mistings through the day.
I just have Kitty and I work 2 blocks from our home so I mist in the morning, I walk home for lunch, mist again and walk the dogs. In the late afternoon I am done with work: mist / walk dogs. A lot of times I will mist an hour or so before lights out as well but that doesn't always happen.
I like using this mister, I water the plants with it and clean leaves and branches and I make sure Kitty gets really soaked at least once a day.
-Brad
I know this probably seems labor intensive to those of you who have several enclosures or don't have the opportunity to do hand mistings through the day.
I just have Kitty and I work 2 blocks from our home so I mist in the morning, I walk home for lunch, mist again and walk the dogs. In the late afternoon I am done with work: mist / walk dogs. A lot of times I will mist an hour or so before lights out as well but that doesn't always happen.
I like using this mister, I water the plants with it and clean leaves and branches and I make sure Kitty gets really soaked at least once a day.
-Brad
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