How Frequently Do YOU Mist?

[leid]

I mist about 3-4 times a day, but this week I've misted an extra time because Fred is shedding. Right now he looks like he's in the KKK; his entire veil and head is shedding. lol!

I also agree, a humidifier works wonders in arid regions. Although I'm wondering if too much humidity might cause negative effects? Many forms of bacteria and fungus thrive in warm, damp places. How much is too much? Are LRIs associated with moisture and humidity? I know one person said humidity helped their cham's LRI, but I don't see how this could be?

 

[Docility]

I mist about 3-4 times a day, but this week I've misted an extra time because Fred is shedding. Right now he looks like he's in the KKK; his entire veil and head is shedding. lol!

I also agree, a humidifier works wonders in arid regions. Although I'm wondering if too much humidity might cause negative effects? Many forms of bacteria and fungus thrive in warm, damp places. How much is too much? Are LRIs associated with moisture and humidity? I know one person said humidity helped their cham's LRI, but I don't see how this could be?

its kinda like a neb, or when you boil water. the humidity allows you to breath easier, and loosens mucus so you can expel it easier, but yes there is too much, but i couldn't tell you what that is

 

[leid]

Well yes, but most bacterial infections found in chameleons are Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Klebsiella and Proteus, which are gram negative bacteria that seem to thrive in water. Aeromonas' taxonomic name is A. hydrophila, which means water-loving. If a chameleon with a lri, or bacterial infection involving this type of species, wouldn't they be at more risk of spread with addition of more moisture?

 

[Docility]

Well yes, but most bacterial infections found in chameleons are Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Klebsiella and Proteus, which are gram negative bacteria that seem to thrive in water. Aeromonas' taxonomic name is A. hydrophila, which means water-loving. If a chameleon with a lri, or bacterial infection involving this type of species, wouldn't they be at more risk of spread with addition of more moisture?

i guess that falls on the lines of how much is too much, because no matter what they will find water in the body of the cham to thrive off of, but they need the nutrition of it as well. the more O2 he can take in the faster he can complete his cellular respiration, but i haven't studied the effects of low humidity increases on these infections, and how much humidity would allow them an excess of area to thrive. i think this is something a very experienced herpetologist who has credible case reports, or actually preformed the tests should answer, but good luck finding one haha

 

[leid]

I'm sure the answers would vary upon locales, especially since different species live in different areas of ranging temperatures/humidities. I wasn't referring as much to inside the chameleon as to its environment, however.

 

[Docility]

I'm sure the answers would vary upon locales, especially since different species live in different areas of ranging temperatures/humidities. I wasn't referring as much to inside the chameleon as to its environment, however.

oh lol. well then my guess would be yes it would increase the bacterial production immensely. would be interesting to know how it would affect internal conditions though

 

[Julirs]

Juli!! What are you thinking?!?! You NEED a misting system. It would pay for itself in like a day for you, haha!! And you could run one mist system through all the cages if they are all in one general area. But seriously, for the time you'd save, it is SOOOO worth it. That is the best purchase Chad and I ever bought. Oh the days of hand misting...don't miss those at all Although yes I occasionally do hand mist but wow, that is some dedication you have there! Anyway, I just read that and couldn't believe for all the chams you have that you don't have a mister. Tell your hubby you need one NOW!!!

I have a Birthday coming up! All I want is a misting system!

this is with a auto misting system

at 12:05 i mist for 20mins at 330 i mist for 15mins 730 for 10, and 11:40 for 5min

How long are you leaving your lights on then-they would have to be on til 1AM to dry out the cage???

Without a timed watering misting system, or large volume dripping systems, it is very difficult to consistantly hydrate the chams for the length of time per hand misting that would be required to trigger many Chams to drink. In addition to triggering the drinking, many Chams won't drink while you are present, so they may dehydrate in the presence of hand misted water. Not to mention missing hand mistings due to being gone.

2 Solutions

IMHO, drippers and/or misting systems are the best way to ensure your Chams get the H20 they need, hand misting should only be an additional water source, not the primary. For several years I only hand misted, but my Chams paid the price in my first learning experience. Often once the sunken eyes are spotted, damage has been done that compromises the health of the animal. For $150.00, Marty's misting system protects my investment, and I would not operate without it.

If Drippers are your solution

Drippers need to run at LEAST 20-30 minutes or so, again, to ensure the Cham is triggered to drink. Ideally, the dripper should run LONGER, which will require (as in misting systems) that you manage excess water. I would guess if you don't have water run-off, you may not be watering enough. There are many ailments caused by dehydration, but none I know of from too much water! Err on the side too much water, you will have greater success in raising healthy animals.

Hope this helps

Nick Barta

I agree with all of this and wouldn't want to steer any newbies wrong-AND-I do live in Florida with natural and normal humidity! BUT-you haven't seen a single picture of any of my chams looking dehydrated.

 

[inferno]

I water my chameleon at sundown to and they will drink. they drink any time almost except night, but never tried it.

 

[blackbetty]

Pair of Jacksons. I mist 2-3 times, about 3 minutes each, a day depending on the humidity in the cage. I go through one mister between the 2 cages to make sure they have a variety of places to drink from. The female drinks from dripping leaves and the male drinks from droplets on the leaves, sometimes on the cage itself if he is impatient.

 

[Pieces]

when you guys mist for 5 min straight where does all that water go???? most i can do is like 2-3 min.... then the towels at the bottom are drenched...

 

[Docility]

How long are you leaving your lights on then-they would have to be on till 1AM to dry out the cage???

i do a 12-12 light cycle mainly because thats what i sleep, and his lights make the room super bright, but i have 8 live plants in the bottom with peatmoss that distributes the water to the plants, and i have recently decreased my misting now that he is feeling better. i took out the late night one, and now my last one is at 8 for i think 10 mins, but thats 4 hrs before he goes to sleep, and it doesnt mist again till 12pm so i drys all throughout the night.

 

[Slofe]

I mist mine for drinking purposes. As I live in the UK the natural humidity in my room is always 45% - 50%. I started out misting in the morning but he never drank so I just do it in the afternoon now. It takes about a minute to do it as I use one of those pump hand mister, I just do it until the top of his ficus is nice and wet.

 

[Howdyco]

3-5 times per day here by hand.
I bought a mistking for use when I am out - works fine and will be set for 3x per day when I am out and can't hand mist.

 

[pba110]

i agree with what was said earlier, I can't mist my cage more than about a minute or else it's completely drenched and the soil is sopping wet. Small cage though. He never seems to drink during or after hand misting anyway, at least not in front of me. His urate is white though and he seems okay.
I think the auto mister I have does the trick. that runs for 30 seconds every three hours and I mist 2-3x a day for about a minute

 

[Malicious]

Mistking Zip-Drip set-up.
(2) 18x18x36" alum cages (1) premium nozzle per cage (Ambilobe Panthers)
(1) 30x30x72 reptarium (2) premium nozzles (Velid)

8:00 AM: (Wake up shower) 1:45 run time.
10:20 AM: 1:30 run time.
12:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
2:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
4:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
6:20 PM 1:30 run time.
8:00 PM (Last Call) 1:30 run time.


The misting system has been a great help, thats for sure.

 

[DJnSoCal]

Mistking Zip-Drip set-up.
(2) 18x18x36" alum cages (1) premium nozzle per cage (Ambilobe Panthers)
(1) 30x30x72 reptarium (2) premium nozzles (Velid)

8:00 AM: (Wake up shower) 1:45 run time.
10:20 AM: 1:30 run time.
12:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
2:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
4:20 PM: 1:45 run time.
6:20 PM 1:30 run time.
8:00 PM (Last Call) 1:30 run time.


The misting system has been a great help, thats for sure.

This is very similar to what we are doing... thanks for all the information everyone.

 

[chambabysitter1]

i agree with what was said earlier, I can't mist my cage more than about a minute or else it's completely drenched and the soil is sopping wet. Small cage though. He never seems to drink during or after hand misting anyway, at least not in front of me. His urate is white though and he seems okay.
I think the auto mister I have does the trick. that runs for 30 seconds every three hours and I mist 2-3x a day for about a minute

Pack the soil extra tight to get it to drain better and prevent root rot.