Increasing Humidity

[Dbash44]

Hey, I just bought a baby panther chameleon. I want to make sure he has a really humid habitat. My problem, though, is that i need to know some solutions in order to raise it, but I can't use substrate due to it potentially impacting him. Maybe I could use a waterfall, but that gets polluted quickly. I have had about four foggers but they all break after a six month period or so. I mist him thoroughly about five times a day and have a dripper with a cluster of leaves for the water to cascade off of near the heat source for the extra water to evaporate. The humidity gets to about 40%-50%, but it's also a screen terrarium so the humidity is hard to sustain. What to do? Anything helps, thanks, guys!

 

[ApocalypseUK]

Hey, firstly how big is your cage?

I recommend using real plants these really help with humidity if you haven't already

and what humidifer was you using in the past? and did you use regular tap water within it or distilled/de-ironised water?

 

[Dbash44]

I believe it's a 18x18x36. He will hunt and drink no problem though, he seems to not be stressed out. He is about six or seven inches with his tail; I will post a picture. I have read about plants, but I am wondering how to get the plant to thrive without using any harmful soils. Also, I used the zoo med reptifogger. I don't know if the water was distilled, but I was using bottled arrowhead water. I even had the same problem with the zoo med monsoon misters-just stopped working after a while.

 

[ApocalypseUK]

Arhh I see, well what you could do is buy a small sized Umbrella tree plant like this one for example: http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wc...ay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=028069

for the soil buy organic soil if possible.. I've read/heard this is a good soil to re-plant your plants with.

Also giving your plant a good wash down with hot, not boiling water and then maybe buy pebbles to put onto the soil to prevent the bugs going in the plant soil and also preventing your little guy from getting any in his mouth.

as for the foggers/misters I think the problem may have been not using distilled water/de-ironised water. If you use any other sort of water there misters and foggers seem to have crazy problems. I've got a reptifogger at the min I've had mine for quite a while now and haven't had any problems yet, it makes funny sounds when it 1st comes on but it works fine

 

[Dbash44]

 

[Dbash44]

Okay I can try to use some other sort of fogger, the thing is they can be expensive. I will try to get a plant like the one you gave me the link for and use rocks in the bottom of the organic soil.
If that does not raise the humidity would you say to get more than one plant or what are some other options. I don't see the humidity getting very high unless I have to use a fogger considering the cage has so much ventilation.

 

[ApocalypseUK]

I've currently brought 2 umbrella plants and I spray in the morning and it keeps my humidity up by 80% for near enough half the day reckon I may only need to spray/mist twice a day and I don't even reckon It worth me using my fogger at the min lol, but I just have it on low to just create that little tiny bit to get the humidity steady. But I'm using a exo terra glass screen cage at the min with mesh/ventilation at the top and airflow through the front but because your using a screen cage it might be worth buying maybe 2 umbrella plants that fit in there and then maybe a small plant to help it that little more, you could even attach a back board maybe behind his cage or something that might help keep the humidity in a tiny bit more

 

[Trace]

Not that this makes a difference to humidity but it looks like you have a female chameleon and not a male. Make sure you do some reading about egg laying as she matures.

 

[windex]

You can also cover the sides and back of the screen enclosure with plastic, that will help keep humidity in as well.. +1 for live plants, they do wonders for humidity levels

 

[Ninkylou]

I have 2 enclosures side by side. I used the little 3M command hooks and put them along the sides and back spread to the distance of the holes on a shower curtain. I have a delicately patterned curtain the waterproof fabric kind wrapping sides and back and a solid white vinyl between (visual barrier). Really makes a difference if i need to dry out a bit i just lift the bottom and use chip clips to get some extra air circulating. I can post a pic later if you like. It looks nice. I also clip my night cover to the curtain (its a tablecloth). That and huge sheff's maintain my humidity really well.

 

[Carlton]

Also, I used the zoo med reptifogger. I don't know if the water was distilled, but I was using bottled arrowhead water. I even had the same problem with the zoo med monsoon misters-just stopped working after a while.

Well, your fogger problems were most likely due to the brands you used and possibly the water. Both are notorious for breaking down fairly soon. Hard water tends to damage small foggers unless you remove the deposits regularly. And, it will also clog the fine nozzles of auto misters. The Arrowhead water might be hard but I'm not sure. Hard water tends to taste good because of the mineral content and it's safe to drink of course, it just creates calcium deposits on the nebulizer disks of ultrasonic fogger units and damages them.

You may have better luck using an ultrasonic room humidifier instead. Same technology but better built and often less expensive than a specialty "terrarium" fogger. Keep the unit clean by soaking with vinegar regularly, or use deionized or distilled water in it. It will dissolve the mineral deposits.

 

[Dbash44]

I have 2 enclosures side by side. I used the little 3M command hooks and put them along the sides and back spread to the distance of the holes on a shower curtain. I have a delicately patterned curtain the waterproof fabric kind wrapping sides and back and a solid white vinyl between (visual barrier). Really makes a difference if i need to dry out a bit i just lift the bottom and use chip clips to get some extra air circulating. I can post a pic later if you like. It looks nice. I also clip my night cover to the curtain (its a tablecloth). That and huge sheff's maintain my humidity really well.

That would be great if you could post pictures! I also have added a pathos and a small schefflera as well as sponges in a plastic container with holes. Along with that I have a dripper and spray em' down like five times a day and yet the humidity is 25%. What else to do?