Misting trouble

[Ggremlin576]

My cham seems to hate misting (runs and hides, occasionally puffs up). Right now I use a spray bottle, which I've heard isn't ideal. So I'm going to get a Mist King but before I do I wanted to find out if that sort of behavior is common. I use warm water and continuously spray him for 3-5 min unless he hides too deep in his cage. Any suggestions?

 

[okiroo]

My cham seems to hate misting (runs and hides, occasionally puffs up). Right now I use a spray bottle, which I've heard isn't ideal. So I'm going to get a Mist King but before I do I wanted to find out if that sort of behavior is common. I use warm water and continuously spray him for 3-5 min unless he hides too deep in his cage. Any suggestions?

yes its sorta of common and after a while he may stop hateing it so much. you dont need to mist him but rather mist around him so he can drink. a mistking is always a good investment tho in case you ever leave town. i'll be getting one in a few weeks

 

[Davonat]

Im probably going to catch heck for this........But I think misting the cham itself is over rated..... I have watched my guy alot & every morning when his lights fire up he heads to the dripper and drinks away. Then he heads for his UVB branch and waits for some juicy crik to stroll by. Then an hour after his lights are on the Mist King pisses him off He seems to know its coming! Sometimes he just glares at the mist and waits for it to stop. Ive never seen him drink any mist water. But it goes off every 1-1/2 hr for 30 seconds just to keep the humidity up.

 

[Bloodhound]

Mine runs away from the mist. My guess if you live in a cold area that since the water is room temp around the high 60's it feels cold in an high 80's cage.

 

[Carlton]

My cham seems to hate misting (runs and hides, occasionally puffs up). Right now I use a spray bottle, which I've heard isn't ideal. So I'm going to get a Mist King but before I do I wanted to find out if that sort of behavior is common. I use warm water and continuously spray him for 3-5 min unless he hides too deep in his cage. Any suggestions?

There's nothing wrong with hand misting and having a Mist King is convenient but not an absolute necessity. If you only have one cage, your humidity levels are where you want them, and there's someone around every day to mist you don't really need it. But, how you spray can irritate your cham. Mist all around him at least until he shows some sign of starting to drink (swallowing or licking his lips). Then try dribbling the water onto his head from above to see if he'll start drinking directly. Not all chams do this but it is sure nice when they learn to! Blasting with a harsh brief deluge can spook a cham, but gently spritzing the foliage with warm water for a longer time often makes all the difference.

 

[Solid Snake]

In my panthers FR setup, the mistking hits a shefflera. He usually sits in the mist at least once a day. It just depends on there mood I think. I frequently see my jackson with her face in the mister. Somtimes it kicks on and bothers her though. As long as water is provided, and the cham knows its there, all is well.

 

[Ggremlin576]

I have noticed that when he starts drinking it doesn't bother him as much. I'm still gonna get a Mist King just for the convenience

 

[Carlton]

I have noticed that when he starts drinking it doesn't bother him as much. I'm still gonna get a Mist King just for the convenience

Considering that wild chams would not get exposed to a sudden deluge of water without much warning, a burst of spray from our artificial "rain" could certainly startle them especially if the water isn't at their current body temp. I just like to ease them in to their daily showers sort of like testing the water with a toe before jumping in! Once they learn the routine most mellow out about it a lot. I try to get mine to drink from syringes eventually. It is much easier to keep track of how well they are staying hydrated and its a bit of interaction with me too.

 

[Solid Snake]

Considering that wild chams would not get exposed to a sudden deluge of water without much warning, a burst of spray from our artificial "rain" could certainly startle them especially if the water isn't at their current body temp. I just like to ease them in to their daily showers sort of like testing the water with a toe before jumping in! Once they learn the routine most mellow out about it a lot. I try to get mine to drink from syringes eventually. It is much easier to keep track of how well they are staying hydrated and its a bit of interaction with me too.

Im in agreement here, this seems to be common cham behavior to "freak" at being misted. In nature theres not a sudden downpour to the face. I think hand misting is actually more desirable, as you can wet every surface in the cage a little, and then give a generous amount of water to the chameleon if it wants it, wherever it may be in the enclosure. I love my mistking, and the chams know where to get water, and even what time of day its available, but it is limited compared to a good warm hand mist imo. I just gradually let them know water is coming when I hand mist. If they dont want any part of it, I dont spray them. If they start to drink, I spray them.

 

[Robyrango]

A spray bottle worked just fine for me since the beginning.. Fender is ok with that but the water has to be hot! Are you using warm water?

 

[amanda509]

my guy hates misting as well, he used to try and bite it but now, as long as i spray around him, and ONLY in the morning, with very warm water, if i start to mist and some accidentally gets on him, he shuts his eyes immediately, and will let me spray him, but any other time, he gets pissed and geeks out. specially if i accidentally surprise him with it :/ when i mist after school, i cant spray him at all, he wont tolerate it..