Monsoon VS Habba Mist VS ReptiFogger

[insertexpletivehere]

I need some expert input! I need to get a mister or fogger to help with the humidity in my cham's enclosure. The three that I have to choose from locally are ZooMed's HabbaMist, ZooMed's ReptiFogger or ExoTerra's Monsoon. I've read mixed reviews on all and read some bad things about the Monsoon here, but also read that they have redesigned so might be slightly better?

I would prefer not to order online because shipping here is ridiculously expensive. I can also continue to hand mist until the Breeder Expo in Toronto if anyone thinks I'll be able to get something better there at a reasonable price. I have been checking sites like Kijiji but so far have only seen a Monsoon and a ReptiFogger on there. I would like to say that cost isn't an issue but at the moment it is (one of our dogs is seeing a specialist and we don't know all the costs just yet). I'd like to stick around $150 or less.

I am slightly handy and am more than willing to give building one a go if anyone has a good tutorial on that.

So out of the three that I mentioned - pros and cons? Just cons?

 

[johncjb]

Go for a mistking or aquazamp. They are about $100 - $125 and far higher quality than exoterra or zoomed. As long as shipping is under about $30, it should be worth it

 

[Lazy Boy]

I can say from experience everything you hear about habba mist/reptimist is true. They are junk. Its not a mist but more a spray and loud and a tiny res. Get a mist king or similar.

 

[millerman6401]

Sent you a PM.

 

[ridgebax1]

I would not waste my money on any of those products. I understand shipping can be a lot of money but it would be worth it to me after experiencing the frustration of having a Monsoon and it breaking 3 times and needing replaced. I would save until I could cover the shipping. Both mistking and aquazamp are sponsors here and very reputable. If you wanted to do something else I think you could probably accomplish the same thing with a regular humidifier and some large diameter tubing; but you have to be careful with these things and bacterial growth in the reservoir especially if you get one that warms the mist; personally I got the aquazamp because their pump could support more nozzles than the mist king

 

[insertexpletivehere]

Go for a mistking or aquazamp. They are about $100 - $125 and far higher quality than exoterra or zoomed. As long as shipping is under about $30, it should be worth it

I can say from experience everything you hear about habba mist/reptimist is true. They are junk. Its not a mist but more a spray and loud and a tiny res. Get a mist king or similar.

I can order what looks to be the Mist King from Mr. Herp but they are going to be at the expo, so I might as well wait until then if that's what I'm going to go with.

I don't want to order off their (MistKing) site because they ship UPS, I may contact them to see if they use anyone else. I'm in Canada so shipping is usually pretty pricey and when you add in UPS's extra charges/customs fees, $100 quickly turns into much, much more.

Sent you a PM.

Thanks! I responded

I would not waste my money on any of those products. I understand shipping can be a lot of money but it would be worth it to me after experiencing the frustration of having a Monsoon and it breaking 3 times and needing replaced. I would save until I could cover the shipping. Both mistking and aquazamp are sponsors here and very reputable. If you wanted to do something else I think you could probably accomplish the same thing with a regular humidifier and some large diameter tubing; but you have to be careful with these things and bacterial growth in the reservoir especially if you get one that warms the mist; personally I got the aquazamp because their pump could support more nozzles than the mist king

The issue with shipping is that I'm in Canada. I can certainly order online but the problem comes with the shipping. It's usually quite a bit and isn't worth it unless you're getting a lot of things. Most US retailers also ship via UPS to Canada and as I mentioned above, there are usually pretty heavy customs fees in my experience.

Since the expo is only a few weeks away, I think I'll just continue to hand mist until then and see what I can pick up there.

Thanks for the input!

 

[kplatvoet]

I'm pretty sure that Mist Kings are made in Canada- You should be able to avoid customs - Canadian Distributor list
http://www.mistking.com/MistKing-Distributors.html

 

[insertexpletivehere]

I'm pretty sure that Mist Kings are made in Canada- You should be able to avoid customs - Canadian Distributor list
http://www.mistking.com/MistKing-Distributors.html

Thanks! I didn't realize that. It looks like a couple of the distributors are going to be at the expo, I think that's going to be the best place to get it, otherwise I can order it from MrHerp.ca

The SO and I may be taking a day trip this weekend, not sure which way we're going to go but if we're near any of those places I'll see if we can stop in. Looks like at least one of them is a hydroponics store, we have a few of those in town so maybe I'll stop in this weekend and see what they have if I get a chance.

 

[kplatvoet]

I would contact them and ask them if they are going to have them at the expo- or contact MistKing directly, I couldn't decide if I was going to get an Aquazamp or a Mistking when I got mine and so I e-mailed both companies with a stupid question and ordered from the first one who got back to me - It was almost a tie- and they were both very helpful -
I originally had a Monsoon- first the timer went and then it soaked everything two or three times - just ran and ran- it stopped running two days before the Aquazamp was delivered -

 

[junglefries]

Gave both Monsoons away, I had. Never worked correctly. I have two Reptifoggers that I use with montane species. I LOVE them. I ran 1/2" pvc from the base and made my own delivery systems for them. If you use filtered water, like they recommend, they will continue to work. Mine are over two years old and run on timers with the 15 min increments. I have never used the mistking. Household RH is 55% naturally. After I placed live plants throughout house to help, RH is about 60-65%, before mistings.

 

[MelissaB]

I would contact them and ask them if they are going to have them at the expo- or contact MistKing directly, I couldn't decide if I was going to get an Aquazamp or a Mistking when I got mine and so I e-mailed both companies with a stupid question and ordered from the first one who got back to me - It was almost a tie- and they were both very helpful -
I originally had a Monsoon- first the timer went and then it soaked everything two or three times - just ran and ran- it stopped running two days before the Aquazamp was delivered -

Definitely contact them and ask if they'll have them. I had contacted a vendor and asked if they'd have the Mistking at a reptile expo near me, they said they would. So I went to the expo specifically for that reason. They ended up NOT having them because they thought the manufacturer was going to be there, even after telling me they would. I was disappointed and angry. Wasted money driving to the expo, $15 to get in and then still had to wait and have the darn thing shipped.

 

[insertexpletivehere]

Thanks everyone!

I'll go through the list of vendors and email a few to see if they'll have them there. If so, I'll see if I can get one to hold one for me or possibly prepay and just pick up there.

I'm not going to the expo specifically for a misting system, so no worries on that. I'm picking up a new leo and potentially the things I'll need for a bearded dragon. Still debating on getting the beardie though - a friend just had some and offered one to me, I've never been a huge fan due to the ones we tend to see at work but hers a have always been nice. I like my geckos and chameleon, we also have three dogs and two cats. I take care off all the pets, so I need to decide if I want to do the extra work/cost for a beardie too.

On the plus side, the one dog's specialist appointment went well and isn't going to cost nearly what we thought it would, so I'm going to have a bit extra to play with for the reptiles.

 

[Chance Leon G]

Misters

I did a lot of research and decided I wanted the Aquazamp Rain Dome for my A. Panther Cham "Chance Leon". He is well over 12" long with tail.
For one, it is his preference to have drops running down the leaves rather than mist. He does not like to be misted directly. I did hand mist until yesterday. I used the technique of approaching the mist on him from the tail and then up the body and avoiding his eyes. I mist the entire surface areas of the leaves, branches and vines and have a drain. I use about a cup of water each time. I have even used a dropper sometimes above a leaf to get him to drink. I have even seen him drink from a small dish that I use for fruit and veggies that had collected water. (To my horror after I installed the Monsoon and over watered during testing I saw him drink off the floor, ugh! Now I have improved the drainage, whew!) I also have a Little Dripper, wish I had bought the big one.
I ended up buying from Petsmart, at $135, the Monsoon RS400 that says New & Improved on the box. (We shall see how well it holds up)
I could not wait for shipping USPS chances to be late even though I am about 70 miles from the Aquazamp location. (No response as yet to email to Aquazamp on Saturday) I am going on vacation for a week Wednesday morning. I can get a friend to feed every other day, but not take the time to mist three times a day.
I made my own rain dome from a couple of plastic cups with one of the misters from the outside at the top of the screen. The other mister is aimed at the leaves inside. I got the basic idea for a home made rain dome from a post on this site.
I have to say I have read most of the comments in here against the Monsoon but again had no choice. I do like the all in one package and the 2.5 gallon capacity. If the bad news comes true I will buy an Aquazamp.
I will post any future problems with the new & improved Monsoon RS400.
Greg

 

[insertexpletivehere]

Thanks for your input, please let me know if you have problems with it.

I have never seen my cham drink but he is not showing any signs of dehydration and his poops are good, he's most likely drinking when I'm not looking at him or getting the majority of water from his food. He will not use his tongue to eat if I'm watching, instead he'll pick his food up with his hand and put it in his mouth. He can use his tongue, he uses it go get flies that get in his home and to get food from his cup (I let him hunt hornworms and silkworms, the rest goes in the cup). So, long story short, I'm not sure what his preferences are for drinking.

As far as misting goes, he hates it. That's part of the reason I'm getting a misting system, so he's not associating me with something he hates. The best misting technique for us is for me to start on the opposite side of the enclosure, he will then start to move to that side and I can do the other side. He's fine if a bit of mist gets him on the tail but gets mad if it hits him anywhere else.

 

[Veiled chameleons121]

I prefer the manual exoterra pressure mister!!!!!!