Question about misting...

[graham cracker]

So ever since i got my veiled a month ago i was always scared that i was misting the worng way... i've read different posts from everyone saying how to mist the cage, whether to mist the chameleon so they can clean out their eyes or to just mist around them. So i've tried both ways and i use hot water from the tap so it comes out warm in the mister. Now my chameleon HATES being misted on or even if its just around him (he freaks out and tires to run away), a few times water got into his eyes and he was not happy... and he made it looked really painful! So what are your suggestions on this? Should i continue to mist on him? Or should i just mist around him and leave him alone? I would think in the wild when it rained water would get on them and sometimes even get into their eyes...

 

[Malicious]

I would continue to mist him, if he doesn't like it he can move.

When I hand mist my chams, sometimes they stay put, and other times they seek cover. Aslong as the sprayer is putting out a fine mist and not a stream, I would not worry about it.

Often times when they stay under the mist, they flush their eyes, and then drink.


-Jay

 

[DJnSoCal]

I'm with Malicious, I would mist him too.

How long are you misting? The chameleons I have are usually startled a bit when the misters first start and then realize its just water and settle in and drink or do their eye flushing. Misting is also good for humidity. If you are hand misting, maybe you should increase the amount of time you are doing it and see if it makes a difference with him. Experiment a bit and see what works best for you. Are you dripping him as well? I have two chameleons that prefer to drink from the dripper over the mister.

Keep us posted.

 

[Smokey]

I say mistem.mine most time run to where water spraying at

Mitsio 3.0

 

[graham cracker]

well i usually mist around 3 minuets each time... and today something was caught in his eye and i misted him for 5 minuets and it actually worked! he cleaned it out! but yeah he gets pretty scared he runs away and tries to climb away sometimes closer to the water but the closer he gets the more scared he gets and he doesnt know to close his eye then water from the leaves drips into his eyes and he freaks out and i go GRRRRRR stupid chameleon!!! Then i take a square of toilet paper and try dab out the water around his eyes.... then he sits there panting cuz he got so scared and im scared to mist anymore cuz he looked so stressed from it, and i use hot water from the tap so it comes out really nice and warm *Sigh* why is it so difficult to give a kid some water... and yes i do have a dripper and i've seen him drink from it once...

 

[Mael]

I think he will be fine as long as you just keep spraying him. Don't worry about getting the water out of his eyes he can do that just fine himself.

 

[graham cracker]

so i continued to mist him today and he seemed fine... he walked up to the mister and seemed to enjoy it. But it seems like the water ALWAYS get into his left eye and only his left eye and he'll do random things like bulging it out and stuff (im guessing hes cleaning it) but then he'll have it closed for like 20 minuets and then slowly trying to open it again... and his right eye always seems fine... should i be worried? or should i just let him be? and this happens EVERYTIME i mist him... sigh... i'm probably the one thats more stressed than the chameleon...

 

[DJnSoCal]

so i continued to mist him today and he seemed fine... he walked up to the mister and seemed to enjoy it. But it seems like the water ALWAYS get into his left eye and only his left eye and he'll do random things like bulging it out and stuff (im guessing hes cleaning it) but then he'll have it closed for like 20 minuets and then slowly trying to open it again... and his right eye always seems fine... should i be worried? or should i just let him be? and this happens EVERYTIME i mist him... sigh... i'm probably the one thats more stressed than the chameleon...

Flushing is normal. I wouldn't be worried except for the fact you say it is always this same eye. He may have something in there that is irritating him. Eye flushes are relatively easy to do, if you are up for it (but use actual saline/eye solution as it is properly buffered with the right Ph). Gently squirt the saline into the eye a few times to flush it out. Regular tap water probably isn't as good for him in his eye (hopefully you are misting with RO/DI or something similar).

Take him to a good rep vet if you are concerned. Catch something early instead of when it is too late.

Longer mistings will help him self-flush... maybe he is just happy you are mising him longer and he finally able to flush his eye properly. Keep us posted!

 

[hemiram04]

In my greehouse I have the watering system setup more like fine rain that a fine mist. The sprinkler system kicks on twice a day for 13 minutes each cycle. So when you mist your cham you should definetely mist him/her and mist them like a rain shower. This seems to work the best for me. Hope this helps

 

[zombiepixel]

During hand misting how long do you guys mist for? I don't trust the Habba mister anymore so I hand mist in the mornings and let the Habba do it's job while i'm at work. but I only mist him for like 10 good seconds. I'm always worried about over watering.