Setting up a Dripper - A Great Hydration Method

[CNorton]

Using a dripper is another method of offering hydration to the chameleon in addition to misting and humidifying. The most common dripper available on the market is the familiar

but I find that the valve is difficult to fine tune the adjustment of the drip rate. You can do the ol' cup/waterbottle with a hole in it...but that will only provide a few minutes of dripping. I would get a larger reservior and make a hole for some aquarium tubing and use an aquarium valve to adjust the speed of dripping. Also, you might have a finicky chameleon that needs a larger dripper that will drip 6+ hours.

I have taken a common 1 gallon jug of water available at any grocery/convenience store and drilled a small hole on the bottom. I then pushed this air valve through the hole. Seal the jug and valve in place with silicone or hot glue and test to make sure it holds a seal. Then you can easily push the end of this air hose over the valve. Cut the tubing/hose to the size you prefer and if you want the hose directly in the cage, you'll need to drill through the glass/plastic/or screen and feed the hose through there.

Then, adjust the valve to allow the proper drip rate!

<air valve

<air hose/tubing




Here's my video! - A little "how to" of what I do



There are many threads out there but I just wanted to share my method.

Sandra's Helpful Dripper Construction

CIN "Watering"



All these hydration tips lead to the next issue down the line, how do you drain all this water? That is a whole other project in itself. There are tons of great threads that go into detail about drain pans, racks, plastic sheets, caulking, and other methods.

 

[draetish]

Chad this is excellent info and regarding the draining, I came up with a simple, easy way that some might find useful. Attach heavy duty plastic to the outside bottom of the cage and cut a small hole to drain into a catch bin.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/new-enclosure-preliminary-view-41909/

 

[Eszzie]

I don't need a dripper, my chameleons are so smart they drink straight off my hand mister when I stand in front of their enclosure

But it sure is useful info Chad

 

[CNorton]

I don't need a dripper, my chameleons are so smart they drink straight off my hand mister when I stand in front of their enclosure

Doesn't that method require you to stand there and spray each chameleon by hand? I'd much rather fill the dripper, set it up, and walk away. Too much life to live than to stand and wait for a chameleon to drink...especially if you have a slow drinker.

 

[SS4Luck]

This is what im getting ready to do with my setup

Im going to run a custom shlef setup with 3 or 4 cages and make a large drainage system under and a huge water resevoir (a few gallons) uptop with hoses running to each cage for a drip system.

i like the iadea of using an air valve, i was going to try and find a tiny ball valve to use