Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I had a question to run by you guys, if you'd be so kind. Simply put: Is it possible to water-log a Chuckwalla or Desert Iguana?

The reason I ask is because my Chuckwallas and Iguanas drink every time I give them water. They don't like being sprayed with it, but after I'm done spraying, they lap it up. I have always lived by the notion that if they take it, don't argue with it; but these guys live where there is no water....

Temps have been about 100-105 the past couple of weeks.

They eat plenty of leaves, carrots, lettuce and flowers (all of which I spray before offering)

they all act normally, I was just curious if anyone can help me understand this more. Thanks!

regards,
-Phil

I can't explain why your chucks drink water or if they can drink too much, but your comments sure make me think that I'm going to start spraying water on parts of my chuck enclosures. I have never seen a mature chuck drink except right after egg laying or when they get really old, stop eating, and are in the checking-out process. I do have four hatchlings right now that do lap water fairly frequently, thanks to good advice from Tom Greb.

My chuck husbandry methods must be generally OK b/c the first big test of how you're doing as you keep chucks is having eggs to hatch. Finally passed that hurdle. Haven't passed the second big test yet, which happens when the captive-produced babies prosper well enough to grow up and then have their own babies.

Due to my recent hatching success, my routines were proven at least adequate. Since I don't mist my chucks, have had some of them for well over a decade, and they did reproduce, it's apparently not NECESSARY to make water droplets available to them in an indoor environment that's not so hot as what your chucks are experiencing. However, if spraying water in their cage makes them even a little bit happier or healthier, why not? Think I'll give it a try and see what they do with the mist.

Interesting!

Just be sure that the cage is well ventilated. Moisture which lingers definitely will cause respiratory problems!!

Thanks for your thoughts!

Just to fill you guys in a bit more, they all live in an open-air outdoor pen. I happen to live in the middle of Chuckwalla territory and find that the best way to keep them alive is by keeping them outside.

That said, do you think that the water I'm providing them is too much? Or should I continue? thanks!

-Phil

Normally, my Chucks think one drop of sprayed water signifies a flash flood and they scurry away in a frenzy. A gravid female, however, lapped water insatiably up until a week after oviposition. I would catch her licking the dry glass minutes after I had given her water sprayed on the glass...she couldn't get enough. Then, her water lust just quit. I say, if they'll lap it up, it couldn't hurt them. When they no longer want it, the'll stop. I heard that there are Chuckwallas that will swim out in a spring to get a flower. Anybody ever hear of that?

My experience with chucks and water is that humidity will not only cause respritory problems but also infections on the skin.

Since you keep yours outside, and from the sound of it you are in an arid environment, they probably relish any moisture that they can get. I would imagine that chucks get plenty of water in the wild deep down under the rocks and in crevices. It's much cooler and far more humid than on the surface.

I usually spray my chucks once every other week... Just to simulate rain. They usually run a few steps then put their heads up and close their eyes. I always make sure to run a fan and blow any humidity out of the cages. They really enjoy this for the most part.

I've also found that if I have a chuck that just has a hard time adjusting to captivity, and won't eat sometimes spraying a hot cage and creosote branch with leaves still on it will stimulate them to feed. Not always, but I've seen it more than a few times.

Hope this helps... or at least brings spring time rain to your chucks a few times a year!

-Kory

Well, I misted my ADULT chuck cages with water but nobody was interested in drinking. They just aren't into water except right before or right after egg laying. At those times, I hold a gravy spoon full of water right next to the pathetic-looking females several times a day. These girls usually half-empty the spoon. Gravy spoons are VERY good for watering chucks because the spoon part is at a right angle to the handle and therefore, can be placed so that it's convenient for me and the chuck. Some females drink for quite a spell prior to egg laying and they ALL drink a day or two after. My recent hatchlings are still licking a lot of water spray off their rocks and glass.

Hi Phil,
I live in The O. C. but also keep my chucks outdoors year round. They enjoy an occasional misting which I do to water the plants I keep in the enclosure. I've always heard they don't need water but have had some that actually drink from a bowl. It's also been life saving for acclimating w.c. chucks, and they seem to enjoy it.