Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Awhile back I asked how to keep up the humidity in my chams reptarium. I mist 4-5 times a day for about 5 mins each time (I still do it the hand method so this really sucks) and I've layed a towel over 3/4 of the cage which I keep moist/damp all day long as often as I can.

I'm home all day everyday so I keep ontop of it pretty good. I also run a humidifyer in the room, and we have moved him into our bedroom to help control the temp/Humidity level better. But this is still not good enough. Any other suggestions as to how to increase the levels? I only have one live plant in the cage a 2' ficus the other 2' ficus bit the dust on me about a month ago. Do I need more plants to help???

also I took out the waterfall (my big waste of money) and have a dripper going for him again ... you guys were right about the bacteria traps. We are currently building him a new cage right now which will have an automatic mister system but till then I dont want him to suffer because I dont think we'll be able to get it done it till well after new years. Damn money

Christa

4-5 times a day for 5 minutes sounds like alot of water! Probably too much. It should be able to dry out between mistings pretty good. Go to the garden center at Wal Mart or Home Depot and buy a pressurized pump sprayer like they use for insecticides. Then you just push a button and can get them adjusted at a very fine spray. I wouldn't screw with laying the towel over the cage it's too much work to keep it wet and it's tacky LOL. Keep the humidifier as close as you can to the cage and depending on which kind you have, let it direct the humid air towards the the cage. Plants seem to help alot and even if you can't fit any more IN the cage, they help just as much right next to the cage. Buy thick plants like pothos or hibiscus (only healthy hibiscus's are thick) and put them up against the outsides of the cage. They also keep the chameleons feeling safe and hidden and will help block anything outside the cage that they shouldn't be seeing anyways, if there is anything. Wherever I have a spot next to a cage that I can fit a plant on, I have one on. I also have some small, 4-7 foot trees (hibiscus, ficus and mulberry) in my garage with the chams and it keeps the humidity pretty high. What is the humidity at? Ideally, veileds should have 60% or more, but realistically, they don't need that much. If you were around 40-50% I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot. Just my opinion feel free to disagree.
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Tyler Stewart
Las Vegas NV
www.BLUEBEASTREPTILE.com

Thanks for the info tyler. The levels have been at 40-45% but they used to be 65% Our sprayer the hand pump doesnt put out alot of water its quite small and the cage is deff dry when i mist again. Our house is very dry, desert like. Its old and crappy and no matter what we do it stays the same. We moved him into the bedroom to beable to closer monitor the humidity levels in the room, plus having humidifyer in there helps us sleep good too.

I agree that the towel looks horrid, yes very muchly so but if it means a healthier Sanchoz then I'm all for tacky. I think I'll get some more plants and put them ontop of the cage it will help pretty the room, though I dont have a green thumb so they wont last long

christa

Try to point the humidifier so that it "sprays" into the cage. Just make sure that it isn't a warm mist humidifier, because the steam can burn the chameleon. I have an ultrasonic humidifier that I got on eBay for like $7 and it works great, I just adjust the nozzel so that it is facing more towards the cage. You can even take the nozel off and attach pvc piping to it and pipe the mist to where it needs to be or to multiple cages if it puts out enough mist.

You'll have to find out why your plants don't thrive, as you will always need them (and yes, more of them). If it's lack of light try adding a regular "grow light" to the cage maybe vertically along one side or just adding more regular room lighting over the cage. If the plants get too wet improve the drainage of the pots by putting a layer of pebbles in the bottom before adding the soil and plant, or don't use a pot saucer. Put your room humidifier right next to the cage higher up on a box or crate, or even build what is generally known as a "Johnson fogger". Basically this is an ultrasonic room humidifier that has pvc water pipe running from the spout into the cage through an opening in the mesh. The fog pours right onto the foliage. Cycle it with a lamp timer. There is no one design for these, there are many variations. Most commonly used ultrasonic room humidifiers (the Sunbeam 696?) have a removable spout that just fits 2" diameter pvc. You can make an elbow and run as much straight pipe as you need. Just be sure to take the pipe apart to clean out any mold/grunge occasionally. Also, in winter when the house is dry due to heating, I drape clear plastic drop cloth over the back and sides of my cages to help hold in some humidity. I trim it to fit so it looks OK too. With a humidifier fan running it does help exchange the air.

My plants just die because I cant make them live. Thats actually a small lie I can make some live like cactus' and desert plants like that. What doesnt need water shall thrive in my house. I have this "lucky" bamboo I dont think its so lucky. lol least not anymore.

I'll try the pebbles on the bottom of the pots anything is worth a try I guess. I have one ficus right now that is dubbed my Charlie brown christmas tree. It was a lush 3' ficus a month ago. oh well. it was only 5 bucks.

I aimed the humidifier right into his cage now, and since moving him into the room 2 days ago I've noticed that the room feels damper. Not in a bad way but just better than the rest of my house. Thanks for all the help peoples.

Christa

You may find that the fog gets "trapped" and condenses on the mesh and just runs off to the bottom. If this happens a lot, you'll see why many folks use the pvc pipe to aim the fog into the cage interior instead. Just watch it. Also, if you don't have a good electronic humidity gauge get one. It will save you a lot of worry and help you regulate the moisture in the room and the cage. They are not expensive but will pay for themselves over and over.