Your Chameleon Hydration Strategy!

Water is the key to life. We are going to explore the concept of hydration and how we can develop an effective strategy for our chameleon husbandry
The goal of this episode is to talk about hydration at a higher level so we can understand what we are trying to achieve. I will present the hydration strategy I use here at the Chameleon Academy, but what is more important than just seeing another strategy is understanding why things are done so you can evaluate your own approach! So I go heavily into the why of it all!
In this episode I referenced two relevant audio podcast episodes that had interviews with people who have experienced the harsh dry seasons that afflict certain chameleon species. These are well worth listening to in order to fully understand what our chameleons go through.
The Madagascar Dry Season with Euan Edwards
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Ecology of the Veiled Chameleon
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scroll down until you find the embedded podcast player for episode 86. You will also find a wealth of great Veiled Chameleon information there!
The best way to keep in touch with the Chameleon Academy community is by joining the free weekly email newsletter which covers a different chameleon topic every week. Your feedback helps create the next week's video and podcast! Click here to join:
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[@inspectorgadget346]

Bill you are underrated. You are so valuable and thank you for keeping your videos based on science and not like many YT videos where people share their opinion as fact.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

I am glad you are relating to my style. My goal is for people to come away from my videos understanding why it is instead of saying “well, Bill said…”!

[@PetfaxTV]

Channels like this are the resources of the future. Love your website, keep doing terrific work!

[@Stwinky]

Love watching these little guys drink

[@rickcroney1286]

I first heard this on the podcast and tried it, along with a hybrid enclosure. I have never been more satisfied with the outcome for our chameleon. It works like a charm here North of the Border 🇨🇦 Thanks and keep the great information coming!

[@ChameleonAcademy]

That is great to hear! Thank you for the feedback!

[@amusementaddicts2246]

Most underrated Chameleon channel on youtube.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

I am glad you are enjoying it! I’ll just be happy with my quiet little corner here :)

[@keananday9324]

Wonderful video, husbandry done right. i will recommend this channel to everyone i meet in the hobby

[@UPandUNDER16]

Amazing information 👌

[@dustinpascoe9035]

Love your perspective and content! Thank You!

[@mikahlaboldea192]

I am going to recommend this to my costumers! Loved this informative video!

[@justinjuarez1852]

didn't have much faith ill be honest. I'm like how the heck is it gonna drink if he's sleeping. followed your schedule exactly and boom. bright colors when the fog came through and drinking in his sleep. eyes still closed and visual swallowing and mouth opening. best video for watering schedule out there. thanks alot

[@yenbee9211]

I never thought I could love lil reptiles that barely do anything so much right now I’m doing some misting, and fog all night long with some mist in the morning luckily letting it dry all day is preventing mold growth and the natural plants in the enclosure are thriving

[@ChameleonAcademy]

I am glad you have found such a passion in reptiles!

[@neishabruns6324]

This was incredibly helpful and well thought out. I am so green to this and found this super helpful!!!

[@debc6268]

Thank you! I always worry if my chameleon is properly hydrated can you please add all hydration products you spoke about leaving links

[@lindad1195]

That was awesome! Thank you!

[@apb0327]

Thanks. Very useful info for a new owner. Set up my fogger for nights 👍

[@drlnstza9802]

Great info. Thank you.

[@lambdaweaponscache5394]

WHOO HOO im relieved my chameleons poop is moist! But this video did make me want to refine my hydration strategy, the graphic used in this video helped explain it.

[@CaylorsReptilesAquatics]

Excellent presentation. 🙏🏼

[@BartBasquiato]

When I have a busy day that I cant mist my chameleon (I mist him myself 2-3 times a day) I give him hornworms when I get home & that has worked for him before he wouldnt poop just once in a while now I've been finding his poop & it's been big w some wetness.. he loves superworms too I'll open his cage to put his bugs in the cup & he will run away but if he sees a superworm he will be like "hold up wait a minute" & turn around to get it from my hand/fingers 😂 they're like humans they know what they love, I like that hes comfortable w me now & will eat from my hand my mom thinks its nasty but I think it's pretty cool.. on hot days I have his cage outside & just mist the whole cage to where the netting of the cage gets drops of water he loves being in the sun.

[@drewnoirfilmz]

Thank you! This was extremely informative!!

[@fersandoval8424]

So bill if we use your hydration schedule. The humidity percentage in the day doesn’t really matter ?

[@ChameleonAcademy]

The humidity during the day would still matter as the chameleon will have a comfort zone depending on species. The important thing is that the surfaces dry out to avoid mold and fungus, but you do not want to let it get too dry. I generally try to keep it at 50% during the day for most common species.

[@bigsean1014]

My little guy is opening its mouth and neck. I want to do what I can to save her. Thank you for this information. I will keep you all updated.

[@gonzasteve]

What timer do you use and how many timers do you need

[@dryliss7639]

I have a Jackson and he Hates, I mean HATES the mister I bought for him. he has an internal crisis so I don't use it. I can only use a dripper method/spray... I wish I could go this route, it looks so effective but alas.

[@courtneyweyker8675]

Which misters can be set up to go off once at midnight? I know the leap can be timed for every so often but I’m not sure which mister can be used for night time and once only. (I am doing as much research as I can before I get my chameleon) your channel is so informative 😊

[@ChameleonAcademy]

Mist king is the way to go. There are a lot of misters out there but not a lot of quality, unfortunately. At this time, Mist King is the leader and there isn’t a close second. Here is a link from The BioDude. Coupon code CHAMELEON10 will get you 10% off everything in your cart (except certain cages) www.thebiodude.com/collections/reptile-misting-systems/products/starter-mistking-misting-system-v-4-0

[@rogue91406]

I have been doing hrs of research and your channel is by far the best. But I have 1 questions in regards to foggers that will make or break me being able to keep a chameleon. -Can a fogger only be run at temperatures 68F or below?

[@ChameleonAcademy]

As a general practice, foggers are best paired with cool nighttime temperatures. Could you let me know more context about your situation?

[@rogue91406]

@@ChameleonAcademy Thank you so very much for your reply. I live in southern AZ. Day time temps can reach 120F with night time temps of 89F not till the early morning hrs. Setting my central AC to 78F is ideal without causing too much stress on the unit. But after some more research I have come to the conclusion of needing an additional unit (mini split AC unit) to cool the enclosure down to at least 68F at night for most of the year. My house gets down to 70F at best in the winter. I am trying to decide if the extra hassle will be worth it in the end. I am not willing to dive into chameleon keeping if I can't get the parameters and conditions just right. I see way too many posts about sick chameleons. It's very sad.

[@henryswinney7025]

What kind of fogger do you recommend?

[@oliviayin6363]

Question if anyone has an answer. Let me know if my method sounds reasonable to you. We keep our veiled chameleon in our bedroom. We live in the PNW, US so it is naturally pretty humid here. Our bedroom is connected to the bathroom and my boyfriend takes a shower every morning, and I take one every evening. The shower noticeably raises the humidity in our bedroom for a short while.. Also, I am misting the enclosure manually with a mister bottle in the morning, after turning the small daylight lamp on (I have two UVB and one basking light), and at night after turning the basking light and the large tube UVB light off (again, only leaving the small daylight light on). I also provide a homemade dripper at all times, and catch the drops in a cup underneath and strategically placed. So far she seems to be well hydrated. Although I notice after my shower at night sometimes she is raising her nose in the air, as though she may be having a hard time breathing.. We're wondering if she is not in the best spot. Although, her nose tipping thing doesn't last very long and she otherwise seems very healthy. Hopefully someone reads this long post and makes a comment, I plan on asking around about this. We'd like to get an automatic system set up eventually, but we've only had her for about a week and it will take some time before we're fully set up. Thanks in advance! And thanks for this informative video!

[@anthonyford2709]

I’ve placed a small bowl in both my tanks I’ve seen them drink from it everyday I do misting every night and morning also

[@nazpax4283]

Hi Bill, thank you for your informative video. I just got started on having reptiles and have 2 veiled chameleons. I'm from Thailand, so my question is - what to do if you don't have access to a timer fogger and mister? (Hard to find it here and places that ship here).

[@ChameleonAcademy]

What do you have available to provide water?

[@nazpax4283]

@@ChameleonAcademy thank you for replying! I try to mist the entire cage in the morning before turning on the lights and then again at night time. But the weather in Thailand has been extremely hot lately so maybe misting in the afternoon as well?

[@ChameleonAcademy]

@@nazpax4283 what is the humidity there? You may not need more mistings. You can test by just giving a dripper and see if your chameleon goes to drink. If you are in a part of Thailand that is humid you may be lucky.

[@nazpax4283]

@@ChameleonAcademy they are indoors, so without aircon on humidity is lower (45-50%) but the heat level rises, can rise to 39c. When I mist humidity rises to 80%, 26-28c (with aircon).

[@rachelorick3157]

Please help!!! I just rescued a veiled chameleon and when he eats he sticks his tongue out 3 or 5 times before actually catching the bug. Is this normal he a older chameleon that was poorly taken care of.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

He may have MBD (calcium deficiency), a vitamin deficiency, or an injury. But it is good news that he is trying and actually eventually able to succeed. It may develop into a relationship where you place the feeder insect by his mouth and he eats it from your fingers.

[@rachelorick3157]

@@ChameleonAcademy thank you for responding. I have been doing all the research and had ordered his vitamins proper light cage, plants, etc. it’s all coming together and he’s already gained weight. Can he possibly get better on the right vitamins and UVB light etc.? He is still fully eating on his own but just thought it was weird when he does that tongue thing.

[@ChameleonAcademy]

@@rachelorick3157 whether he gets better or not depends on what the problem is. It would take a vet visit to definitively determine the actual issue.

[@rachelorick3157]

@@ChameleonAcademy thank you 😊

[@nicolepettis5533]

I hand mist my chameleon is doing great he drinks the water off the plant leaves

[@sambitsahoo7394]

Hi Elon Musk