It’s been said that chameleons need to be misted, but how true is that statement? Water is an important part of a chameleon’s life and without it, the chameleon might not survive for long. There are many ways to provide water to a chameleon, so do they need to be misted at all?
Chameleons need to be misted. Misting deals with the humidity problem of the enclosure while also keeping your chameleon hydrated at the same time. It is generally recommended to mist chameleons at least twice a day.
Out of all the available choices to keep your chameleon’s enclosure humid, misting is by far the best choice out of all of them. Not only does it provide enough water to keep your chameleon hydrated, but it also keeps the enclosure humid enough for them to be comfortable.
Why Do Chameleons Need to Be Misted?
Most people think that misting systems are a luxury because they require machines. While this may be true, what they don’t know is that a spray bottle works just as well as any other machine when it comes to misting.
Misting chameleons serve two purposes at the same time and both these purposes are essential. Here are some of the reasons why chameleons need to be misted.
Humidity
Humidity is a very important aspect of a chameleon’s life. They are used to the humidity in the wild and any changes in that will make them very uncomfortable as they are not accustomed to domestic life.
The general guideline is to have at least 50% to 75% general humidity in the enclosure to replicate their natural habitats the best. Depending on the species of chameleon, this percentage may be on the lower or upper end and might go even higher for some.
Incorrect humidity levels on both ends will cause severe health issues for chameleons such as shedding and respiratory problems. Not only that, but it’s very hard to control the humidity of their enclosure naturally unless you have weather-manipulating powers.
Misting is just perfect when it comes to controlling humidity. The amount of water it can provide to the enclosure is dependent on how much you put in it so it’s all in your control. They can even be programmed to mist more or less often depending on the results you are looking for.
Of course, there are other things that you can do to adjust the humidity more, but misting just makes it all easier for you and your chameleon. It also serves a second purpose as well…
Hydration
I’m sure everyone knows how important water is to living things. Sure, there are some animals that can survive days or even weeks without water, but I can assure you that chameleons aren’t one of them.
Many people tend to mistake that chameleons can absorb water through their skin. This is because most reptiles can do exactly that. Unfortunately, this is nothing but a myth that has been passed around due to misinformation.
Chameleons need to drink water, but the issue here is, they have a very hard time recognizing water. They can only recognize moving water such as a waterfall or fountain.
You may think that this means they are great choices, but this article here will tell you why chameleons shouldn’t drink from waterfalls. Misting helps because it leaves water droplets on the live plants and leaves around the enclosure.
Chameleons are used to drinking water from these places because they drip, which allows the chameleon to recognize it. Some may argue that fogging does the same thing, but the problem here is the amount of water provided.
Fogging doesn’t provide as much water and it takes some time for it to accumulate. Not only that, but water from fogging is very easily evaporated due to the amount.
Misting leaves just enough water on the plants and the surrounding area for your chameleon to drink whenever they feel like it. Also, you can provide your chameleon water directly as well by misting them with a spray bottle.
How Do I Mist My Chameleon?
There are two common ways you can mist your chameleon. The choice will depend on your convenience and preference.
Hand Spraying
The easiest way is to just fill up a spray bottle and spray it in the area surrounding your chameleon. Some people like to spray it directly at the chameleon but this will all depend on the chameleon itself.
Note that most chameleons don’t like to be sprayed directly and will hide upon being sprayed. Indirect misting is a safer method regardless.
Always use lukewarm water instead of hot or cold water. It’s not that your chameleon can’t handle it but the extreme temperature change will startle them. Lukewarm water will create a more natural sensation.
This method is for people who like to spend more time with their chameleon or even have the luxury of time in the first place. For those without it, there is another method…
Misting System
Once, spray bottles were the only way anyone could mist their chameleons. Nowadays, there are misting systems made for different reasons, one of them being to humidify your chameleon.
Misting systems are sold in many stores, not just pet stores, which adds to their convenience. They can be turned on and just left alone without much interaction.
In fact, you can even set the frequency of misting and how much you want to mist at a time. It’s important that a timer is fixed as you don’t want to disrupt your chameleon’s sleep cycle.
As with the spray bottle method, only use lukewarm water to mist your chameleon unless it’s from a direct pipe. Put the hose on top of the enclosure as well to prevent direct misting.
Misting systems are much more powerful when compared to spray bottles so this is important. If you have a busy schedule or just don’t want to spend too much time spraying, a misting system is a way to go for you.
I praise the convenience of using a misting system, but not all are created equal. Some are better than others and more appropriate as well. So what are the things you should look for in a misting system?
What to Look For In A Misting System for Chameleons?
Here, I will outline a few things that every chameleon owner should look into before deciding on a misting system. These factors will determine how appropriate the misting system is for your chameleon and we only want the best for them of course.
User-Friendliness
Misting systems used to be very difficult to install due to the complexity. Some of them were so complex that it seemed like you needed a Master’s in engineering to even make it work.
This has improved over the years and manufacturers have made it very easy to install. Even so, not all are equally as convenient.
You don’t want to waste your time fiddling around something so simple. All you want is something designed with a beginner-friendly interface in mind.
Water Capacity
Some misting systems require a direct source of water from water pipes while some have an external tank that connects to them. Direct sources won’t require you to fill up at all but require the chameleon cage to be built right next to a direct pipe.
Water tanks have the convenience of portability, but this means you’ll need to refill them every once in a while. It goes without saying that a larger tank means fewer trips to fill.
Larger tanks are usually on the pricier side as well for those who are budget-conscious. Moreover, larger tanks will take up more space, so that has to be kept in mind.
But if you are someone who has an insane schedule and wants something low-maintenance, a bigger tank is the way to go despite the higher cost.
Programmable Features
The entire point of replacing hand-misting with a misting system is so that you don’t have to think about it all the time. Some misting systems come with very basic features and end there.
Though there is a beauty to simplicity, sometimes you want something that does even more. You want to be able to control how long, how much, and how strong the misting system mists the cage.
There are misting systems out there that come with all these features, but they come at a price as well. If you aren’t looking for anything complex, a simple misting system will do the trick.
If you have an ideal setup in mind, or if you have multiple cages to mist at the same time, you might want to fork out a little more for the sake of your pet’s health.
Mist Size
Depending on the size of the chameleon, they will respond differently to the mist size. Generally, chameleons only need fine or smaller mist drops to fulfill their needs.
Larger chameleons will be able to drink larger droplets. Just make sure you match the size of the mist according to the size of your chameleon. You don’t want to accidentally drown a mini chameleon with a huge droplet now do you.
Note that baby chameleons should never be misted with big droplets. Not only does it risk drowning them, but they won’t be able to drink it either due to the difference in size.
When Should I Mist A Chameleon?
You can’t just mist a chameleon anytime. A chameleon should only be misted during the day time as they start to sleep at night. Misting a chameleon at night will only serve to disrupt their sleep, especially with a spray bottle.
This is why it is important to set a timer if you’re using a misting system. You don’t want the misting system to go off out of nowhere in the middle of the night. It will startle the chameleon and stress it out unnecessarily.
How Often Should I Mist A Chameleon?
The frequency of you misting your chameleon will depend on many factors including the species. Generally, you’ll need to mist your chameleon at least twice a day, but there are some factors that change that.
Here are a few factors that will determine how often you should mist your chameleon.
General Humidity
This shouldn’t be a surprise but the general humidity of your area will affect how often you should mist your chameleon. Typically, hotter areas will be more humid while colder areas will work the opposite way.
I say typically because not all areas work the same. Some places have less humidity when hot and vice versa. The best way to gauge this is by using a hygrometer instead of just general knowledge.
This helps you to adjust the frequency of misting required for your chameleon. Keep misting until you reached the desired humidity level and stop when it gets too high.
Species
Some species of chameleon will need water more often than others. They will also need a higher humidity level as well to suit their needs. It’s best to know what species your chameleon is to accurately provide them with the right levels of humidity.
Here are a few common domesticated chameleons and the humidity levels they need throughout the day.
Veiled Chameleons – They don’t need very high humidity due to their hot and dry origins. About 50% will do the trick for them.
Panther Chameleons – They come from hot and humid areas with large amounts of rainfall. Panther chameleons will need higher humidity levels of about 60% to 70%.
Jackson Chameleons – They come from lands that are similar to panther chameleons but they don’t need as much humidity. They only need about 60% to 65% humidity to function properly.
What Happens When I Don’t Mist Them Appropriately?
Complications can happen on either side of the spectrum. Too much or too little will both cause health issues for your chameleon so it’s important to know which is which to adjust accordingly.
Too Often
If you mist too often, you might drown your chameleon. This is because the air will be saturated with water and your chameleon will breathe it in, filling its lungs with water.
Your chameleon won’t even know this because they aren’t smart enough to realize it. Not only that, but odors and bacteria can develop in the enclosure if it’s too wet.
The water provides pathogens the perfect place to thrive while fecal matter can get mixed with the water, which will then fill up the air. Your chameleon will feel very uncomfortable as well as being wet all the time.
It will even disrupt their sleep cycle, making them unable to sleep. This is why it’s important to install a timer along with the misting system.
Too Less
Misting too less causes very severe health risks as well. Dehydration is a huge problem for reptiles like chameleons and they are known to be very bad at drinking water in the first place.
Misting enough provides them with the amount they need to keep themselves hydrated. Not only that, but they frequently clean their eyes with the water in the air as well.
If they aren’t misted enough, they won’t have enough water to clean out their eyes to prevent injuries and infections from outer sources. Moreover, there will be issues with shedding as well.
It’s a very uncomfortable process, but it can be slightly relieved with humidity. Dry skin is harder to come off and makes it more uncomfortable to shed too. Coupled with the fact that they shed as often as once a month, it comes as a huge problem.
Conclusion
Chameleons need to be misted because it is the most effective way to provide them with humidity and water. It is by far superior to most other techniques.
If you are looking for a misting system, there are a few criteria to match so that it suits the needs of you and your chameleons better. After all, the reason why you would choose a misting system is for convenience in the first place.
The frequency will depend on some factors. Generally, chameleons will need about 50% to 70% humidity and you can adjust the frequency to mist based on that.
To accurately know the humidity of your chameleon’s enclosure, a hygrometer is recommended. Misting too often or too little causes different problems on both spectrums.
Ensure that you are giving the right amount of misting to your chameleon to keep them as healthy and as comfortable as possible. Misting kind of have the feeling of being in the highlands doesn’t it?
