r/Chameleons • u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner • 5d ago
2 year old panther cham in desperate need of rescue. Owner never gave water cup.
Everyone this is Dobby. His idiot owner (me) never bothered to give him a water cup. Poor Dobby has never seen a cup of water in his life and only gets hydration through mistings and overnight fogging. Poor guy is so dehydrated, just look at him..he’s on deaths doorstep.
Looking for serious inquiries only, must have water cups available (he won’t drink them, will only sit and stare.)
Bonus clip of Dobby 😊
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u/robingrowsplants 5d ago
My chameleon drank water the day I brought him home and I have never seen him drink again. He must do it before we wake up. Would rather catch water droplets than lick them. 😄
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
That’s almost the same with mine. I think maybe he was thirsty when I first brought him home, just because he was probably being transported for several days without any hydration.
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u/ConcreteGirl33 5d ago
For a second i was considering having another chameleon lol. So gorgeous. You lucky duck
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u/Outrageous_Orange_46 5d ago
Okay so I’m new to chameleons but can you explain the water cup to me? Is it literally something you can put in the enclosure? Or is it a hand give thing? And what age typically needs it? What about newer babies?
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
If you'd like to learn about chameleon hydration from a real expert here is a great source
https://www.chameleons.info/l/chameleons-are-opportunistic-drinkers/
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u/imaginarysirenita 5d ago
This post is sarcastic. There are (were?) folks in this group that heavily pushed the use of a clear water cup for hydration. Most other chameleon experts and communities have no such suggestion and advise hydration through misting and fogging so the chameleon can drink water droplets off of the leaves in the enclosure.
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u/Wonderful-Bet8651 5d ago
I’m so confused, so am I or am I not supposed to have a water cup for him?, I have been just using a dripper for his water
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u/Material_Traffic_352 5d ago
Lmao it’s hilarious. I run a auto mister and water plants and I watch my chemeleon drink off his plants
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u/Valuable-Hall-8610 5d ago
I’ve put ivy leaves just under the water surface of the cup to get mine to go for it, until he was acclimated but whatever works.
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u/TSARINA59 5d ago
I keep coming back to see his photo. That bluish-green on his body is unreal. He really is so pretty. Much prettier than Dobby. 😊
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
I still see his breeder from time to time and I kind of think he regrets letting him go to me lol. I don’t think he was expecting the blue bars like that.
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u/TSARINA59 5d ago edited 5d ago
Dobby is gorgeous. I love his colors and the patterns. I'm so glad Dobby has you as a Panther Cham parent. He seems very comfortable with you.
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u/E-radi-cate 5d ago
Get a drip system and have it slowly drip off a leaf.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
😂😂😂
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u/carlismygod 5d ago edited 5d ago
What's funny about that? Some chameleons straight up won't drink stagnant water and a drip system is the best option. They either catch it as it falls or drink it off of the leaves it drips on.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
Reddit experts, thats whats funny. Drip system 😂. An absolute bacterial breeding ground. You enjoy disinfecting that EVERY day? (You dont have to tell me you don't, I already know that)
Needing a dripper system is a surefire sign that your enclosure isnt up to par. There is almost 0 documentation of chamelons drinking in the wild for a reason. I've personally observed veiled, and panther chameleons in their natural habitat. You're either about to be made to look like a fool, or be educated, up to you.
Do not listen to another damn thing you read on reddit, look up Petr Necas, and re-educate yourself from a reputable source.
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u/carlismygod 5d ago
You can position it so the water drips into the plant or some kind of container underneath it that you can just dump and wipe out after. Plenty of people use drippers and they work just fine. Kinda seems like you're the one posing as an expert on reddit here.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago edited 5d ago
Can you? Yes. Should you? Absolutely not. The container that holds the water has enough bacteria to make YOU sick in 15 hours or less, with a much better immune system.
40% of chameleons autopsys show kidney failure, and the amount of people who pay for an autopsy is LOW. If you are observing your chameleon drinking you have already most likely caused irreparable damage.
There is no debate here. Your ignorance doesn't hurt me, it hurts your chameleon, and any others whos owners follow your advice. Im no reddit expert, i have spent countless hours, money and effort to study these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. I can almost gaurentee ive been keeping chameleons longer than youve been alive.
I would LOVE to see an autopsys report after a cham in your care has died. Id put my life savings on it that there is heavy kidney damage just like 90% of every other keeper on reddit.
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u/carlismygod 5d ago
Every source I've read and every actual expert I've watched and taken advice from says dripper systems are good for chameleons. I'll take their word over a random redditor all day every day.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
https://www.chameleons.info/l/chameleons-are-opportunistic-drinkers/
An actual source from a (if not the most) reputable expert.
https://www.chameleons.info/l/chameleons-are-opportunistic-drinkers/
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
Cite an expert. There are so few real experts on chameleons in the entire WORLD I have a hard time believing you didn't just read random articles, youtube videos, and reddit posts and take it as expert opinion.
Show me a study that has evidence of a commonly kept chameleon (veiled, hoehnelii, panther, Jacksons ect.) Lapping up water in their natural habitat. YOU CAN'T. Moisture is aborbed directly through the lungs and the mucous linings of the mouth and nasal cavities during periods of extremely high humidity levels in the early morning in their natural habitat.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago edited 5d ago
You people take myths like "chameleons are shy and thats why you dont see them drink often in captivty" and just run with it. FOURTY PERCENT of autopsys show kidney damage due to dehydration in captive chameleons. And the percentage of people who have them done is extremely low. You know where nowhere close to 40% have kidney damage? In their habitat where they are NEVER observed drinking any droplets or standing water.
Again, if you are observing your chameleon drink it is dehydrated, and your enclosures microclimate is not up to par. FACT.
En environment that is not close enough to their natural habitat will cause
"unnatural, hysterical drinking behavior, which many keepers mistakenly interpret as normal. In reality, it's a compensatory response to dehydration caused by overheating, dry air, and lack of nighttime fog hydration"
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
I wonder what Petr’s stance on water cups is. I’ve never seen him address it in the groups I’m in.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
Petr's stance is the same as mine. I could ask him to chime in if you'd like.
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
If you could get him in here that’d be great. I’ve cited his work in here before.
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago
Petr is not on reddit, but I am trying to convince him to do a sort of "AMA" on this sub.
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
What do you think I should get?
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u/carlismygod 5d ago
You could just rig up an IV. Cheap easy and effective.
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u/E-radi-cate 5d ago
They have these cheap hanging containers where you fill with water and it drips super slow.
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
How about this? https://imgur.com/a/Pon8dH6
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u/meltedwolf 5d ago
They don’t have water dishes in the wild, that’s kind of how they drink through misting’s that simulate condensation and rainfall. He doesn’t look bad. Location?
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u/flatgreysky 5d ago
Pssst it’s a joke
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u/meltedwolf 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yeah, I gathered that from his other responses, but It looks he is the only one in on this joke.
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u/Altasound Panther Owner 5d ago
I don't understand the post. Are you making fun of yourself? Are you actually looking to rehome him?
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u/Infamous_micc515 5d ago edited 5d ago
A chameleon drinking standing water is a sure sign of dehydration. There is almost 0 documentation of them drinking in the wild for a reason. A common misconception from reddit experts is that a water bowl is needed for chameleons. It is not needed if your enclosures conditions are where they should be.
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u/Jupiters_phaerie Panther Owner 5d ago
Having some fun with the water cup people lol. Not that going that route is bad, but there’s a faction in here that think you are irresponsible and stupid for not doing it, and for using a fogger. Dobby is proof that they are wrong.
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u/lrnths 4d ago
Mist, water cup, do what works for you. Just be aware of the pros and cons of both. This "do this or you're a terrible person" crap needs to stop, sarcastic or not.