How to Raise Humidity in Chameleon Cage? – A COMPLETE Guide

How to Raise Humidity in Chameleon Cage? – A COMPLETE Guide

How to raise humidity in chameleon cage

How to raise humidity in chameleon cage? 

Well, chameleons are a delicate kind of reptile.

They require a bit of care but reward their owners with affection and a splendid array of colors they can show on their skin.

Chameleons are gun-shy and like to blend in. At about five months old, they gain the ability to change color on their skin.

There are many types of chameleons but they all enjoy a relatively dry air with occasional background bursts of humidity.

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chameleon on hand eating worm

There are over 200 species of chameleons. They differ in size but have similar characteristics:

  • A prehensile tail
  • Gripping feet
  • A sticky tongue
  • Eyes that move independent of each other
  • The ability to change skin color

Furthermore, they can show colors ranging from purple and black to orange and green!

But, if a chameleon is sick or stressed out, its skin color will darken.

The information above applies to all chameleons but should be considered with their size in mind.

The bigger the chameleon, the more effort it takes to mimic its natural habitat.

Natural habitat for a chameleon

natural habitat for a chameleon

Chameleons hail from Africa and Asia, where they typically live in deserts, rainforests and savannahs.

They absorb ambient water, which in the wild comes as droplets on leaves.

This can be replaced in captivity by a drip system or spray misting a couple times a day.

A chameleon in the wild will hang around trees and keep in shade, except when sunbathing.

If thirsty, it might try eating leaves so any plants in the cage should be edible for them.

Chameleons also enjoy climbing and prefer vertical plant arrangements, since that gives them a sense of security.

In the wild, chameleons will climb up to bask in the sun and lower down to catch some humidity in the form of dew.

How to raise humidity in chameleon cage?

How to raise humidity in chameleon cage

There are three main ways to raise humidity in a chameleon cage:

#1 Misting

Misting is the most immediate way of raising the humidity in a chameleon cage.

However, spraying water directly on the chameleon might startle or anger it.

Humidifiers with automatic misters can be timed to spray water inside the cage.

For smaller cages, the mister should be carefully aimed so it doesn’t spray at the reptile while on the plant.

If the chameleon is misted while hanging on, it may feel endangered and drop to the ground, injuring itself.

Water spray entering the chameleon’s eyes can result in an infection too.

Chameleons can be eased into misting if the owner takes the time to build trust.

Starting with indirectly misting near the chameleon and reading its reaction is the best approach.

If the reptile is curious and attracted to the mist, that’s a sign of trust and ease.

However, a fleeing or cowering chameleon should be given time to figure out what’s happening.

#2 Fogging

Zoo Med Reptifogger Terrarium Humidifier

A fogging system mimics the fog that appears in the forest at night. The fogger is outside the cage and connected to it with a plastic tube.

#3 Dripping

The dripper is a simple container filled with water and having a pinhole that lets the moisture drip into the cage.

If using a dripper, it should be placed so the drops cascade down leaves, mimicking rainfall.

As with bathing and showering, lukewarm water is preferred for all three moisturizing systems.

#4 Plants

chameleon under leaves on branch

Holding real plants in the chameleon cage is also an option for raising the humidity. They exude moisture and provide shade for the chameleon.

Some recommended plants for chameleons are the:

  • Weeping fig
  • Bamboo palms
  • Heartleaf philodendrons
  • Umbrella tree
  • Peace lily
  • Pothos
  • Moth orchid
  • Bromeliads

Do note that Waterfalls shouldn't be used in chameleon cages, since it’s exceedingly difficult to keep them bacteria-free.

What is the ideal humidity for chameleons?

What is the ideal humidity for chameleons?

The ideal humidity for a chameleon is a relative humidity of 50-60%.

Like all reptiles, chameleons shed their skin, and humidity has a role to play in the process. 

Shedding can happen every few months and may last up to two days, with younger ones going through the process faster. Some chameleons may also try to eat its shed skin afterwards.

Chameleons shouldn’t be handled when shedding, and the owner shouldn’t rip or pull off the hanging skin unless it’s cutting off circulation.

Chameleons will rub against nearby plants to shed quicker. If they have trouble shedding, raising the humidity a little might help.

Moreover, if the air is too dry, the chameleon might experience digestive problems, skin that won’t shed, and eye problems.

However, too high humidity might also lead to tail rot.

Hence, keeping the humidity around 50-60% is recommended.

Another alternative would be to bath the chameleon!

How to bathe a chameleon?

How to bathe a chameleon

Chameleons have their own preferences. When it’s bath time, some chameleons might not like the process and end up angry.

Lukewarm bathing helps a chameleon move eggs or bowels.

Bath water with some antibacterial hand soap can help the chameleon recover from foot wounds too.

Veteran chameleon owners suggest using a shallow, thin plastic container and putting a chin rest for the reptile. For smaller species, the owner’s finger is a good enough chin rest.

The water should be shallow enough so the chameleon can stick the head out (1-2 inches; 4 centimeters).

Water shouldn’t be poured over a chameleon because they typically do not tolerate showers.

How to shower with a chameleon?

Showering with a chameleon is doable as long as the reptile isn’t directly under the spray. The trick is going for the indirect splash from the shower.

Put a plant with the chameleon in the shower so that the spray splashes next to the reptile.

Aiming the shower head at the wall and letting the speckles spray the chameleon works too.

The chameleon will act up if the shower is somehow bothering it.

Showering or bathing is a relaxation treatment for chameleons but should be done once a month at most.

In general, the chameleon cage should provide enough background humidity for the reptile.

Conclusion: How to raise humidity in chameleon cage?

What is the ideal humidity for chameleons?

Chameleons are lethargic, just like every other reptile. They have their own pace and don’t react kindly to sudden environment changes, which includes humidity.

Chameleons experience showers in the wild but might end up cranky if showered in captivity. Observing the chameleon and figuring out its personality is the best approach.

In terms of humidity, humidifying a chameleon’s cage should be done on a slow, steady basis - the ideal humidity being at a level of 50-60%.

This can be achieved either through misting, fogging, or dripping!

Another option would be to shower and bath your beloved chameleon. However, it should be done only when the chameleon has trouble shedding or during an illness, as the vet instructs.