Myth 68: “You need a drainage system in your cage to get rid of excess water”
The Belief:
Keepers often ask:
"What should I put at the bottom of my enclosure to catch or drain excess water?I'm looking for recommendations!" And well meant but actually wrong answers direct them to draining systems manufacturers or products.
This question assumes a problem that—when husbandry is correct—should not exist at all.
The Reality:
There is no drainage problem.
There is a water management problem.
Let's look at nature:
If excess water were a natural constant, chameleons would live in swamps.
They don't. They inhabit arboreal, well-ventilated environments where water is transient—not pooling.
The Real Issue: Overwatering
In the past, dehydration was common in captivity.
Now, the pendulum has swung too far:
Modern setups often overwhelm chameleons with water, leading to:
Chronic overhydration
Excess humidity
Standing water in enclosures
Respiratory and skin issues
Technical headaches (e.g., "Where do I drain all this water?")
Common Culprits of Overwatering:
Nighttime fogging (essential, but often not controlled properly)
Automated misting (main source of excess water)
Manual misting
Drippers
Ice cubes on mesh tops
Dose of Truth:
Excess water is not a drainage issue. It's an input issue.
You don't need to buy expensive drainage systems.
You need to stop flooding the cage.
What to Do Instead:
1. Start with nighttime fogging at low ambient temperatures.
This mimics natural dew formation.
In most climates, this alone is sufficient.
2. Skip daytime misting unless absolutely necessary.
If used, do so sparingly and with purpose.
3. Use a dripper only if needed, and only briefly.
Remember: chameleons do not drink liquid water during the day in the wild.
4. In extremely dry climates, where fog evaporates too quickly:
Cover parts of the enclosure.
Reduce ventilation slightly to retain hydration.
Still, avoid flooding.
Beware: The chameleons hydrate via fog, and moisture in feeders.
Bottom Line:
No overwatering = no drainage problem.
Balance your hydration strategy.
Respect the animal's natural rhythms.
Don't engineer solutions to fix a problem you're creating.