Cage size for 1 week old Jacksons

[snowveil]

Hello!

I'm sure you get this question all of the time, but I wanted to make sure that I'm on the right track. I work at a pet store and our Jackson's chameleon just had babies and I adopted two of them. For the last few days they've been in an 18x18x36 screened enclosure but I now know that this enclosure is way too big for them as they'll have trouble finding food (which I've been concerned about anyway...)

Off to Lowes I went, and picked up a bunch of square dowels and some screening material. My thoughts were to build two 18" tall by 8-12" square screened cages. Will this size be appropriate, or should I consider going even smaller yet?

At what age should I consider moving them back into the larger cage?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[deadhd5]

I think that people usually use rubbermaid tubs for the babies to help keep the humidity up.

I am sure others will chime in with more specifics.

Good for you for adopting them!

 

[SpartyTessy]

That is a good size. I currently have 10 baby Jacksons in a 12x18x18 and that seems to be the perfect size for all of them. You want to start separating them when they start getting dominant over the other or about 3 months is what I was told. You want to make sure that at that point you give them each their own cage. Just get a live plant or two in there and mist it and you should be able to keep the humidity up. If not you can always block off a side or two to help with humidity. Good luck with the two babies.

 

[chameleonkev]

That's very young to take them on, good luck with them

 

[snowveil]

Thanks for the advice!

I was planning on making two enclosures at 12x12x18 so that I could separate them right away. I realize that they're fickle when this young, but unfortunately the pet store just doesn't have the resources to take care of the 8 babies that the mother birthed, so out for adoption they went.

They're cute little buggers, that's for sure!

 

[snowveil]

Don't worry, this picture was taken while I was transferring them to their container to be taken home. I'm not handling them, as much as I want to

 

[squeekz1992]

OMG that is the cutest little teeny tiny thing ever!!!!!

Sorry, going on a baby animal particularly chameleon spree! But seriously tho! they are adorable!!!!

Did you name them yet?!?

 

[snowveil]

I'm trying not to keep my hopes up too much, because I hear they're very finicky up until the age of 4-5 months.

But...I've named them Simcoe and Amarillo. Any beer brewers out there will get the reference

I also have a beardie named Apollo who is in brumation right now. He keeps waking up, getting lively, only to fall asleep the next day again.

 

[squeekz1992]

I'm trying not to keep my hopes up too much, because I hear they're very finicky up until the age of 4-5 months.

But...I've named them Simcoe and Amarillo. Any beer brewers out there will get the reference

I also have a beardie named Apollo who is in brumation right now. He keeps waking up, getting lively, only to fall asleep the next day again.

Oh yes, understandable. Well I'll get my hopes up for you I've heard those names before somewhere, but I'm not a brewer or old enough to drink yet lol.

What is brumation??? I've never heard that word before It's not bad is it?? I hope he comes out of it soon

 

[snowveil]

Brumation is basically hibernation for reptiles. Even though in captivity the conditions stay optimal year round, instinctively they will still slow their metabolism to a crawl once a year. Some will spend 8 or more weeks asleep the whole time, some will just sleep frequently. It's different for each beardie Not going to lie, it scared me when he first started!