Considering a jackson cham
- Thread starter Tetsuo
- Start date
Lovereps
Avid Member
As much as I enjoy Jackson's, if your finances are tight, you might want to seriously reconsider the idea of getting chameleons.
Besides the money to set them up properly so they can stay in good health, they aren't hardy like Bearded Dragons, etc. so you need to have money set aside for the likelihood of vet care.
You can't skimp on the necessities or your cham will pay the price.
The majority of Jackson's sold in the US are wild caught and this very often means they will have internal parasites which require medicine from a vet to eradicate in order for the cham to be healthy or survive.
You will also be wise to find a vet who has specialized knowledge of chameleons or at least of reptiles before the actual need for a vet arises.
In my area, there is little feeder variety, so I order a variety of feeders in bulk from Mulberry farms.
http://www.mulberryfarms.com/
If you order feeders and then breed them yourself it is cheaper but a lot more work.
I use Reptisun 5.0, which are available from a number of site sponsors and stores.
Here is the page of forum sponsors with links to their sites:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/index.php?page=sponsors
I hope you can financially manage to care for the chams you want but it is much better to find out before you get them if you won't be able to do it.
UVB reach is shown at http://zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=48&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=5
My chams like to be very close to the bulbs--less than 6 inches away.
Besides the money to set them up properly so they can stay in good health, they aren't hardy like Bearded Dragons, etc. so you need to have money set aside for the likelihood of vet care.
You can't skimp on the necessities or your cham will pay the price.
The majority of Jackson's sold in the US are wild caught and this very often means they will have internal parasites which require medicine from a vet to eradicate in order for the cham to be healthy or survive.
You will also be wise to find a vet who has specialized knowledge of chameleons or at least of reptiles before the actual need for a vet arises.
In my area, there is little feeder variety, so I order a variety of feeders in bulk from Mulberry farms.
http://www.mulberryfarms.com/
If you order feeders and then breed them yourself it is cheaper but a lot more work.
I use Reptisun 5.0, which are available from a number of site sponsors and stores.
Here is the page of forum sponsors with links to their sites:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/index.php?page=sponsors
I hope you can financially manage to care for the chams you want but it is much better to find out before you get them if you won't be able to do it.
UVB reach is shown at http://zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=48&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=5
My chams like to be very close to the bulbs--less than 6 inches away.
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Tetsuo
New Member
My finances aren't tight I just don't want to pay over $100 for just a light fixture and bulb. These are captive bred.
Lovereps
Avid Member
Those re really expensive there's no way I could afford one of those.
This is why I was led to believe that your finances were tight.
Not trying to offend you in any way but too often people find out the cost of keeping chams after they get them and are shocked
Captive raised is certainly the best.
Tetsuo
New Member
This is why I was led to believe that your finances were tight.
Not trying to offend you in any way but too often people find out the cost of keeping chams after they get them and are shocked
Captive raised is certainly the best.
I'm not offended and I understand what your saying I just don't want to go and buy two of these since I'll be having two enclosures. It'd be like over $200 for just the light fixtures but if I could get something just as adequate for a lot less then I'd much rather do just that.
Lovereps
Avid Member
Glad you didn't take offense, as it certainly wasn't the intent.
The Reptisun 5.0 are very often used and are generally reliable.
If your setups will have live plants to help keep humidity up, then you might consider using double fluorescent fixtures with one UVB for the cham and one 6500K bulb (available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.) to help keep the plants alive.
Tetsuo
New Member
I've got a pit man's pride but it wont be able to hold a cham because our house caught on fire about a couple months ago and is still recovering from the heat damage but it's getting there and doing a lot better (it was also the only plant that survived out of six others)
bradley
New Member
Jacksons are great chameleons but as said are not as hardy as panthers or veileds. it is best to get adults like you are as babies do and will drop down dead (as I found out a few weeks back).
I would try and get the setup as spot on as possible so they will thrive
I would also invest in a mistking as they love their water!
Plenty of live plants such as ficus, umbrella plant and pothos will be needed in each cage
I would try and get the setup as spot on as possible so they will thrive
I would also invest in a mistking as they love their water!
Plenty of live plants such as ficus, umbrella plant and pothos will be needed in each cage
bradley
New Member
When I went at school I had my mister misting every few hours. I would get a dripper for drinking and a fogger for humidity
pigglett79
Avid Member
that would be perfect.
