Help ! I think my Jacksons is dehydrated.

[Mkb123]

This past suturday I got my new Jacksons chameleon, I thought he was healthy but now I think he is/ has become dehydrated. The first couple days I saw him drinking water from his dripper but I haven't seen him do it in a couple days now. The last poop I saw looked alright but it was two days ago and I'm worried. I might just be paranoid but I think he's eyes look more sunken than when I got him too. He has a little dripper and I mist 2-3 times a day. Also last night I finished building his drainage system and had to move his cage onto it and to another part of my room and I think it's stressed him out more. Yesterday he was active and curious and light colored but today he's just stitting in his cage looking stressed like the day I brought him home. I just want him to be happy and healthy what can I do ? The picture of him on my hand is from the day I brought him home and the one on the branch is today. Also I have another question about his fogger. I got him the reptifogger yesterday to keep his cage humid and create more drops on the leaves but I think he's scared of the fog. So should I just leave it in there so he can get used to it or should I wait till he calms down and reintroduce it or should I get rid of it all together?

 

[JacksJill]

First thing I would do is give him a "shower" as first aide. See below.
Second you should fill out the how to ask for help form. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ so you can get a review of your care to better help him.
Here is the care sheet for Jackson's /https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

"Shower - Another method of providing water, especially to dehydrated chameleons, is by using a shower. Place a large plant in the tub, aim the shower head against the wall, and run the water so that only a fine mist reaches the chameleon. The water should be room temperature (not hot!). They may drink for up to 30 minutes. Make sure to supervise your chameleon at all times while using this method."

 

[JacksJill]

An automatic misting system will be of more use than a fogger. If you can return it and spend your money on a mister do so. Mist 4-5 times a day. a least one misting should be a long one. Now that you have drainage this will be easier.

 

[Andee]

In my opinion you aren't misting enough for a montanes species especially. They need a minimum of four times a day and if you are where it is hot you should have a shorter 5th mist. No mist should go below 5 minutes in my opinion and one misting a day should be around 8-10 minutes long. Then I usually do a shower or a super long mist once a week around 20+ minutes long. Drinking in front of people is actually rare and I usually see it more as a sign of they aren't getting enough water. The fact that you recently moved him is probably why he's upset, it's relatively normal with chams.

 

[Mkb123]

First thing I would do is give him a "shower" as first aide. See below.
Second you should fill out the how to ask for help form. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ so you can get a review of your care to better help him.
Here is the care sheet for Jackson's /https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

"Shower - Another method of providing water, especially to dehydrated chameleons, is by using a shower. Place a large plant in the tub, aim the shower head against the wall, and run the water so that only a fine mist reaches the chameleon. The water should be room temperature (not hot!). They may drink for up to 30 minutes. Make sure to supervise your chameleon at all times while using this method."

• Your Chameleon - He is a male Jacksons chameleon and I've had him almost a week now.
• Handling - I've been trying not to handle him too much so he can settle in but I have had to get him out a few times to try and get some things in his cage straight
• Feeding - I've been feeding about 3 guy loaded crickets a day and 2-3 meal worms. I've ordered him dubia roaches and will start him on those when they come in
• Supplements - I've been dusting his bugs with repti calcium and I have repti vit for him too but I haven't used it yet
• Watering - I have a little dripper and a squirt bottle to mist. I mist for a few minutes 2-3 times a day
• Fecal Description - His last poop two days ago looked good but I haven't seen him poop again since
• History - I haven't had him long but hes seemed to be doing well so far I'm just worried about him drinking

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - He's got a medium reptibreeze screen cage. Planning to upgrade him in the future
• Lighting - He has a zoo med double light
• Temperature - His basking spot is around 80 and as it goes lower it goes down no lower than 70 with the light on. I have a thermometer in there.
• Humidity - using mist and dripper.
• Plants- He has a golden umbrella tree in organic soil
• Placement - his cage is in the corner of my room on top of his drainage system. Probably about 2 feet off the ground
• Location- Georgia, USA

 

[Mkb123]

First thing I would do is give him a "shower" as first aide. See below.
Second you should fill out the how to ask for help form. https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/ so you can get a review of your care to better help him.
Here is the care sheet for Jackson's /https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

"Shower - Another method of providing water, especially to dehydrated chameleons, is by using a shower. Place a large plant in the tub, aim the shower head against the wall, and run the water so that only a fine mist reaches the chameleon. The water should be room temperature (not hot!). They may drink for up to 30 minutes. Make sure to supervise your chameleon at all times while using this method."

I've read about the showers before but I was kinda scared to try it because I usually use water conditioner on his was first, is it safe for him to drink the water without it ?

 

[Andee]

Water conditioner actually doesn't do as much good as you'd expect.

 

[Mkb123]

In my opinion you aren't misting enough for a montanes species especially. They need a minimum of four times a day and if you are where it is hot you should have a shorter 5th mist. No mist should go below 5 minutes in my opinion and one misting a day should be around 8-10 minutes long. Then I usually do a shower or a super long mist once a week around 20+ minutes long. Drinking in front of people is actually rare and I usually see it more as a sign of they aren't getting enough water. The fact that you recently moved him is probably why he's upset, it's relatively normal with chams.

Thank you , I will definitely mist him more often and a bit longer. Also I've been just kinda chilling in my room and watching him a little but if he doesn't wanna drink in front of me should I go somewhere else for a little bit after misting him ?

 

[Andee]

It might be a good idea, if you aren't misting long enough to stimulate him drinking right in front of you during it (which montanes can take a very long time if they aren't right out thirsty), giving him some privacy for a bit might be good.

 

[JacksJill]

Give him some space to adjust to his new location. Mine almost never drinks in front of me. Keep an eye on his urates instead.
Skip the mealworms they aren't a good feeder. Superworms are a better choice but look similar and are as easy to keep.
For montane species the more live plants the better. They hold more humidity in the soil and leaves. When he settles in you can add more. I'd let him deal with all of this for a few days before any more changes. You could even partially cover his cage to give him some privacy till he settles down.

 

[Mkb123]

Give him some space to adjust to his new location. Mine almost never drinks in front of me. Keep an eye on his urates instead.
Skip the mealworms they aren't a good feeder. Superworms are a better choice but look similar and are as easy to keep.
For montane species the more live plants the better. They hold more humidity in the soil and leaves. When he settles in you can add more. I'd let him deal with all of this for a few days before any more changes. You could even partially cover his cage to give him some privacy till he settles down.

Ok thank you very much, I just gave him a long misting session and went downstairs so maybe he will drink. When I go back in there I'll cover up some of his cage. His umbrella tree is pretty big so I'll look around for some smaller plants I can fit. Thanks again for all your help

 

[carol5208]

He doesn't look dehydrated to me and in my experience they do not drink water everyday anyways. Think of them out in the wild....it does not rain everyday. I know for a fact, there are days, when my chameleons just do not choose to drink!

 

[Mkb123]

He doesn't look dehydrated to me and in my experience they do not drink water everyday anyways. Think of them out in the wild....it does not rain everyday. I know for a fact, there are days, when my chameleons just do not choose to drink!

Thank you , this gives me a little peace of mind.