Mother Issues

[MSB123]

Hey everyone,
I have been having a few problems with my mother about my new Jackson chamelon. Most of them stem from a few things.
1. “Your cage is too big”- I have reduced to 4x2x3 and I feel that going to a size she wants (2x2x1) will harm my little guy and he won’t have enough room to move around.
2. Control- My younger brother and I bought him together (bad idea, but we will work it out). My brother wants to completely be responsible for his care. I tried that for 24 hours and 8 things went wrong and then I was yelled at for not helping out. My mother blames me for “making the cage too complexv” and making all of our lives difficult.

My mom and brother are both very reasonable people and now that I have finished my rant, if you would like to, I would love some advice on how to deal with this problem and maybe some things I can show them to explain home chams are not some easy pet and that they require care and attention. I am at a loss at what to do and tomorrow they are tearing down the cage I built and getting a too small cage (IMO).
Thanks in advance,
MSB

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Screen, 4x3x2,
• Lighting - Mega Ray 100 watt, 8” above basking spot, 7:30 am to 7 pm Also a LED strip for general lighting and a small heat bulb to keep the large top of the cage warm
• Temperature - Basking is about 88 F, bottom is about 68 nighttime low about 55 digital gauge for general temp, laser temp gun for specifics
• Humidity - Keep it about 55-65 average, gets to 85 during fogging 3 times per 24hr period, using a digital gauge
• Plants- Large Pothos, adding a large ficus TMW
• Placement - Near a window(kept closed most times) cage top is about 7ft above floor
• Southern California, Santa Barbara area

 

[Carlton]

It might help to show your mother this forum, particularly the articles under the Resources tab that explain cham caging. Reducing your cage any more WILL BE A PROBLEM for any cham. The 4x2x3 is a good space for one jackson's. If you go as small as your mother wants, your pet will suffer, be inactive (and boring to watch), and may end up sick. Then you will have vet bills to fund. She doesn't want to be cruel does she? If you show her these articles she will see that the acceptable care chams need isn't opinion, it is well-researched practice.

 

[Kristen99]

Chameleons are extremely sensitive animals and require vary precise and correct husbandry on the keepers part to survive. I applaud you for taking control.
Your enclosure should be a min of 24x24x48 for an adult nothing less.. they are expensive animals there is no getting around that.. if that is your cage in your profile picture it is lacking foliage and needs to be more dense and covered with as many horizontal pathways for your chameleon to take. I'm sorry to hear that your family isn't wanting to understand and I unfortunately think your chameleon will suffer greatly from the lack of knowledge.. there is a specific care guidelines on the home page if you have any questions and want to show them the "guidelines" for keeping a Jackson chameleon. I hope all goes well.

 

[Twitchet]

I’m sorry you are having issues but your cage size sounds very good, I would not keep one in a smaller size, the smaller size is way too small for an animal and part of the joy of keeping a chameleon is to see it in a nice planted enclosure where it can thrive not just survive so I do hope you will show your mom the comments and I hope all goes well, you are being most considerate and conscientious with wanting to house it correctly in the larger size, you will have a very happy chameleon instead of one in a prison and check out and show your family the care sheets that have been compiled by long term and knowledgeable chameleon keepers and follow them too.
Good luck.

 

[Remkon]

Looks to me 2 people consider it a toy and 1 young wise person considers it an actual animal.

You have to do everything in the best interest of that animal, downsizing to half the bare minimum isn't in best interest of that animal, neither is having someone care for it that is still to young or not well disciplined enough to follow the routines properly.

They are life animals and in many cases they will spend most their lives in that enclosure. You better make sure he has enough space and many paths to climb aswell as proper husbandry.

When I was a little Remkon my dad used to complain about my pets all the time, I chose to ignore it and he kept allowing it even when 1/3rd of my room became an iguana enclosure...

 

[JapSolum]

maybe put it into terms easier for people to understand. putting a jacksons in a smaller less complicated cage (I agree yours could actually have a little bit MORE added to it). is the equivalent to buying a dog and keeping it chained to a post in the yard. it may survive, but most would consider it animal cruelty. as it is not allowing the animal to live its life and be happy. I would if anything, try to negotiate terms. have them look at a fraction of these forums, and if they decide he is capable of caring for it. make sure he knows the full time job it is. and I would stand firm on housing as much as possible, although it can be tough when dealing with a parent.

 

[VerucaSalt]

Hey everyone,
I have been having a few problems with my mother about my new Jackson chamelon. Most of them stem from a few things.
1. “Your cage is too big”- I have reduced to 4x2x3 and I feel that going to a size she wants (2x2x1) will harm my little guy and he won’t have enough room to move around.
2. Control- My younger brother and I bought him together (bad idea, but we will work it out). My brother wants to completely be responsible for his care. I tried that for 24 hours and 8 things went wrong and then I was yelled at for not helping out. My mother blames me for “making the cage too complexv” and making all of our lives difficult.

My mom and brother are both very reasonable people and now that I have finished my rant, if you would like to, I would love some advice on how to deal with this problem and maybe some things I can show them to explain home chams are not some easy pet and that they require care and attention. I am at a loss at what to do and tomorrow they are tearing down the cage I built and getting a too small cage (IMO).
Thanks in advance,
MSB

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Screen, 4x3x2,
• Lighting - Mega Ray 100 watt, 8” above basking spot, 7:30 am to 7 pm Also a LED strip for general lighting and a small heat bulb to keep the large top of the cage warm
• Temperature - Basking is about 88 F, bottom is about 68 nighttime low about 55 digital gauge for general temp, laser temp gun for specifics
• Humidity - Keep it about 55-65 average, gets to 85 during fogging 3 times per 24hr period, using a digital gauge
• Plants- Large Pothos, adding a large ficus TMW
• Placement - Near a window(kept closed most times) cage top is about 7ft above floor
• Southern California, Santa Barbara area

Jackson Chams aren't an easy pet. They are very rewarding and beautiful to enjoy for many years, but sizing down especially after just getting it, can be harmful and as @JapSolum said, it is the equivalent to keeping a dog in a crate 20 hrs a day. People do it, but it's a cruel way to go, and will effect the temperment, health and longevity. Vet bills will certainly increase as it's not helpful to the animal.

I'm sorry this is a source of stress for all of you. I think many of the pists in this forum will help, maybe even show them the pics of the animals ppl have had issues with as a result of not doing what's best for the animal....I don't think most realize the level of care a Cham needs, in the same way I don't think all ppl get the true enjoyment from same either. Good luck, sending you positive energy!!

 

[MSB123]

Thanks everyone! I will show her later today!

 

[blue_cham]

Education is a great place to start. Also, try to compromise? Hear me out! You don't want to put the parents on the defensive and offering some compromise might help. Is the cage in a common area? What about having it moved to your bedroom? Or possibly agreeing to do minimum cage size recommended by the care sheet, in exchange, maybe they allow you to build an indoor free roam area? Free roam area can be made to take up minimal to no floor space depending on how you build, and could offer some extra exercise. I would tentativly suggest maybe a large outdoor enclosure for nice days since you live in Southern California, but beware that opening that can if worms may lead to your family coming up with the idea that he would be outdoors all the time :/ Anyways... Just food for thought Good luck!!

 

[blue_cham]

Also, be sure to mention that you are trying to be a responsible person. "Responsiblity" is a great word to use for parents

 

[VerucaSalt]

Education is a great place to start. Also, try to compromise? Hear me out! You don't want to put the parents on the defensive and offering some compromise might help. Is the cage in a common area? What about having it moved to your bedroom? Or possibly agreeing to do minimum cage size recommended by the care sheet, in exchange, maybe they allow you to build an indoor free roam area? Free roam area can be made to take up minimal to no floor space depending on how you build, and could offer some extra exercise. I would tentativly suggest maybe a large outdoor enclosure for nice days since you live in Southern California, but beware that opening that can if worms may lead to your family coming up with the idea that he would be outdoors all the time :/ Anyways... Just food for thought Good luck!!

I thint this is spot on as well. Approaching the whole thing as non confrontational, nonaccusary, etc....key to the whole thing.

Maybe you could come up with a list of tasks your brother could complete and check off dailu that are prior to you doing your "chores" with the Cham, that way you know they are double checked, and he feels he is contributing as well but you have PC of mind they're done each time.

Could he be responsible for waking up the cham each morning and turning on the dripper/fog/mister to get the Cham drinking, turning on lights, etc....then you are the one feeding after the Cham is warmed up and moving, so you're double checking?

Or nighttime, could he "put him to bed" and you go thru and verify as part of your routine.

Also, you can get timered/set plugs/set-ups so that it may be perceived as a little less upkeep. You'd only need to add your distilled water to the mix when low once you had it all set to his needs.

 

[jamest0o0]

I was never good with the non confrontational approaches , great advice here!

 

[MSB123]

I thint this is spot on as well. Approaching the whole thing as non confrontational, nonaccusary, etc....key to the whole thing.

Maybe you could come up with a list of tasks your brother could complete and check off dailu that are prior to you doing your "chores" with the Cham, that way you know they are double checked, and he feels he is contributing as well but you have PC of mind they're done each time.

Could he be responsible for waking up the cham each morning and turning on the dripper/fog/mister to get the Cham drinking, turning on lights, etc....then you are the one feeding after the Cham is warmed up and moving, so you're double checking?

Or nighttime, could he "put him to bed" and you go thru and verify as part of your routine.

Also, you can get timered/set plugs/set-ups so that it may be perceived as a little less upkeep. You'd only need to add your distilled water to the mix when low once you had it all set to his needs.

I have already set everything up on timers, the only things that need to happen each day are feeding and refilling the dripper and mister.

 

[MSB123]

Thanks for the ideas