New Jackson's Chameleon owner

[MatthewGregory]

Hello Everyone,

I recently bought my first chameleon a week ago and have a few questions. I noticed today he was climbing around the screening of the cage. He was from top to bottom all around the screen of the cage.When he would get to the front of the cage I would would open the cage and pick him up. While he was outside of the cage he was light green with a teal tail, eyes and chin. It seemed like he wants to roam around the house freely which is understandable. Does this mean he hates the cage or is this normal behavior? Should i just add more vines around the screen?

Cage information:
Reptibreeze screen cage 30"x16"x16"
Hot spot: 85
ambient: 75
Plant: Schefflera and a fake wood vine
Humidty: always above 50%

He is a male Jackson's around a year old.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Patapalm]

Hello Everyone,

I recently bought my first chameleon a week ago and have a few questions. I noticed today he was climbing around the screening of the cage. He was from top to bottom all around the screen of the cage.When he would get to the front of the cage I would would open the cage and pick him up. While he was outside of the cage he was light green with a teal tail, eyes and chin. It seemed like he wants to roam around the house freely which is understandable. Does this mean he hates the cage or is this normal behavior? Should i just add more vines around the screen?

Cage information:
Reptibreeze screen cage 30"x16"x16"
Hot spot: 85
ambient: 75
Plant: Schefflera and a fake wood vine
Humidty: always above 50%

He is a male Jackson's around a year old.

Thank you in advance.

Let's see a photo of your cage!

I recently got my first Cham (also a Jacksonii)- He does the same thing spiderman'ing it all over the cage. He is very adventurous when we take him out. During the daylight and mornings it doesn't seem like he wants to be in the cage at all. I'm guessing its normal behavior, mine is only 6-7 months old (we guess).

I kept adding vines and fake plants until I had a hard time finding him. I tried to make sure there are 'three levels' - kind of like a forest. Floor sticks, worm dish, large dish to collect dripper. Middle vines, stems, leafs, its pretty hectic but he has his little routes. top canopy, sun spot, 2 highest spots, vine with dipper

 

[MatthewGregory]

Let's see a photo of your cage!

I recently got my first Cham (also a Jacksonii)- He does the same thing spiderman'ing it all over the cage. He is very adventurous when we take him out. During the daylight and mornings it doesn't seem like he wants to be in the cage at all. I'm guessing its normal behavior, mine is only 6-7 months old (we guess).

I kept adding vines and fake plants until I had a hard time finding him. I tried to make sure there are 'three levels' - kind of like a forest. Floor sticks, worm dish, large dish to collect dripper. Middle vines, stems, leafs, its pretty hectic but he has his little routes. top canopy, sun spot, 2 highest spots, vine with dipper

I also plan on getting more vines because the plant has not grown out tall enough yet so there isnt a lot of leaves for him to hide when he is on his favorite vine up top.

 

[Remkon]

Hello and welcome!

Do you only have a plant in the enclosure?

You should create more paths for him... You can do this by hanging branches in there, you can get wood from outside and clean it off before hanging it in (you may want to look up what types of wood are best suitable)...
Try to give him a nice horizontal baskingspot.

Jacksonii can be very active chameleons, mine will explore his cage a lot of the time and also climbs the screen sometimes which has cost him some of his nails...
It can't be helped they will sometimes just climb the screen but by creating a lot of paths it will a lot less.

When you notice a nail is gone make sure to check if it's broken or torn out... When broken it will grow back slowly, torn out is gone forever and you will need to make sure it heals without infection.

 

[Miss Lily]

Jacksons do tend to roam a lot! Mine was all over his walls and ceiling when he was tiny, even when he was obviously too big he would still do it, lol! Jackson's are awesome little characters. I really miss mine. Here's him doing his best 'SpiderCham' impression climbing up the textured wallpaper!

 

[MatthewGregory]

Hello and welcome!

Do you only have a plant in the enclosure?

You should create more paths for him... You can do this by hanging branches in there, you can get wood from outside and clean it off before hanging it in (you may want to look up what types of wood are best suitable)...
Try to give him a nice horizontal baskingspot.

Jacksonii can be very active chameleons, mine will explore his cage a lot of the time and also climbs the screen sometimes which has cost him some of his nails...
It can't be helped they will sometimes just climb the screen but by creating a lot of paths it will a lot less.

When you notice a nail is gone make sure to check if it's broken or torn out... When broken it will grow back slowly, torn out is gone forever and you will need to make sure it heals without infection.

I have the one plant and a vine that stretches several different direction including his basking area. I am definitely going buy more vines or branches. Thank you for the information regarding the nails. Hopefully he doesnt lose any.

 

[MatthewGregory]

Jacksons do tend to roam a lot! Mine was all over his walls and ceiling when he was tiny, even when he was obviously too big he would still do it, lol! Jackson's are awesome little characters. I really miss mine. Here's him doing his best 'SpiderCham' impression climbing up the textured wallpaper!

Lol he looked pretty happy doing his thing!

 

[Alexander1]

Use some sturdy branches with the bark still on, not only will that give your chameleon a sturdy place to hang out, but it will also help file down those claws. I believe that Jackson chameleon should be kept a lot cooler than most chama, being a montane species your basking spot may be a little too high. I do not own a jacksons (yet) but I recall several owners stating the cooler and humid temps. I would look into it, an uncomfortable set up may lead to some stress explaining why he's so eager to get out. It could also be that he maybe at the age where he would be looking to mate if he where in the wild so all the constant pacing may be an effort to find a mate. I would wait until an experienced Jackson Cham owner chimes in.

 

[Andee]

No his basking temp is about right, though I usually keep mine down around 80 degrees, most Jackson's do better with that from what I understand.

 

[MatthewGregory]

No his basking temp is about right, though I usually keep mine down around 80 degrees, most Jackson's do better with that from what I understand.

Yeah im gonna try to lift the lights off the cage a bit. When he wqs in tbe basking area earlier he had his mouth open. I hear that means its too hot