New owner please help

[Shawnschamelion]

Hi guys just joined up and I'm looking for some info. I got a Jackson's chemelion and I'm a new owner. I have a 18" uvb light but innit sure about asking bulb. The pet store didn't have one but on my research I found they should have one. Also they said I couldn't use a coil uvb bulb and I had to buy the 18" zilla tropical fixture.. I was also wondering about handling him. He opens his mouth and tries to bite you. I don't know if holding him puts stress on him or will he get used to me over time and enjoy it.. any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Lennoncham]

Yes they do need a basking light. It helps them to thermoregulate and to digest there food. You didn't "have" to buy the zilla fixture but they are better then the coil bulbs. Handeling will put stress on them if you just got him you should let him settle in for a while before handling to minimize the stress.

Here a link to the care sheet for jacksons. Please read and follow it lots of great info made by the pros on this site.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

 

[bobcochran]

Look at the top of this page, click on the resources tab. There's a lot of information there to help you with the basics.

 

[Shawnschamelion]

Great thanks a lot.. here is a pic of my setup and fudge.. that's his name.. my 2 yr old named him this. So it's what we went with

 

[Shawnschamelion]

Here is fudge

 

[Inky]

Get that water bowl out of that cage! chameleons wont drink from it , and it breeds bacteria! instead they drink water from leaves and what not

 

[Shawnschamelion]

It's not a water bowl it's for his meal worms. I spray with purified water twice daily?? Is that enough??

 

[opheliaeatsbugs]

You should have a water source Fudge can drink from. Misting will address the humidity but isn't usually enough for their drinking needs. In the care sheets provided above:

"Hydration & Misting
The cage should be misted at least twice a day, drying out completely between misting sessions. This raises relative humidity as well as stimulates your chameleon to want to drink. Water can be provided by means of a dripper (not a waterfall or water bowl). The dripper should be placed on top of the cage so that the water droplets drip down and accumulate on plant leaves. Other watering options include manual and automated misting sytems. Chameleons do not recognize standing water as a drinking source. See Water & Humidity for more information."

 

[Nursemaia]

Jackson's love water, I'd mist him 3 or 4 times a day and for 5-10 minutes each time. They need lots of water