New to Chameleons...some advice?

ChamDreams

ChamDreams

Member
Firstly...Hi :)

I'm new to this forum and Chameleons in general.
I've kept gecko's and I'm now ready to get my dream reptile...a Jacksons Chameleon, either the dwarf, or three horned (j.j), not the yellow.

So, I already have a large (wide) exo terra viv from my previous reptiles, 45hx45wx90l so I know I will have to upgrade. I'm buying a baby Jackson, at approx 4cm, so it will be fine for a short while until I get a taller viv.

I've spoken to my local exotic vet, she keeps chameleons, and has told me to use a glass viv instead of mesh because of where I live, (UK), it would be really difficult to keep the humidity constant. I know there's a huge divide with chameleon owners over glass or mesh, but I'm going with a professional here, so quite happy on that point.

I guess my question is, how big on average do the jacksons (the two I'm considering) get? I've looked online and the sizes aren't really constant. One page says this...another page says that...
Any jacksons keepers on here with fully grown? I just want a real idea of what type of upgrade would be ideal, and also how long before I need to upgrade, growth rate etc.
I know bigger is better, but I only have so much space in my living room ;)

Thanks in advance (hope this wasn't too long) :p
 
Welcome! I am not expert but perhaps I can help a little. I have a Panther chameleon and enjoy doing online research and Improving my care.

For the size of the enclosure, if that figure is in inches, then you have no need to upgrade the size of your viv. if that figure is in centimeters, then you will likely need to upgrade sometime between 3 months and a year for most average size chameleons. That being said, I know NOTHING about Jackson's chameleons or how big they get. I believe they are a bit smaller than a Panther Chameleon, but I really haven't researched outside of the Panther and Parsonii realm.

As for the mesh vs glass, that is a divided issue. The general consensus is that mesh is better because chameleons have fragile respiratory systems and need proper ventilation. However, if ventilation is adequate and airflow isn't impeded, or too much moisture left stagnant, then the issue of glass vs mesh becomes moot. Most experts recommend to allow a chameleon cage to dry out between mistings and have very very good drainage capabilities, which is VERY hard with a glass terrarium (drainage mostly). It is also very hard to maintain a glass terrarium that is tall enough for a chameleon to live comfortably (chameleons are arboreal) because you need to be able to access the bottom to clean droppings and properly maintain the enclosure. You also can SERIOUSLY stress out your cham by always coming in from above him. This is how the main predators of chams, birds and snakes, would usually come at them, from above. Stress can shorten cham lives significantly and even lead to sudden death if the scare is good enough.This is why vertical mesh cages that have FRONT opening designs are very popular and widely used. They satisfy the drainage, ventilation, and serviceability requirements, and allow your cham to see you at a level that isn't threatening. You can come at him at or below his level.

I assume that your vet told you to go with glass as a medium to maintain humidity and temperature because the UK is, well, the UK. This can be tricky but isn't impossible with mesh cages. My cham is in a mesh cage. I live in Oregon, USA, and our climates aren't very different at all. Live plants, regular Mistings (get a MistKing, you'll thank yourself later), and cage placement play a big role (don't put your cage in the front room where the door to the cold outside is going to be frequently opened). Placing a small heater in the same room as the cham, as well as a humidifier, can help big time. Another option would be to go with a "clear side" cage, like the ones from Dragon Strand. Bill Strand has a blog and talks about how it is perfectly fine to have a cage with three solid sides (clear PVC plexy usually), while leaving one side and the ceiling as mesh. This satisfies all ventilation needs adequately, but helps in a big way to maintain humidity and temperature because not all sides allow air flow. I have a big one on order now. However, for you, being in the UK, the shipping cost alone may be prohibitive. I live in the USA, one state away from HQ and the cage shipping was over $100usd. Only you can decide, I do not know your budget. An alternative would be to purchase a big screen cage on the cheap, cut the screen off of three sides, and attach plexy yourself. Viola. Budget clearside cage.

Either way, keeping a cham in a regular glass horizontal style terrarium isn't advised. I guess you could turn it on one end and rig up a front door (mesh!!) out of what was the top, but this I am afraid would be more trouble than it is worth.

My two cents, for what it is worth.
Cheers!
-C
 
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A fogger will help a lot. I have some in big ExoTerra. I have a 30g Calumma malthe in an ExoTerra 36" x 36" x 18" that is fully planted. I like it. That is the size you should look at. Small ExoTerras are not great for air circulation no matter what they say, but a fogger helps as it pumps mist (and air movement) into the cage. I'm thinking of trying to replace one single door with screen.
 
Thank you to those who answered!

After looking through things a bit more, and your advice, i'm thinking it's best to go with a screen/mesh viv. I've found one i like, the screen/mesh viv is 46x46x76cm, so i'm quite happy with the height of that for a jacksons chameleon.

Now i just have to try and lift this giant glass viv by myself and move it out of the way :O

I'm still worried about the humidity, because of where i am. That being said, the idea of putting a screen/plexi sheet on the outside is a great option! I'm also going with live plants, so that should help a great deal. And i just watched a vid on youtube where the entire side of the mesh is covered with hanging plants to help contain the heat and humidity, i think it looks fab!
 
ChamDreams said:
Thank you to those who answered!

After looking through things a bit more, and your advice, i'm thinking it's best to go with a screen/mesh viv. I've found one i like, the screen/mesh viv is 46x46x76cm, so i'm quite happy with the height of that for a jacksons chameleon.

Now i just have to try and lift this giant glass viv by myself and move it out of the way :O

I'm still worried about the humidity, because of where i am. That being said, the idea of putting a screen/plexi sheet on the outside is a great option! I'm also going with live plants, so that should help a great deal. And i just watched a vid on youtube where the entire side of the mesh is covered with hanging plants to help contain the heat and humidity, i think it looks fab!
Click to expand...
Watch out for the heat! jacksons like it cool and do not handle over 27 * very well
 
ChamDreams said:
I've heard they are quite tolerant of being handled too compared to most chameleons, is that true?

What chameleon do you have?

Trying to learn as much about all the chameleons as possible now :)
Click to expand...
well if you ask me I would tell you not to handle any chameleons. nor housing them together. I had two females that stoped eating and got their eyes closed because I just to take them out of their cage and such. and housed them in a trio. back when I was wet behind my ears. If I say like this. there is a risk that things can go wrong if one handles them and housed them in pair or groups. Now this things can not happen if you keep them by themselves and approach them as fish. see but not touch or as an interest animal were the stimulations you get is by decorating their cage, implementing their supplies, looking them eat and change colors and such. But that´s is my approach. kinda like a idiotproof approach. I hope you don´t take this as an offence. It is the way I had found works best for the animals.
 
leedragon said:
well if you ask me I would tell you not to handle any chameleons. nor housing them together. I had two females that stoped eating and got their eyes closed because I just to take them out of their cage and such. and housed them in a trio. back when I was wet behind my ears. If I say like this. there is a risk that things can go wrong if one handles them and housed them in pair or groups. Now this things can not happen if you keep them by themselves and approach them as fish. see but not touch or as an interest animal were the stimulations you get is by decorating their cage, implementing their supplies, looking them eat and change colors and such. But that´s is my approach. kinda like a idiotproof approach. I hope you don´t take this as an offence. It is the way I had found works best for the animals.
Click to expand...

No offence taken at all so don't worry :)

I don't plan on handling daily, but obviously to clean the viv, I will need to move the Chameleon around. And I also heard that they like to take showers? I just watched another video of people letting their chameleon have a good scrub under the shower once a week to make sure they get a good clean and lots of water.

As for housing more than one, even as a "newbie" I know not to have more than one. And also if you do have more than one, keep their vivs seperate and out of sight of each other, so I won't be making any mistakes like that.

Just the one for me....for now :p

I should be getting a baby 3-4cm in size. So I'm hoping to have a routine, as it grows, of handling once a week for cleaning and the shower if needed :p After looking around I found a lot of posts saying that the Jacksons tolerate handling better than most, so was just wondering how true that is?
 
Glad you have gone for a mesh screen cage. Is it the reptibreeze?

I am in the UK too and have a veiled chameleon. I have no problem with providing enough heat and also have a Mistking which takes care of the humidity. Being a screen cage it allows for drying in between and plenty of air exchange which wouldn't be so good with all glass.

With handling see how happy or not your chameleon appears to be with it. I struck lucky with mine, she displays no stress at all. When I open the cage she is down like a shot climbing out onto my hands. I've only witnessed the hissing, gaping and puffing up reaction once and that was when I decided she needed an extra climbing branch. She was definitely not happy about that. An hour later she was chilled out basking on it and back to her normal self.
 
greenbirdlady said:
Glad you have gone for a mesh screen cage. Is it the reptibreeze?

I am in the UK too and have a veiled chameleon. I have no problem with providing enough heat and also have a Mistking which takes care of the humidity. Being a screen cage it allows for drying in between and plenty of air exchange which wouldn't be so good with all glass.

With handling see how happy or not your chameleon appears to be with it. I struck lucky with mine, she displays no stress at all. When I open the cage she is down like a shot climbing out onto my hands. I've only witnessed the hissing, gaping and puffing up reaction once and that was when I decided she needed an extra climbing branch. She was definitely not happy about that. An hour later she was chilled out basking on it and back to her normal self.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Yes it is a reptibreeze :) I was going to try the exo terra screen viv, but read bad reviews about the removable tray area not being cricket proof! Shame really as it's design would be perfect with the removable tray :(

Your chameleon sounds like a sweetie!!! I had a gecko just like that. She would come scrambling over when I opened the door, she loved my cat too haha!

I'm being treated to my chameleon as a birthday gift in April. So, I'm quite excited as I've always wanted one. I think they are just so fascinating!

The veiled seem a bit to big for me tho. I wanted to start with something a little smaller and a little easier to keep. You must be very experienced!

I'm expecting the new viv tomorrow, so I'll get it all set up, and I've got until April to put the plants in there and keep it all running. So fingers crossed by the time I get my little one the habitat I've built will be perfect and flourishing :)
 
Roll on April :)

I'm not a bit experienced but read this forum avidly. There are some very experienced people on here and I learnt a lot. One poster who comes to mind is jajeanpierre, you won't go wrong following their advice. Good luck.
 
I would wait to get a chameleon of the species you mention until it is at least 6 mos old. They are a big challenge before that age. Some keepers keep them in glass until they are 3 mos. old then move them to screen.
jajeanpierre would know more about montain species.
 
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