Some Advice For a New Owner

[Mew]

Hi there, I've just taken home a new friend, a three-horned Jackson's chameleon, from my work (at a pet store) after around a two week back and forth and talking with other enthusiasts. I would love some advice on some topics I haven't been able to find good, solid answers to for my specific circumstances, and experienced advice would be greatly appreciated.

First, the set up. He is a 6-8 inch long male, I haven't taken a ruler to him yet. He is in an 18x18x24 enclosure, the glass kind with the door and mesh screen top. He has a hydroball floor covered by ZM matting covered by coconut fiber bedding and moss. He has a "mushroom ledge" perch mounted to the wall via silicone, a cork background he likes to climb on, a plant mounted securely via silicone to the wall and a vine that wraps all about the home.

1) He spends most of his time below the basking light, at around an 84-85 degree temperature as an almost black color. He has only been in his new home for around 30 hours now, so it could be stress, but I'm still a little worried.

2) He sometimes has both his eyes closed, and this may be odd to ask about, but every I read I see "eyes should be open at all times". Usually one is cracked open at least a bit, but kind of hard to tell.

3) I am trying hard to keep the humidity up, I mist several times daily in generous amounts, I have the hydro balls and moss, but I live in Arizona, and it's hard to get the humidity in his enclosure above 60, and is usually around 53 unless I've recently misted. I will get a dripper soon, and possible an auto mister, but any other thoughts?

4) I use a 5.0 reptisun UVB at the moment in a deep dome lamp, on the advice that 10.0 was too concentrated, however I haven't found a solid answer to this debate.

5) I feed him mainly gut loaded, dusted crickets, however I was wondering about other proteins such as waxworms or mealworms.

I LOVE all my friends, and want the best for them, please share your knowledge with me!

Thanks for reading,
Zack

 

[Mew]

Pictures

Here are some pics, I spaced on posting them earlier O-o'
Here he is on my girlfriend's hand
http://tinypic.com/r/ofzedx/5
Here's his color I was worried about
http://tinypic.com/r/xd5m2r/5
The set up
http://tinypic.com/r/16hwb3r/5

Sorry, I'm new, and linking it directly didn't seem to work :/

 

[Yak]

I've been tempted to put something on the back wall but I discovered that my jack is a bit clumsy and I have fear of him falling on his back. The moss and the substrate also worries me they may choke while eating a cricket.1) He spends most of his time below the basking light, at around an 84-85 degree temperature as an almost black color. He has only been in his new home for around 30 hours now, so it could be stress, but I'm still a little worried.
i. Temp in AZ are a bit hot anyway right? What type of basking light are you using? What about Hydration?
2) He sometimes has both his eyes closed, and this may be odd to ask about, but every I read I see "eyes should be open at all times". Usually one is cracked open at least a bit, but kind of hard to tell.
ii. Def something to worry and a trip to the vet would be ideal.

3) I am trying hard to keep the humidity up, I mist several times daily in generous amounts, I have the hydro balls and moss, but I live in Arizona, and it's hard to get the humidity in his enclosure above 60, and is usually around 53 unless I've recently misted. I will get a dripper soon, and possible an auto mister, but any other thoughts?
iii. Use a humidifier, buy a used one at a second hand store for then bucks. I bought my new at target for $40. He will love that.

4) I use a 5.0 reptisun UVB at the moment in a deep dome lamp, on the advice that 10.0 was too concentrated, however I haven't found a solid answer to this debate.
iv. Best Ive read is to use a tube lamp instead. Matter of opinon and experience.

5) I feed him mainly gut loaded, dusted crickets, however I was wondering about other proteins such as waxworms or mealworms.
v. What are you dusting your crickets with? Try silk worms, or BSF worms.

hope I am of help and of course read what other's may post about it. he's a great looking guy!

 

[Mew]

Reply to Yak

Thank you for your reply

Merlin carefully reaches around and finds a good grip on the background, and traverses it in about all directions and has yet to even stumble, although I keep an eye on him still.

I am using a ZM "Daylight Blue" 60W bulb in a ZM combo mini dome lamp.

I asked three other former/current chameleon owners about the substrates I was using and they said it should be fine with chameleons. The crickets usually crawl up the wall immediately and that's Where Merlin makes his kill, but I can change if you think that would be best. I know with my beardies I would never use sand.

Arizona is hot right now, the temp at the closest Merlin can get to the light is 85.3~ usually, this is both from a digital that the probe is close to, and a fish tank floating siliconed with the end close by.

It seems that tube/dome has been a bit of an unresolved debate and matter of preference from what I've found, but thanks for your input

I am dusting them with the same stuff as for my beardies, the Komodo dust, as well as feeding them the gut-load w/ calcium cricket drink. They all come from the same container.

Thank you for your help, and thanks for the input! Thank you for the compliment as well, I fell in love with him at first sight. I am the pet guy at the store I work at, it just opened, and our first Jackson was shipped mid shed and delayed in an airport for two days. He made it to the store alive but died shortly after :/ I had been toying with the idea and went to receive the new shipment, and I unboxed this guy and he walked right out from the little container onto my hand and wouldn't get off I had a veiled for around 3 months when I lived in Washington state, but then we moved to Arizona, and to make sure he would live I gave him to a good home :/ Broke my heart, and been missing one ever since

Thanks again for the info!

 

[xbrokenbabydoll]

Here is a good care-sheet that lets you know about supplementation and a few other basic things for Jacksons https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/amanda509/581-basic-care-jacksons-chameleons.html

I agree with Yak on trying to find a humidifier it will make things easier and the chameleons really do love them!

 

[Lathis]

I have a Jackson's too, and he is just the best! The care sheet will give you everything you need.


One thing that will be different from Veileds is the supplement schedule. Jackson's need less supplements than Veileds and Panthers. You might check the recommended supplement schedule in the care sheet. He will need pure calcium powder, too.



I run a humidifier in the winter when the RH gets really low - but it might be always low where you are. A cool mist ultrasonic humidifier will do wonders for your little guy. I bought one from Target for $30 on clearance.

 

[Mew]

Thank you all for your advice!
I've noticed that no one seems to be alarmed by the dark color Merlin turns? So this is normal?

 

[Mew]

Woke up this morning to Merlin eyeing me from his vine (He's at the foot of my bed), under his lights as his vibrant lime green color with only triangles of his really dark color. His humidity after being unmisted all night was a flat 60. He has been occasionally opening his mouth almost all the way, although I assume this is gaping as it lasts no more than a second, he is fairly close to the lamp and happens maybe every 4-5 minutes.

I really love this new mister I got, it's a little hand held with a pump so that it sprays almost constantly, and it was only like 5 bucks. I have a humidifier downstairs for my guitars, but I could bring that up to my room in the interim while I search for a smaller, more suited one. I am wondering if a dripper is really necessary? My plan was to basically rig my own out of pvc irrigation, silicone and a 2 liter bottle. I know they offer commercial ones, but they are basically the same thing with fancy colors and labels.

 

[Lathis]

Yes, being dark while basking is pretty normal. My little guy goes from really dark to popping out his stripes while basking.



Do you know the exact temperature at the basking spot? He may be a little too hot and is just not smart enough to move further away from the lamp (speaking from experience). I have my basking spot rigged up with one of those mushroom ledges, which he loves! Its about 84-86F at the ledge. My little guy likes it that warm, but most of the care sheets say keep it a bit cooler in the low 80sF.



I have one of those pressurized spray bottles, too. They are great. I usually do a warm shower in the morning as "bonding time" and then let my mistking take over for the rest of the day. Because Jackson's like so much water and need higher humidity levels, I would recommend commend getting an automated misting system - makes it much easier on your daily care. If you have a mister going, you may find that don't need a dripper.



I keep vacillating back and forth between yes and no to the dripper. Ferdinand likes it, but he doesn't need it. I'm over thinking it probably. I just want him to be content and healthy

 

[junglefries]

overheating

Gaping mouth every 4-5min means he is overheating. Mist him. get rid of the dirt bottom, use newspaper or a piece of linoleum, if you must. People here hate them, but Reptifoggers are GREAT for jax, just ask a lot of breeders. No blue night light. No light at all at night. He needs a screen cage, preferably at least 18x18x36". I tried glass, it will cause issues, if not now, later. sorry, so quick and harsh sounding, late to p/up kid. not intended to be harsh, just rushed.

 

[Mew]

Thank you for your reply as to gaping, I actually didn't have a hasty respond because I ran to work for crickets and a 40 watt bulb to reduce temperature from my 60 watt. I started using Reptivite to dust as well as keeping a separate container of crickets for my jackson as per advice. He gobbled down 5 small/meds, including 2 from my fingers He isn't particularly timid of me, just usually can't be bothered to move onto my hand. He is currently a lime green with dark green triangles, and has ceased to become almost fully black for the most part. Humidity is steady at 60-70. My only worry is he has some bumps on him, although they are in very uniform progression in a straight line on both sides. It isn't something new, I just read that they shouldn't have any bumps. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[Mew]

In the store I fed the baby veileds 3 smalls a day and the jackson 5, at home I'm not sure how to regulate their feeding. Do I feed him until he stops eating/loses interest, or are the Jacksons stupid like goldfish and will eat until they explode? Also, his main basking spot is 82.5-83 degrees. It is a plant for the moment, but I plan to install a second mushroom ledge nearby when we get another one in the store. He tends to be indecisive on where he wants to be. This could be that he is still exploring, but first day he wouldn't leave the plant. Yesterday he was clinging to the top mesh almost all day, and today the vine is his place to be. He's fairly social for a chameleon, the veileds in the store hiss at me when i reach in to feed them/mist them, but this guy is right up to the glass looking at me as I type.

 

[Yak]

Lots of great advice from everyone,
the care sheet is there for the best optimum guide,
the questions are:
substrate at the bottom? will he survive? Yes he will, he wont die, but substrate creates bacteria and eventually respiratory problems and mouth rot, specially with a glass enclosure. Pet store employees don't seem to mind the glass enclosures because the animals are kept for a relatively short period of time, after three months don't be surprised if you see them with one eye closed or simply belly up,.
about the supplements, a name doesn't say at all, the question is, is it
multi vitamins? calcium? with or without D3?
If you see him with his mouth open that means he is trying to thermo regulate his own body by gasping loads of fresh air.
The blue light isn't good for chameleons, best for them is the one that simulates the sun.
My adivice is to create a schedule of max 12 hours on, and if he is in your bedroom and youre a night owl, don't think "oh cool my Jackson is staying up making me company"... the sleep is crucial for them because it helps them with their own temps and actually their inmmune system.
Jacksons aren't stupid, but they rely on your husbandry, and they don't want things spoon fed either. set a number of crickets daily and let him hunt.
Im still nervous about the climbing back wall, simply because I;ve heard horror stories of Jax breaking their spine and or getting prolapses due to internal injuries.
good luck.

 

[Mew]

The supplement is ZM Reptivite With D3, Ultrafine super stick, has a picture of a Jackson on the front, although I know that doesn't mean it's necessarily the right stuff.

 

[Lathis]

That's good for using once every two weeks. You will also need a pure calcium with no phosphorus and no D3 to dust with three times a week. Its pretty cheap, but you might have to order it online. I use repashy brand, but there are several brands available.

 

[Mew]

To resolve Yak's concern, I have now secured the vine against the back of the cork background, so there is literally no other secure structure outside of Merlin's reach on the background.

 

[Yak]

That's good for using once every two weeks. You will also need a pure calcium with no phosphorus and no D3 to dust with three times a week. Its pretty cheap, but you might have to order it online. I use repashy brand, but there are several brands available.

good call Lathis, my calcium comes from either exoterra or zoo med
and yes I also have the one mentioned with the picture of the Jackson on it. I do that one only xmonth during the summer (because he gets sun light) and once a week during the winter. Very light dusting no ghostly crickets, lol.

 

[Yak]

To resolve Yak's concern, I have now secured the vine against the back of the cork background, so there is literally no other secure structure outside of Merlin's reach on the background.

phew! that will save his life has if he falls he will catch himself with his tail. My wife gets nervous handling them, but one time he fell off the very high top and caught himself on a branch with his tail.

 

[Mew]

I've taken Merlin outside a couple times, but I'm a little worried about burning him as I do live in Arizona. He has a deepdome reptisun 5.0 at the moment, so should I still only once a month on dusted crickets? I don't mind buying some new ones un-dusted, just want a fair time frame for dustings. Also, any input on the gut-load cricket drink? I've been using it, and it also has calcium added.

 

[Lathis]

He will need feeders dusted with a multivitamin and D3 once every other week. I do it on Sundays. Dust his feeders with plain

calcium 3 times a week. It's easy once you get into a routine.



The gutloaded cricket drink doesn't have a good reputation with people here. It has also been reported that it grows bacteria in the bottle, so it should be refrigerated. I think it's easier to keep some leafy greens, butternut squash, and various fruits and veggies in the house to give to the bugs every third day or so. I snack and save the rinds and cores for the crickets. The squash keeps a long time in a zip lock baggie in the fridge, so you can slice off what you need.



You can make gutloading as complicated as you want, but I think the key is balance and variety for a healthy chameleon.



Look up Sandrachameleon's blog here on the forum. She is our gut loading queen. It gets a little over my head (okay, way over my head), but there is tons of great advice about what types of veggies/fruits to use and their nutritional values.