Hello!
Welcome to CF!
We are super glad you have found us
This is definitely the right place to ask questions.
Jacksons are a montane species.
Meaning they live in mountainous areas, with high humidity, and lower temperatures than most chameleons.
You want to keep the humidity high(above 60%) but you are correct in thinking that filling the cage with fog is bad for the chameleon.
Are you using it on the lowest setting?
I have not kept a chameleon in a terrarium, but the terrarium should allow you to keep humidity high enough with little to no use of the fogger.
For this species, you will want a basking spot of 80-85F but never over 85F.
You also want to provide a temperature gradient from the 80-85F down to 70F in the cage.
This is all-important, and will give the animal the opportunity to choose the perfect body temperature for itself, as it desires.
Here is a video a fellow forum member, Jdog1027, made on jackson chameleons. It goes over just about everything, and is very informative.
Here is Sandrachameleon's blog on gutloading:https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/575-january-2012-dry-gutload-recipe.html
This is a very important aspect to the care you will need to provide, her blog is very helpful in this area.
It would be great to see pictures of your new friend
Do you know if it is male or female?
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have, and share your opinion as well.
Again, welcome to CF!
To be honest I am not sure if he is a he or a she. I read that the males have 3 horns which I am not sure is true or not?? If that is the case then he is a male
Not necessarily
My little girl had me tricked when I got her. Some xantholophus females can have all three horns.
They will be angled more up in females though, and not grow to be as pronounced as a males.
If you post a picture, I can tell you male or female.
These chameleons live in clouds. While the fogger basically replicates a cloud, they do not need to breath it in for long without fresh air.
Just like people, being in an overly damp situation can cause respiratory infections.
Having it on for short periods of time, say to replicate a morning or evening fog would be ok IMO.
Having it on all the time is also going to effect your temperatures.
Misting 3-5 times a day is best for keeping humidity up.
Live plants are also key to maintaining a good RH IMO.
Misting will give water to drink, but I also recommend a dripper going all day, that drips onto plants and things that the animal can drink it off of.
Products such as the "Little Dripper" and "Big Dripper" can be bought that have adjustable nozzles on them. Aquarium tubing hooks directly to the nozzle, and can allow you greater control of the drip.
You can also make one by putting a tiny pin hole in the bottom of a dixie cup or other container.
You want it to drip once every 2-3 seconds.
Are you using any supplements yet?
Jacksons are very touchy when it comes to supplements.
Maybe kinyonga will drop by and share his awesome info of supplements, as there is a great deal to know and understand when trying to decided how you should supplement Having a good understanding of how they effect your chameleon, can make it a lot easier.
Great, Ill be here
It is not wrong to dust with the calcium.
You need to make sure it is plain straight calcium though, without D3 or phosphorous.
You should use this no more than 3 times a week IMO.
Jdog1027 recommends twice a week in his vid.
He recommends Calcium with D3 once every 6 weeks.
Also, when dusting them, you want to basically get the least amount of dust on them as possible.
The easiest way I have found to dust them with the right amount is to use a jar. I tap just the tiniest sprinkle into the jar, throw in the feeders and swirl. This is much easier than a bag IMO.
You do not want them to be "ghost crickets". Ghost crickets is no good!
