Air circulation

[brighteyez]

I have a baby jackson's cham, and the people who sold him to me gave me lots of bad info. They sold me a glass terrarium to keep him in with a screen top. Now that I've learned that I should really have a screen enclosure so that there can be more air circulation, is there anything I can do? I don't know if I can take this terrarium back. Can I use a fan or something? I also read something about a cool mist humidifier with a fan.... or something like that. I feel so lost since I've been finding out all the stuff the pet shop told me was wrong! I don't know what to do, help!!

Whitley

 

[Sancho]

I have a baby jackson's cham, and the people who sold him to me gave me lots of bad info. They sold me a glass terrarium to keep him in with a screen top. Now that I've learned that I should really have a screen enclosure so that there can be more air circulation, is there anything I can do? I don't know if I can take this terrarium back. Can I use a fan or something? I also read something about a cool mist humidifier with a fan.... or something like that. I feel so lost since I've been finding out all the stuff the pet shop told me was wrong! I don't know what to do, help!!

Whitley

I've never kept babies but I don't think anything is wrong with that terrarium while it is a baby. Most people that post pictures of their babies are in plastic tubs or glass tanks. But let someone that has kept babies chime in.

 

[jones5233]

Eversince you've had him 2 weeks go ahead and fill this out so we can get som insight:

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.

 

[rachelk]

People do keep baby chams in glass tanks or like sancho said plastic tubs, how old is the jacksons? You will need to get a screened cage eventually. Don't feel bad though, I made the same mistake by getting a glass terrarium bc I was given wrong info but I built a screened in porch type thing to sit on top of the glass tank... it is temporary though until I get a cage built within the next year or so...

 

[brighteyez]

Cage info:

Type- glass with a screen top. 1'x2'x16"
Lighting- At the moment i'm using a 18" repti glo 5.0uvb light that is wired to the top of his cage. I also have some other lights which i got for basking, but haven't been using because I read somthing that said you didn't really need them, and I was worried they were making his cage too hot. I have the light on from 8am-8pm.
Temp- around 70-75F, pretty much all the time. I can't really seem to get it to move. I only have one thermomiter in there now (not a digital one) and it's in the top corner. I don't really have a basking stop at the moment so i'm not sure there is really much of a temp difference in the cage. At night it's pretty much the same temp.
Humidity- I have a small hygromiter in the top corner and it's normally between 50-65. I mist the cage a few times a day, and there is a cup of water on the top with a hole to let water drip in.
Plants- none yet, but I would like to get some.
Placement-Currently he is on the floor by the back window. I would like to get a bookshelf to put him on but I haven't found one yet. He's in the corner so it's not 'high traffic' but my husband and i do like to sit by the cage and watch him. The top of the cage is about 16" from the floor.
Location- NC

Cham info:
My cham- We think it's a boy, don't know how old he is but he's 2 1/2-3" nose to butt. Jackson's, and I've had him for 2 weeks.
Handling- I try not to handle him at all. I did a few times when we got him, but not since then. I think he is too scared and I don't wanna make it worse.
Feeding- No real schedule. Waxworms, mealworms and crickets. Yes I'm gut-loading them. He won't really eat much. I try to put a worm on the worm container lid and hold it out for him to eat, and he will sometimes. I also have a mealworm bowl in there with a few worms but he doesn't seem to notice them. I also put in crickets, but I haven't seen him eat any yet, although one or two seem to be missing every other day or so. The only time I really saw him eat a lot was the first night we got him he ate 4 crickets.
Suppliments- Flucker's calcium with vitamin d3. I dust the bugs in it every time.
Watering- I have a cup with a hole in it on top of the cage that drips down on some leaves. There is also a little water dish in there. I aslo mist the leaves a few times a day, but only until they are wet, I don't do it for an extended period of time. Yes, I've seen him drinking from the leaves.
Fecal- He's never been tested for parasites. Wet, and brownish. I can't give you a very good discription because he hasn't pooped much. I think mostly because he isn't eating enough.
History- Don't have any background info on him.
Current problem- I don't know what to do about air circulation, or lighting. I need to know how to set up a basking area, etc.

I hope that helps. If you need to know anything else just ask!

 

[dodolah]

Here is a good site for Jackson care.
http://www.geocities.com/chamjacksonii/

 

[Malicious]

Here is a good site for Jackson care.
http://www.geocities.com/chamjacksonii/

I was trying to post that link earlier, and it seamed to be down at the time...looks like its back up!

That site has a great deal of information, I have read it several times

 

[Zen Reptiles]

The people didn't give you bad advice, as jacksonii will do better in a glass viv as babies. Their humidity requirements are higher because they are a montane species. A major problem people have with keeping baby montanes in a glass vivarium is that they make the mistake of using a heat lamp. This could cook your jacksonii because the heat gets trapped in there.

Now, if they said to keep him in a glass enclosure forever, then it was bad advice though the Europeans have used glass vivariums for montane chams for quite some time so it's not that bad, but they also usually go the whole nine yards with rigging up computer fans for ventilation, using foggers and humidifiers, etc.

Adult jacksonii will do well in an enclosure with one side screen, usually the front+top. This keeps humidity in a bit better than using all screen sides, and allows for adequate airflow.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Screen cages are not always necessary. PLENTY of people keep chameleons in glass and other non-screen enclosures. Does the glass terrarium have any vents on the front or sides, espcially lower down? and screen top? That MAY be sufficient for air circulation, with appropriate placement of lighting (the hot air rises, pulling new cool fresh air in from the bottom front panel). And if not, perhaps you could replace one front door with a screen door. Or perhaps you could drill a few ventalation holes in the sides (you need a special bit for this, or you'll break the glass - or take to a professional glass cutter).

 

[skeeta]

Hi Whitley,

Do read the link posted thoroughly, it is quite informative.

The glass setup will do for the time being (I got the same thing when I started) but get a digital therm/hydrometer asap. (not much more than $10 at Zellers/Walmart etc.) A basking spot helps your cham get warm enough to digest properly (too cool and it may not eat) but a temp gradient is necessary so it can cool down when it wants. (another reason for a screen cage, a bit larger than what you are using) A branch or vine a few inches from a heat source (40 watt bulb?) will do fine. but make sure you know how warm it is there. (Around 80-83 at the warmest point, with lower areas in the mid 70s)

Jax need a temp drop of around 10 degrees at night to stay healthy, and require quite high humidity. (for now the glass home will help you with that, but seriously consider upgrading in the future. You can always use the glass terrarium for some cute pygmys!)

Some people direct a room fan GENTLY across the top of their cage for airflow, but be careful it's not too strong. (ya don't want to chill your buddy)

Get some calcium WITHOUT D3, and use it as your primary source of calcium. The D3 can be used 1 or 2 times a month. Mountain chams are sensitive to supplementation, so don't go overboard. Also get some Rep Cal Herpavite with beta carrotine (or something similar) to dust with once a month for a vitamin booster.

Easy on the mealworms, they are hard to digest.
Waxworms are high in fat so just use them as a treat.

16" from the floor is too low for your buddy's comfort. They live in trees and like to look DOWN on things. (our cages are at least 6' at the top)

Live plants are a must! Simple pathos work fine and are impossible to kill. They grow fast and can be draped for nice climbing pathways.

Jacksons are sweet! You will get the hang of it soon, and have a ball watching your buddy.

Good luck! Here's 2 of our sweeties for inspiration.

 

[brighteyez]

SANDRACHAMELEON Does the glass terrarium have any vents on the front or sides, espcially lower down? and screen top?

No, the only vent is the top screen. There is nothing on any of the sides, doors or anything. It's simply a fish tank with a screen top.

 

[sandrachameleon]

This is only likely to be satisfactory for the short term.

 

[brighteyez]

So in the mean time, what do I do about air circulation?

 

[dodolah]

So in the mean time, what do I do about air circulation?

no other way, but to get a screen cage asap.
If you are handy, you can substitute one side of the glass with a screen or drill ventilation holes.
BUT, it is quite difficult to do so. and, you probably need an expert handy man to do it for you. and, the cost could be way more expensive than gettinga screen cage.