Brand New Jackson's Owner

[FewmetsDragonDesigns]

Hey! So I am brand new to the world of chameleon keeping but a long time bearded dragon keeper. My boy decided he wanted a Jackson's Chameleon "because it looks like a baby dino".... I said maybe after the holidays. Then today a darling relative presented him with a lizard.... just the chameleon. In a critter keeper. No supplies no nothing "since I have lizards anyway".... because chameleons and beardies are totally the same....:-/ riiiiiiight... I have some spare 30g tall glass aquariums. I know it's not a long term solution but will be be ok in there with plenty of plants and appropriate heating/lighting and daily misting til I get paid mid-January? Can he use my bearded calcium with no d, herptivite, and repashy superpig? I know repashy makes species specific vitamins, should I get him something specifically for chams? I keep silkworm and Dubia roach colonies so I have food covered, a tropical UVB bulb to fit in one of my existing fixtures isn't crazy expensive, but a proper enclosure and a mist king isn't exactly a planned Christmas expense.... Thanks!!!

 

[fluxlizard]

Yes on all except I am not familiar with superpig, but probably (someone else will know and give an opinion probably).

Quick things to know about jacksons-

temp- select a location in your home where temps can drop significantly at night - at least into the mid 60s if possible, mid 50s or even lower would be even better. No night heat. So locations like a basement or south facing "sun" room that does not heat up in direct sunlight or unheated garage that never freezes are ideal. Day heat should be moderate. Don't think bearded dragon, think roomish temperature in much of the terrarium, with warm zone only in the mid 80s. If in doubt, err on the side of cooler rather than warmer. In a glass tank, you have to watch out for heat buildup over the course of a day.

Humidity- a light misting morning and evening and a drip (plastic cup with pinhole poked over it, which splashes into a catch bowl on the floor off the tank with a branch that leads down to it will work for now) that lasts about 20 minutes a day will probably work fine, along with a pothos vine or something in a 6" pot for a little more humidity and leaves to catch spray water on should do the trick. Unless it is very dry in your home- if the water droplets from spraying are gone after a few hours, you may want to have child spray lightly after school as well.

Vitamins- go easy and only occasionally.

That's my advice for your temp situation. I'll leave the long term info for others. 20 years ago I actually kept and bred jacks in 29 gallon high aquaria, so the advice I am giving is based on experience in very similar setup. It is easier in larger, screened enclosures and is nicer for the lizard to be able to move about more and for watching the lizard and beautiful environment for it to live in- nowadays I use 2x2x3 screened cages for individuals. Any time the weather is above freezing at night and temps in the shade can be kept lower than the mid 80s during the day, you can keep these guys outdoors in screened enclosures. It is best for them to do this as often as weather permits, year round. If day temps climb above 50 and it is sunny, a day outdoors is good as well, even if night temp requires bringing indoors at night.

 

[kplatvoet]

The main mistake that I see made by newbies to Jackson is over heating and over doing it on the supplements especially D - I'm a relative newbie myself especially compaired to Flux - I think it's harder to get things right but it's doable - I like to see my Jackson drink water so I would probable have the dripper going more than once a day unless I was sure he was using it-

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

 

[kwengkynator]

Im not much of a help in terms of jacksons but one thing I can say that the repashy super pig supplement is something I use. I dust my feeders with it once a week only. They are doing well so far.

 

[Masked Gecko]

Super pig is a color enhancer, it wont hurt your jacksons.

 

[FewmetsDragonDesigns]

Ok, so I'll make sure to watch it on the temps and supplements. Built a temp cage out of 1x2's and window screen, will this work? It's 5' high by 3'x2'. Built a temporary misting system from a fountain pump, air tubing, and some garden misting nozzles until i get paid and can buy a mistking. So is this better for the next month or so? Just don't want the guy getting ill. I know he'll need more branches and leaves, these were just the only sterile or commercial ones i had spare from my beardies :-/

 

[kplatvoet]

It looks good but you will probably want some sort of drainage- I end up with a lot of water running through my Jackson cage as she is a pill about drinking - I also have a cool mist humidifier that I have on the outside-
She was my first and I got her when she was just under two weeks old so I was very paranoid when I got her - I went with over watering and good drainage -
You can bake branches from outside and it will kill anything they might have on them-

 

[johnnyev]

Personally i would add a few live plants and lots more branches/twigs, especially high up, both horizontally & vertically. Like kplatvoet, I just get mine from the local woods/forest or even garden, if you know no pesticides have been used. This will help make him feel secure & much more at home. The live plants will really help with the humidity too & give him leaves to drink from, after misting/spraying the cage. Pothos, with their large flat leaves & hardiness are especially good. And can be trained to grow up the back & sides.