Cage size for Jackson Chameleon?

[ALX]

Hi

I'm planning to buy a Jackson chameleon and build my own cage that will be a table for the family room. It will be 4 side in screen and the top in glass and wood frame. I wish to know if 24"W x 42"L x 30"H is enought for a male. I know that it's may be to low and have to forget the idea of a table.
Thanks

 

[iLik3LIzards]

you want to make a vertical enclosure not a horizontal enclosure. 24"W x 42"H x 30"L its better. unless jacksons are special like that idk. but generaly for chams you want height. can you flip the table up? how do you plan on setting up the lights?

 

[ALX]

The fluorescent light will be hiden in the wood frame and i will use heating pads under the table. And for flipping it i was already thinking that 30" is high for a table to be in front of the couch. But i've read somewhere that Jackson chameleon need a minimum of 60cm x 60cm x 45cm, that give about 24" x 24" x 18". http://www.lemondeanimal.ca/fiche_reptilesc.asp#animalerie The site is in french. If i have realy no choice i will choose a standard screen column. I was opting for a table because i dont have one right know and it could look cool.

 

[xanthoman]

jacksons table ?

hello and welcome to the forums. i dont want to dash all of your plans but generally speaking xanths dont make the best starter chameleons, and they dont need or want heat pads, but they do need a good knowledge of chameleon needs and habits (husbandry) and an appropriately placed uva basking lamp in addition to your uvb linear, generally speaking the higher they are, the happier they are, so i try to strive for eye level or higher basking spots. they can be kept successfully at lower levels but its just one more thing stressing them out. thats another thing, chameleons are sort of high anxiety by nature, and easily stressed. minimizing stress is one of the most important and hardest to acheive aspects of chameleon husbandry. of course each individual chameleon is different, but as a general rule jacksons tend to get stressed (and sometimes panic) easier than many other chameleons, and the whole concept of any sort of table that would get used and foot traffic and people sitting by it, is completely contrary to good chameleon husbandry, especially a jacksons, if you want to keep a jacksons successfully(or any rare delicate or exotic animal) , you will need to first learn about them, and then build an enclosure that meets its needs, not yours, if you want a lizard to put in your table, get a bearded dragon or something that does not stress so easily. if you really want to get into chameleons i would suggest reading the following links, before worrying about cage design. written by some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the cham community http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/ https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/216-maybe-you-shouldnt-have-chameleon.html https://www.chameleonforums.com/basic-husbandry-38769/ https://www.chameleonforums.com/general-care-true-chameleons-5943/index2.html im sorry if thats not what you want to hear, but you were asking for opinions and that is my honest opinion.

 

[gpmo]

I am going to havve to agree with Xanthoman. Do a bit of research on chams and them make the decision to care for one before you make an enclosure and buy one. But you have found a great place to learn from experienced keepers. Good luck and hope everything works out.

Gpmo (him)

 

[ALX]

Thanks for your answer. That's totally the kinds of comment i was looking for. My first preocupation is to give the best care i can to him. And thats why i do reserched on the web and find this forum that is realy helping me in those research. I was almost sure that my table idea was'nt a got idea for a chameleon but now i'm sure. And this idea came to me just because my ex roomate have made a table for is bearded dragon so i've found it funny that you propose me this lizard. I have always dream to have a Jackson Cham so i will do my best to give him the best care he need. I will read those reference you gave me carefully. But i will keep my idea of table but for another lizard that will be happy in it, but this will go after i've bougth a cham and make him happy. Thanks a lot xanthoman.By the way i'm sorry for my english I hope that is readable

 

[gpmo]

ALX ,

Your english is fine. Its good to see people making the decision to do research first. I hope you are able to figure out a good enclosure and then share pictures once your do . Use the search function and ask questions and you will be a great handler.

Gpmo (him)

 

[ALX]

I'm doing my research for material and suply. I've read about dripper and i've found 1gallon and 12oz., i think that 1 gallon is probably to much and heavy so i'll go with 2x 12 oz. dripper found at www.reptmart.com. For the screen cage i've found a custom maker www.all-about-screen-doors.com/reptile-cages.html because for me and the space i have 24"x24"x48" is to large so i don't know if 14"dX20"wX48"h is good. I'm designing furniture so at my job I will make a custom furniture to incorporate the cage, including maybe 2 drawer and a glass door to always have the tool i need and insect near, and a ventilated header with acces to hide all light fixture and dripper. In adition to dripper i was wondering if a mister or fogger would be usefull and wich one is best. By reading the blogs i've read that if i want a watefall in my cage a chameleon is not for me. I know that cham don't recognize stagnant water but can i have one for embellishment or is there an other reson. For the soil i've found Fir Bark and Sphagnum Moss wich one is better. For the lighting i've found ReptiSun 10.0 High Output UVB Bulb 18", i want to put 2 of them, one in the front and one in the back, and an incandescent light in the corner to give him heat spot. And finally at my locals store they can order the chameleon and the final cost is 350$ and even in Montreal they are 300$ so still at www.reptmart.com they sell them for 99.99$+35.99$ shipping in 1 day. But is the travel will be to stressfull for the lizard, in the description of the shipping they seem's to take care of the packaging.

I know i ask a lot but i want to be sure that i'll do the best i can.
So I go back to research

thanks

 

[gngorman]

I'm doing my research for material and suply. I've read about dripper and i've found 1gallon and 12oz., i think that 1 gallon is probably to much and heavy so i'll go with 2x 12 oz. dripper found at www.reptmart.com. For the screen cage i've found a custom maker www.all-about-screen-doors.com/reptile-cages.html because for me and the space i have 24"x24"x48" is to large so i don't know if 14"dX20"wX48"h is good. I'm designing furniture so at my job I will make a custom furniture to incorporate the cage, including maybe 2 drawer and a glass door to always have the tool i need and insect near, and a ventilated header with acces to hide all light fixture and dripper. In adition to dripper i was wondering if a mister or fogger would be usefull and wich one is best. By reading the blogs i've read that if i want a watefall in my cage a chameleon is not for me. I know that cham don't recognize stagnant water but can i have one for embellishment or is there an other reson. For the soil i've found Fir Bark and Sphagnum Moss wich one is better. And finally at my locals store they can order the chameleon and the final cost is 350$ and even in Montreal they are 300$ so still at www.reptmart.com they sell them for 99.99$+35.99$ shipping in 1 day. But is the travel will be to stressfull for the lizard, in the description of the shipping they seem's to take care of the packaging.

I know i ask a lot but i want to be sure that i'll do the best i can.
So I go back to research

thanks

300 bucks for a jackson's Wow!!!! All of my chams were shipped and all in perfect condition. They tend to go to sleep after being packed. 99-150 is more of a good price range.

 

[Lizardlover]

$300, you sure it was a Jacksonii?

 

[ALX]

Yes and i've called about 10 place but no one have them in stock so they have to order, all they have is Yemen Cham for about 150$ ( i don't know if it's the same name in english). It's probably why they are so expensive but if the shipping is safe via UPS i will go for it.

 

[xanthoman]

cart before the horse?

i could give you the name of a guy who sells a lot of really nice adult jackson's and they rarely go for over $100, but he only ships in the states. i have seen a lot of jacksons for sale including blue hets., gold or bronze, all for less than $300. but again we are back to the husbandry thing, yes waterfalls are bad, but substrate is not recomended either, especially when new to chameleons and there are so many more important things to worry about in order to be prepared for a jacksons or any cham. if cage building is an issue, you can buy everything you need to build a cage in whatever size you need at your local building store, and that also gives you the option of using better screen. http://www.adcham.com/html/husbandry/cageconstruction/index-cage-building.htm adcham is also one of the better places to get cham info in general. its unlikely to build a good cage setup, if you dont first know what there needs are. jmo

 

[ALX]

I think i'm not putting the cart before the horses I'm planning to buy my chameleon in just 3 month and since there i'm reading as more as i can and i'm not buying any things until im sure that everythings is perfect. I'm posting what i'm planning to buy, not what i've bought to have commentary on that. Those one you gave me are really apreciate and i've already read all the site you have suggest me and read about different disease that can happen, but notting compares like experience that you and other person on this forum have acquiered with time. I'm not taking this as a decorative animal like maybe my table idea have maybe show. I have to admit that is seems to be harder then i first think to care about a cham, but i realy like animal and i'm ready to take care of one of those superb creature. Sadly, for your offer, i'm just 30min. from the state and i don't know anyone in the state where i could make it ship.

 

[Jacksons808]

Haha im in Hawaii and They are sold here for 30 bucks at most. But they sell alot of wild caught jacksons so you have to be careful.

 

[kplatvoet]

add this to your research
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKTbUaOQ0aA - It's great for Jacksons - When I joined the forum in May it seemed like there were a bunch of suprise clutches of Jackson's being hatched - and that there are lots of babies near the end of the summer - most of them don't make it .. there's an extra high mortality rate for babies under 3 months - and a lot of people out there who will sell them as babies as they eat a lot and they want to sell them quick before they die. Keeping two where they can see each other at all will not work - one will end up getting stressed and die- it might take a month or two and in the mean time you will not think there's anything wrong - I wouldn't even attempt it - Jacksons hide illness better which is one of the reasons they aren't recommended for new keepers - they are more sensitive to things being "off" even by just a little bit.

 

[Lathis]

Super old thread, guys!