Help With New 3 month old Jackson Chameleon

SilverWolf

Member
Hello. I have a brand new Jackson Chameleon that just arrived today named, Tricky. He is 3 months old, and just arrived over an hour ago. The breeder said even more important than eating right away, is water. So I was sure to give him some, and I did see him drinking. I am constantly misting the cage to make sure the humidity stays around 70 percent. My concern is he isn't eating. I know he just arrived and it may take a while for him to get comfortable, but I want him to be very healthy. I tried hand feeding him because I want to see him eat, to be sure he is eating. Any tips or advice? The breeder said small crickets are fine, and judging by the size that I have, I agree. Still, hasn't eaten yet and I want to be sure he does, so please let me know what I can do.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Jackson Chameleon, male, 3-4 months. Been in my care for about 2 hours.
Handling - Only to move him to his enclosure, or when I need to clean his cage (not yet) and once to attempt to give him a better view of the cricket in hand. Not too often with handling though.
Feeding - Haven't fed him anything yet, but when he does, small crickets that seem the perfect size for him, about the width of his head. I plan to feed him 4 - 6 crickets a day, and they are healthy crickets.
Supplements - Exoterra. Calcium, powdered on crickets twice a week. Multivitamin, powder on crickets once a month?
Watering - I mist VERY often to ensure the humidity is always around 70%, and I have seen him drinking off of the leaves, and trying to from my spray bottle when it was having water droplets. lol rather cute.
Fecal Description - As I just got him today, have not seen anything like this.
History - Came from a breeder in Texas, btpets.com. The breeder seems to know what he is doing and has shipped hundreds of Chameleons before. Some people here seem to have gotten their Jackson Chameleons from him.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Zoomed screen cage, 18x18x36.
Lighting - Reptisun 5.0, Zoomed 60w Daylight Blue bulb. Both are on 10-12 hours during day, off all night.
Temperature - Temperature at basking spot around 82 degrees fahrenheit. Restof the cage around 75 or so in fahrenheit, and the temperature drops to about 70 degrees fahrenheit at night time. Measured with thermometer from Petco.
Humidity - 60 - 70 Percent. Misting with spray bottle very often. Measured with humidity gauger from Petco.
Plants - Live Croton, codiaem hybrid
Placement - Cage about 58 inches off ground, on a sort of dresser (more of cubby holes though) and next to some gaming consoles and a television, that do not affect the temperature. Also next to a window, but blinds generally closed.
Location - California.

Current Problem - Although it has just been a few hours since I got him, not eating. Only tried via hand feeding.
 
Let a few crickets loose in his home and leave him to it. Some won't eat at all the first day or more. Some won't eat in front of you, or not in front of you the first few days.
Give him chance to settle in, lots of privacy. Kath.
 
What Kath said :) Some eat right off the bat, others take a few days to settle in. Keep him hydrated, he'll eat once he gets comfortable with his new home. Relax and just give him some quiet time :)
 
THanks for the help. Do you think taking him outside in the backyard with me tomorrow for some sun would be okay as long as it isn't too hot, and maybe letting him sit on my apple tree (with supervision)? Or is that not a good idea? We also have some fake platns around the house. I thought of, again with supervision, letting him relax around there when some people are around sometimes to get him used to being around people and not mind being handled too often by me. For today though, and most of tomorrow he will be just in his enclosure. I agree he needs to get settled in.
 
I'd resist the urge to take him out, take him outside, or otherwise disturb him for at least a few days. Let him have a few days of quiet to explore the cage and get used to his surroundings - this is a big change for him, and pretty stressful. If you want him to settle in and start eating, I'd give him some time to himself :)
 
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