help!

[medamullet]

I joint this forum yesterday

I have been looking into getting a Jackson chaleon for quite a while now. I have been reading everything I can find trying to learn if chameleon is right for me. Besides teh fact that they are cool to look at.


My starting questions are:

1. Do they smell? Will I have a room in my house that has a bad smell with this guy?

2. How often do you clean your cage?

3. I know grass aquariums are bad, but what about a 1/2 and 1/2 setup?

 

[jackscham]

Chameleons don't smell-. I think most keepers clean their chams enclosures about once every week. That said, Jacksons chameleons are generally not regarded as a "starter' chameleon. They require cooler temps and higher humidity, and from my experience , are quite often wild caught. A veiled or a panther may be a better choice.

 

[ghettomike]

hello, welcome to the forum. you will find alot of good info here and it is great that you are doing some research before you get one because some peole just rush into it and their cham pays for it. There is alot to know about caring for chams (supplementation, gutloading, lighting, temperature, humidity, food etc...) so learn as much as you can before getting one if you decide to do so. to answer your questions 1) they do not smell at all (at least I have never smelled mine or been told about any odours lol) 2) I spot clean (pick up poop, dead leaves) every day or every few days and give a very through cleaning once a month or two. and 3) enclosures with a combo of glass/screen sides are ok as they still allow airflow and help contain some humidity. hope this helps a bit. If you are looking for some specific info there is a search function that can be very helpfull.

 

[medamullet]

The jackson I am looking at is from a local guy, he is selling me everything. that cage/aquarium is what he currently lives in. He has lamps, waterfall, misters, everything. The guy says he just doesn't have the time for him anymore.

I don't like pet stores for purchasing ANY animal. The chameleon I purchase will most likely come from a local person getting out of the game. So I will be getting everything the little guy currently has, just move him/her from 1 house to the other.

 

[Jamelon]

I agree with jackscham, a veiled or panther cham are the recommended first chameleons. Chameleons do not smell at all, however if you are going to be breeding crickets i hear that they can smell pretty bad haha

 

[jannb]

Welcome to the forums. I don't have a Jackson but from what I've heard they are harder to keep that a veiled or panther and not recommended for a first time keeper.

To answer your questions chameleons do not have any type of odor at all. Even their poop doesn't smell unless they have parasites.

I've attached a link below that will tell you everything that you will need and a link with a picture and where you can buy it. Let us know if you have any other questions.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blo...-keepers-young-veiled-panther-chameleons.html

 

[Elizadolots]

I don't think it's that Jackson's are harder to keep, it's that they aren't quite as hardy so not as forgiving of "newbie" errors.

My only concern with the enclosure posted is it might not get quite enough circulation from the bottom of the cage. If there's any sort of mesh or vents at the bottom, that would be better.

 

[medamullet]

that picture of the aquarium has fish in the bottom, so no chance of mesh I think the chameleon is almost a year old right now.

 

[Elizadolots]

I don't see fish in the picture, but you definitely do not want your chameleon living over open water. It's not uncommon for them to fall and you risk the animal drowning.

 

[ghettomike]

if you do take it you should ditch the waterfall as it is a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

[laurie]

Welcome to the forum. We are happy to help you with your first chameleon.

While maybe not the best option, you can work with a jackson chameleon as your first. i keep Jacksons and can help you get everything checked out. The tank/ screen may work as most chamois stay to the top anyway.

You could describe how it is all set up and we can tell you if anything is missing or needs changed. A few pictures will help as well.

First take a look at a lot of Jackson pictures so you know what a healthy one should look like.

 

[Carlton]

I joint this forum yesterday

I have been looking into getting a Jackson chaleon for quite a while now. I have been reading everything I can find trying to learn if chameleon is right for me. Besides teh fact that they are cool to look at.


My starting questions are:

1. Do they smell? Will I have a room in my house that has a bad smell with this guy?

2. How often do you clean your cage?

3. I know grass aquariums are bad, but what about a 1/2 and 1/2 setup?

Where do you live? The relative humidity and temps in your area (and in your home) may tell you if taking him on is going to be difficult or not. I do not like his current setup. Has he lived in it for a year? The aquarium bottom may provide some humidity and temp stabilization, but it definitely isn't ideal and there are risks. He should have much more space anyway. If you are going to do this you would need to create a much better cage for him, so that is added cost to consider. There is a lot of good keeping info and forum threads about jax you can read before you decide.

 

[wendyeeeo]

I fell into the chameleon thing thanks to my son...we got a female Jackson's from a pet store that knew nothing and either did we. Let's just say I made a TON of mistakes in order to learn how to take care of her, and I'm still learning new things I need to know (we got her back in May). Without going into all the details...the first couple of months I was miserable! I regretted getting her because there was so much involved that I wasn't prepared for... But now, I'm totally addicted to her and love having her. However, it was a lot of work getting this far and there will be lots more work to come! If you're not really wanting a high maintenance pet, get a rat. Those are way easy.

 

[medamullet]

I have/had lots of different animals. I lived on a farm growing up, so taking care of animals aren't the issue. If I am well educated I feel like it won't matter what chameleon I get.

I live in Utah so humidity is very low, almost zero most of the time. I think the guy is using the aquarium, waterfall, and small pond area to keep the humitity up. I could be completely wrong though.

I am not sold on anything yet and am definately keeping my options open. I just love these little guys. They are pretty cool.

Here are a few of our current animals,

Brian (grown up now) given to us by my exwife because her current husband is alergic to cats

Puss Pants

Pollo Loco (Crazy chicken)

Beaver (dead, rest is sole)

Squirl (also dead from mamory tumor)

The problem with rats is they don't last much more than 3 years. Sure are social and fun

Dozer, and sydney

I know it looks like a zoo, but right now it's just the 2 dogs, 1 was mine, 1 my wifes before we got together. The 2 cats, and the bird.

My wife has had iguana's when she was younger, so between the 2 of us we should be ok. Besides I have all you guys to help, right?

 

[medamullet]

oh, here is a video of the guy eating. tell me what you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmLJ1i89DsY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Elizadolots]

Do you have a place to keep an enclosure that is away from the dogs, cats and bird? The chameleon is likely to view some or all as predators.

I seriously question both the water (with fish!) and the waterfall.

 

[medamullet]

Do you have a place to keep an enclosure that is away from the dogs, cats and bird? The chameleon is likely to view some or all as predators.

I seriously question both the water (with fish!) and the waterfall.

Yes, The bird all ready gets his own area. The dogs and cat are free range, but are restricted to an area of the laundry room and mud room area, which has a back door that goes outside when we are at work. When we are home they are where we are, being pack animals. If we are in the kitchen, they are in the kitchen. If we are upstairs watching a movie, they are upstairs laying at our feet sleeping. The room I have decided would be good for a chameleon is a "low" impact area and not really traveled through much.

The more I learn and look into that guys stuff I would be more interested in buying it and making/buying a different enclosure all together or just getting a different chameleon all together. I don't want to deal with cleaning a fish pond, dealing with the waterfall and all the glass with mold and antyhing else that could be growing in there. I am still searching, I just like the 3 horned look.

 

[Elizadolots]

You can't beat a Jacksons for "cool" looking. As I said, I don't think they are really that much more difficult. It's just that the Veileds are hardier and stand up to the mistakes new owners often make. As you are doing your research and taking your time, a Jacksons still might be a good choice for you.

Good call on the waterfall and fish pond. Making your own enclosure is a great way to go. Be sure you factor in the absolute need for drainage. There are loads of great ideas in the Enclosures forum.

 

[medamullet]

You can't beat a Jacksons for "cool" looking. As I said, I don't think they are really that much more difficult. It's just that the Veileds are hardier and stand up to the mistakes new owners often make. As you are doing your research and taking your time, a Jacksons still might be a good choice for you.

Good call on the waterfall and fish pond. Making your own enclosure is a great way to go. Be sure you factor in the absolute need for drainage. There are loads of great ideas in the Enclosures forum.

Thanks, I am thinking I could make a great enclosure I have mig and tig welders, and a 3x3x3 oven I use for powdercoating. I know I can put something together that would be super sexy for this guy/gal. I have been thinking of something out of aluminum that can bolted together 24x24x30 for a smaller guy and take the top off and bolt on another 24x24x30 section as it grows??? It's all just ideas right now.

 

[Carlton]

Thanks, I am thinking I could make a great enclosure I have mig and tig welders, and a 3x3x3 oven I use for powdercoating. I know I can put something together that would be super sexy for this guy/gal. I have been thinking of something out of aluminum that can bolted together 24x24x30 for a smaller guy and take the top off and bolt on another 24x24x30 section as it grows??? It's all just ideas right now.

The larger concern I would have is your location...bone dry, possibly hot in summer. You would need to do some serious humidifying to keep a jax comfortable or healthy there. It can be done, but it will add to the cost of creating and maintaining a habitat and will need careful DAILY attention. Can you guarrantee that the room where the cage would be will stay cool enough in summer especially at night? You may be looking at using AC if you don't now. And, with the AC will come even drier indoor air. You'll need to use some sort of mister or humidifier in addition to daily hand spraying or water dripping, have live bushy plants filling the cage, possibly find ways to hold every drop of moisture in the cage without creating a stagnant sauna. I've kept cool montane climate chams in CO so know it can require a lot of careful monitoring (so learning a cham's signs of trouble will need to be learned quickly and well).