It's my first time having a Chameleon

[linglanglau]

Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Jackson Chameleon, male, I’m not sure of the age honestly. It’s been in my care for 4 days I believe
• Handling - Daily, he doesn’t seem to mind. I put my hand out sometimes and he just crawls onto it and up my arm
• Feeding - Crickets mostly, max is 5 a day, I feed him the morning and I feed the crickets carrot slices
• Supplements - Repti-calcium and I dust the crickets in it whenever I feed him
• Watering - I mist his cage for about 45 seconds and I do it again the water dries for a bit. I don’t see my chameleon drinking
• Fecal Description - Brown and I believe it looks normal. He hasn’t been to the vet yet…
• History - I got him at a low-key sketchy store that was selling them for $20. None of them were in the best condition

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Zoo Med Repti Breeze, 16" L X 16" W X 30" H (screen)
• Lighting - Zoo Med Tropical UVB & Heat Lighting Dual Kit and I keep it on for about 10 hours
• Temperature - Basking is about 90º, lowest overnight temp would be 72º or so, my cage came with a digital thermometer
• Humidity - I don’t have a humidifier or anything and I don’t measure the humidity… ):
• Plants - no live plants but I use 3 different Zoo Med naturalistic flora
• Placement - In my room, it’s sorta near a ceiling fan, 5 feet
• Location - Hawaii

Some people at Petco told me he looked really good (I went to Petco to buy crickets the first day I got him and he came with me) but I don't trust Petco employees with giving me information. I really care for Myrtle and I want to be the best mom I can be for him. Please let me know if there are any health things that don't look so good... or if it's my cage or something. Thank you (': I think I was able to attach a file of him and his cage

 

[linglanglau]

OH! And something that worries me a little bit are his front feet.
Right front foot: His nails aren't like the other feet and one of the nails is kinda pointing a different direction? as I said, not like his other feet
Left front foot: There's a little blister/red dot looking thing and I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not. I noticed he had small blister they day I brought him home but now it's red-brown

 

[PabloTheCham]

so many things wrong... please do your research before getting a chameleon.

1. This cage is on the small side, preferably something bigger like a 2x2x4
2. you need 3 supplements, one calcium with d3 for twice a month, one without d3 for everyday, and a multivitamin twice a month.
3. Mist the cage more, in the morning and before turning his lights off.
4. You said the poop looks normal, but what color are the urates?
5. The lighting is terrible. Get rid of the dual dome fixture asap and get a linear uvb bulb, and a basking lamp.
6. This is no where near enough plants. Chameleons like to hide among leaves, and it is stressful to be out in the open.

You said you don't trust petco employees, but you bought a chameleon from a sketchy store? The cham was probably wild caught, and by buying him, you are encouraging this.

I added a pic of my enlosure, to show you what it should like with all the plants. it's easy just add an umbrella tree or two and he will be much happier.

 

[CasqueAbove]

Being Hawaii yea its wild caught. I do not like to harass new members and you are in a unique situation, where they are an invasive species. All PablTheCham is solid advice.
Do avoid wild caught as a rule, but in areas where they are invasive, the rules change a bit.
You are lucky, you can likely put his cage outside a few hours a day to get sun. If you were religious about it might be all he needs. Again you happen to be where they live quite fine on their own, humidity wise.
Still mist of course.

 

[Coop]

@PabloTheCham , lots of your given info is correct, but the info you gave is mostly for veiled and panther chameleons. Jacksons require a different supplement schedule and lighting. @JacksJill

 

[Thatwizard420]

OH! And something that worries me a little bit are his front feet.
Right front foot: His nails aren't like the other feet and one of the nails is kinda pointing a different direction? as I said, not like his other feet
Left front foot: There's a little blister/red dot looking thing and I'm not sure if I should be worried about it or not. I noticed he had small blister they day I brought him home but now it's red-brown

Jackson's care is different than a panthers or veiled. They need different supplementation schedule, different lighting, and different temperatures since it's a mountain species.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

All I can really say is look up the chameleon breeders/Academy podcast and go from there, everything you need is located there.

https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/

https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/podcast/ep-17-jacksons-chameleons/

 

[Ramrod]

Welcome to the forum. Better to get your questions or concerns taken care of here rather than petco

 

[linglanglau]

Thank you for all your input. I was going to have a spring job (I'm 17) but now that quarantine is a thing... I can't work to get the money I need to make Myrtle happier

 

[linglanglau]

so many things wrong... please do your research before getting a chameleon.

1. This cage is on the small side, preferably something bigger like a 2x2x4
2. you need 3 supplements, one calcium with d3 for twice a month, one without d3 for everyday, and a multivitamin twice a month.
3. Mist the cage more, in the morning and before turning his lights off.
4. You said the poop looks normal, but what color are the urates?
5. The lighting is terrible. Get rid of the dual dome fixture asap and get a linear uvb bulb, and a basking lamp.
6. This is no where near enough plants. Chameleons like to hide among leaves, and it is stressful to be out in the open.

You said you don't trust petco employees, but you bought a chameleon from a sketchy store? The cham was probably wild caught, and by buying him, you are encouraging this.

I added a pic of my enlosure, to show you what it should like with all the plants. it's easy just add an umbrella tree or two and he will be much happier.

Thank you )

 

[PabloTheCham]

@PabloTheCham , lots of your given info is correct, but the info you gave is mostly for veiled and panther chameleons. Jacksons require a different supplement schedule and lighting. @JacksJill

My bad, I didn't know jackson's needed different lighting and supplementation.

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

Since your in Hawaii...

https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/podcast/ep-16-outdoor-chameleon-keeping/

 

[PabloTheCham]

Thank you for all your input. I was going to have a spring job (I'm 17) but now that quarantine is a thing... I can't work to get the money I need to make Myrtle happier

Oh.. since Jackson's chameleons are invasive in hawaii, this means that the conditions are good for them there, and that means you could just keep him outside the whole time. He would have appropriate lighting from natural sunlight, the best light. The only costs would be feeding and supplements.

 

[linglanglau]

Oh.. since Jackson's chameleons are invasive in hawaii, this means that the conditions are good for them there, and that means you could just keep him outside the whole time. He would have appropriate lighting from natural sunlight, the best light. The only costs would be feeding and supplements.

thank you! I'll do that today

 

[PabloTheCham]

thank you! I'll do that today

make sure to keep him in a sunny spot, but at the same time make sure he can go in the shade if he gets too hot. Adding more plants would be a great way to give him more opportunities to hide behind leaves.

 

[JacksJill]

Here are some suggestions for improving your little guys care. I'll make them in purple.
Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - Jackson Chameleon, male, I’m not sure of the age honestly. It’s been in my care for 4 days I believe
• Handling - Daily, he doesn’t seem to mind. I put my hand out sometimes and he just crawls onto it and up my arm They tend to be shy and freeze when intimidated so I only handle when the volunteer or need treatment or to change cages etc.
• Feeding - Crickets mostly, max is 5 a day, I feed him the morning and I feed the crickets carrot slices Vary your gut load with a variety form the gut load list on this page https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/
• Supplements - Repti-calcium and I dust the crickets in it whenever I feed him Feeder insects should be lightly dusted with powdered supplement before being fed to your chameleon. As a montane species (native to higher altitudes) Jackson's have decreased supplementation requirements compared to tropical species due to metabolism differences. Use calcium (without D3 or phosphorus) twice a week, a multivitamin once a month, and calcium with D3 once a month.
• Watering - I mist his cage for about 45 seconds and I do it again the water dries for a bit. I don’t see my chameleon drinking Getting the humidity to stay around 40-50% during the day and 80-100% at night is most beneficial you will need a hygrometer to know if you are out doors in Hawaii and have plants and mostly shade it won't be hard. There are a variety of techniques to get this done.
• Fecal Description - Brown and I believe it looks normal. He hasn’t been to the vet yet…
• History - I got him at a low-key sketchy store that was selling them for $20. None of them were in the best condition They may be wild caught or bred locally

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Zoo Med Repti Breeze, 16" L X 16" W X 30" H (screen) He's going to want more room as he grows
• Lighting - Zoo Med Tropical UVB & Heat Lighting Dual Kit and I keep it on for about 10 hours He's going to do best with 12 hours on and 12 off
• Temperature - Basking is about 90º, lowest overnight temp would be 72º or so, my cage came with a digital thermometer Basking should be 80-82˚F for a youngster and up to 85 when he is grown. Use a lower wattage or move the basking bulb away. Cooler is better at night 60˚F if possible.
• Humidity - I don’t have a humidifier or anything and I don’t measure the humidity… ):
• Plants - no live plants but I use 3 different Zoo Med naturalistic flora He would benefit from live plants
• Placement - In my room, it’s sorta near a ceiling fan, 5 feet
• Location - Hawaii
  read this for much more detailed info than I can give here. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

 

[SourGrape4u]

Get some black soldier fly larvae and let them turn to flies. My Jackson goes nuts for them and they are high in calcium so no dusting!

Eyes shut because he doesn't care to be held. Was taking him to outside enclosure which he loves!

 

[Persnickety Parson's]

All my animals love bsf larva and flies, nothing is more hilarious than watching a 2 foot lizard flying through the air in order to catch one.