Jackson’s night temps – is 66–67°F with high humidity okay, or do I need to hit 65°F?

[lizardking3d]

Hi everyone,

my setup for a Jackson’s chameleon and could use some experienced opinions on nighttime temperatures.

I’ve got the daytime temps and humidity dialed in well. At night I’m getting consistent humidity in the 90s, which I’m happy with. The temperature is the part I’m still working on.

On a normal night the enclosure is running between 66–67°F. I can push it lower with ice packs or by bringing in more room air, but without those extras it settles in that 66–67 range.

How big of a deal is that extra 1–2 degrees above the commonly recommended 65°F low for a Jackson’s? Is consistently hitting 66–67°F with excellent humidity acceptable long-term, or is getting that last degree or two down to 65°F actually important?

 

[ehdee6]

I honestly had to buy an air conditioner, just for my Jackson. My guy pants any time the ambient temperature is over 71.6f, so this is the safest option to keep his temperatures optimal. When you use a fogger in temperatures hotter than 65 at night, you risk getting a respiratory infection; no matter what species the chameleon is.

I've heard of people trying these zoomed coolers: https://zoomed.com/repti-cooler/ ... I just opted for the safe bet of having an AC do its magic.

 

[lizardking3d]

I honestly had to buy an air conditioner, just for my Jackson. My guy pants any time the ambient temperature is over 71.6f, so this is the safest option to keep his temperatures optimal. When you use a fogger in temperatures hotter than 65 at night, you risk getting a respiratory infection; no matter what species the chameleon is.

I've heard of people trying these zoomed coolers: https://zoomed.com/repti-cooler/ ... I just opted for the safe bet of having an AC do its magic.

Thanks for the reply.

I’ve seen a lot of people recommend foggers at night but not during the day, which is what I’m doing. I only run the fogger at night.

I’ve also looked at the ReptiCool. From what I understand it’s basically an evaporative cooler/fogger.

What I’m currently doing is a bit different. I keep the fogger’s water jug inside a small refrigerator so the fog itself is cold when it comes out. The fogger runs about 10–11 minutes on, then 20–22 minutes off, only at night.

With just the fogger aI get roughly 66–68°F and humidity in the 90s.

If I add a small fan on the outside of the cage blowing room air in while the fogger is running, the temperature drops further into the 63–65°F range, but the humidity falls into the 60s.

I’m trying to find the best balance between a solid night drop and keeping humidity high. Appreciate any thoughts.

 

[Beman]

So for a Jackson you are actually needing cooler temps then that. Night time they are supposed to be 50-65 degrees. humidity at night is important but it really goes with cold temps. Warm wet air is not what you want for their optimal health. Jackson's can be harder to keep due to their need for cooler temps. Some will put them in a room where they can actually close off vents (winter) or run an additional air conditioner (summer). This will help you with what their optimal levels are. https://chameleonacademy.com/the-jacksons-chameleon-trioceros-jacksonii/

 

[lizardking3d]

So for a Jackson you are actually needing cooler temps then that. Night time they are supposed to be 50-65 degrees. humidity at night is important but it really goes with cold temps. Warm wet air is not what you want for their optimal health. Jackson's can be harder to keep due to their need for cooler temps. Some will put them in a room where they can actually close off vents (winter) or run an additional air conditioner (summer). This will help you with what their optimal levels are. https://chameleonacademy.com/the-jacksons-chameleon-trioceros-jacksonii/

Thanks for the info and the link.

I’m following the Chameleon Academy guidelines for Jackson’s. Daytime temperatures and humidity are right where they should be. The only part I’m still working on is the last degree or two at night.

According to the probes in the enclosure, most nights it sits between 66.1–66.8°F. There is no stagnant air — I have a small computer fan at the top of the enclosure that isn’t aimed at any perches, just providing gentle air movement.

If I turn on a fan outside the cage that brings room air in, the temperature drops into the 63–65°F range, but then nighttime humidity falls into the 60s. When I leave that outside fan off, humidity stays in the 90s.

I’ve also tried ice packs on the roof of the enclosure, and those will bring it down to 64–65°F when I use them.

So I’m able to hit the mid-60s or lower with either the outside fan or ice packs, but it comes with a humidity trade-off. Ice packs dont drop the humidity only the room fan Just trying to find the best long-term balance.