Jackson Chameleon acting funny

[Hirotaro11]

Hey Guys! This is my first post, and this is also my first chameleon!

I have a juvenile male Jackson, who looks healthy and active.

However, everyday he does this ritual of scratching the glass and moving erratically at the edges of the enclosure, as if wanting to escape the cage. see 10 second video here

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By1ndD33JRndZ3B4WTU2bUZsMGs

The enclosure is made of glass with screen top, its 24 in tall, 20 in deep 20 in wide, and has plenty of vines and climbing material.

Any ideas why this might be happening ? Should I be worried ?

 

[brownie64]

Well for one I didn't see very much vines that he could walk on, or that would sufficiently hold his weight. They like lots of climbing vines. And you could have things too hot in his environment they need a proper gradient to regulate their temps. Fill out an ask for help form, and let us know all your husbandry practices, and we could better inform you of what could be causing his distress here is a link.https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/



P.S. welcome to the forums

 

[Hirotaro11]

Thanks! Sure here is the form


Chameleon Info:

• Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?

Jackson Cham, male. Been with me for 1 month and a half now.

• Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?

I probably handle him once a week at the most. I try no to touch him as most as possible. I do however, open his enclosure to move things around with my hand and place crickets etc.

• Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?

I feed him crickets mostly and started experimenting with handfeeding mealworms. Only been able to do so once. He normally just stares at the worm in my hand but does not shoot for it. I feed the crickets carrots only.

• Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?

I sprinkle the crickets with Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplement, brand is called LOMAS

• Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?

I use a manual sprayer, two times a day, I sprinkle him directly and he seems to enjoy it, he gets most of his water that way. I also have a dripper, and I occasionally see him drinking water this way

• Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?

The few fecal droppings I can see are the ones that fall into the lower vines. Its droppings look very similar to bird droppings, white and orange. I have never tested for parasites.

Cage Info:

• Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?

Combo glass enclosure with screen top. Size is 24 in tall, 20 in deep 20 in wide

• Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?

I have one single lamp and alternate two bulbs. One is Exo Terra UVB100 13W the other is Exo Terra Heat Glo 50W

• Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?

I have a single thermometer on upper side of the enclosure. The avg temperature is 80 F, never drops below 75F Basking spot is 85- 90F

• Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?

Humidity is avg at 70%. Through regular misting, I also have an electronic cool mist that I do not usually use, since the humidity is always higher or equal than 70%

• Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?

No live plants, only synthetic

• Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?

The cage is located on my Office desk, its a private office space so there is no traffic of people aside of me working close to the cage itself. I am in the Chameleons full sight he whole 9-5 in weekdays.

• Location - Where are you geographically located?

Monterrey, Mexico, 2 hour drive south of Texas

Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

He is a very active chameleon, but he does this weird movements during the day, he circles the bottom of the cage , scratching the glass, like wanting to get out. I have read additional climbing vines may be needed, and I bought some more but it doesn't seem to have made a difference.

I will add a short video of the enclosure!

 

[Hirotaro11]

Here is the full enclosure,


https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By1ndD33JRndN3FqV29Sa0g1TWc

 

[JacksJill]

Your basking temperatures may be a bit high. Jacksons don't like as much heat as Panthers etc.

Recommended temps from the chameleon care sheets are as follows:
Temperature:
Baby/juvenile (<9 months): 70-75F (21-23C) ambient, 75-80F (23-26C) basking
Adult: 70-80F (21-26C) ambient, 82-85F (29C) basking

85-90 degree basking spot may be making him look for a cooler spot. You could try backing off your heat lamp or use a lower watt bulb.
He also might like a bit more cover to get out of the light when he needs to.

 

[brownie64]

Yah I would bring down the temps he is probably overheating a little. Mine heat gradient is 82 degrease basking at the top to 68 degrease at the bottom. Does he seem to open his mouth a lot when basking?

I would definitely get more vines, and foliage real plants are nice, and help with the regulation of humidity just be sure they are safe.

You don't need that water dish unless you are just using it to catch dripper water he wont drink from it, and if he does he will likely encounter bad bacteria. So if you are using it to catch the water it is important to keep it clean.

These guys are sensitive to D3 supplementation, and multivitamins. I give mine multivitamins, and supplements with d3 only once a month. Plane calcium all other times.

Might want to widen your selection of feeders, and gut load. Gut load with turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens, sweet potato's, and various fruits. And get a good dry mix like cricket crack. Only feed mill worms as an occasional treat as they can cause impaction problems. Staples are things like crickets, grass hoppers, cockroaches, super worms, and silk worms. mix it up with the occasional stick bug, mantis, horn worm and so on.

His enclosure is a nice one, but it is at a minimum size IMO. I personally would go with a larger one mine is 2'-4'-18"

I personally would mist him more often, but your humidity looks fine, so as long as his urates stay white he should be ok. These guys love water!

I think he is just too hot in that small environment get the temps down see what happens. Good luck hope this was helpful.

 

[Peachypink]

I'm trying to understand your lighting....you say that you switch out bulbs? So when he has a heat lamp, he has no UVB and when he has UVB he has no heat? Also, if he is at your office, what do you do in the evenings and weekends? Is the light on a timer? What is the schedule.
You really need to have 2 fixtures and they need to be on a timer especially if you are not there to turn them off at night and on again in the mornings. He needs both the heat and the UVB and they should be on a 12 hour schedule with no lights at night.