Jackson Temps

[Sid the Cham]

Ok so I've been doing the research on Jacksons chameleons but there's a major temperature differation between the many care sheets. I've seen some with temps of 65-75F for day time temps with a nightly drop of 10-15 degrees and a basking temp of 80F. Yet on others it will state 75-80F for a day temp, the nightly drop of 10 degrees, and a basking temp of 85F.

Now my apartment is kept at temps of 78-80F during the day and usually at night it will drop to 75 and sometimes 70. I received my Jacksons yesterday and immediately noticed that he was dehydrated so I misted the leafs of the enclosure often so he could drink before I had a chance to setup a proper dripper later yesterday. I did the misting after the leafs dried off. However, I don't think he noticed the dripper before he decided to go to sleep last night. This morning I sprayed down his enclosure so he drink because he still didn't notice it after waking up until I moved him over to vine that the dripper outlet is next to. Also I noticed today he started doing the open mouth thing. I don't know if he's hot or upset, not sure about the upset aspect because he's still his normal coloration and not a darker coloration that he takes when he's upset. Example coming out of the delivery cup and me moving him to the dripper. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[ChamomilleCame]

Jacksons do well in cooler temps, so 85 shoud be just fine. Depends on the age, too. If he's a baby 80 is just about right. What wattage is the bulb? And yes if he's opening his mouth, he might be too hot. The temps for daytime should be 75-85 (85 as basking) and for sleeping, maybe a little lower from 60-70 degrees I would say.

 

[Sid the Cham]

I believe he's a sub-adult, just a little shorter than a standard space bar key snout to vent. I haven't measured him yet because I don't want to stress him out any more. As for the bulb wattage it was only the 26w UVB after noticing him with his mouth open because I was worried that the basking lamp would make him to hot. But it's a 40w basking bulb.

 

[Cainschams]

http://chameleonnews.com/10JulManchen.html

This was written by one of our forum members. It seems the three different species/sub species like things a little different from what he has seen. Def the best info on the web for jacksons.

 

[Sid the Cham]

Thanks for providing the input ChamomilleCame and the link Cainschams.