Jacksons for beginners?

[daveo]

I was just on a web site Here. They say that jacksons are a good beginners chameleon. I have always wanted one but I am afraid. What do you guys think?

 

[Carlton]

I was just on a web site Here. They say that jacksons are a good beginners chameleon. I have always wanted one but I am afraid. What do you guys think?

I don't know when that article was posted but it is a bit outdated. The Davidsons' book on chams was basically ghost written by another herp expert many years ago, and while much of the information is still OK, don't assume the listed authors researched, proved, or originated what they state (my opinion from past experience).

I would not consider a jackson's a beginner species because they can be harder to acclimate or provide proper temps/humidity for depending on where you live. People often say they are good for beginners because they are not aggressive. This may mean the cham won't try biting you, but doesn't mean they don't get stressed. They can be shy and show their stress by retreating, hiding, refusing to eat, etc. If you need AC in summer or a lot of heating in winter their humidity needs are going to be harder to meet. Doesn't mean you can't do it, just that it will take more attention from day to day. They need a temp drop at night year round too and are not as forgiving of newbie mistakes as veileds are. They are more sensitive to supplements than veileds and panthers too. Their nutritional needs are not quite as well known and they can be prone to temporal gland infections (the temporal glands are at the corners of their mouth) that are hard to treat. Its a common issue on the forum.

If you find a jackson's is the species that intrigues you most then do your research, figure out whether you can meet their temp/humidity needs all year round, and get one after you are set up. I'd rather see a newbie take on a species they love above all others and be a quick learner/adaptor, than to settle for a species that doesn't matter to them as much.

 

[Cainschams]

I don't know when that article was posted but it is a bit outdated. The Davidsons' book on chams was basically ghost written by another herp expert many years ago, and while much of the information is still OK, don't assume the listed authors researched, proved, or originated what they state (my opinion from past experience).

I would not consider a jackson's a beginner species because they can be harder to acclimate or provide proper temps/humidity for depending on where you live. People often say they are good for beginners because they are not aggressive. This may mean the cham won't try biting you, but doesn't mean they don't get stressed. They can be shy and show their stress by retreating, hiding, refusing to eat, etc. If you need AC in summer or a lot of heating in winter their humidity needs are going to be harder to meet. Doesn't mean you can't do it, just that it will take more attention from day to day. They need a temp drop at night year round too and are not as forgiving of newbie mistakes as veileds are. They are more sensitive to supplements than veileds and panthers too. Their nutritional needs are not quite as well known and they can be prone to temporal gland infections (the temporal glands are at the corners of their mouth) that are hard to treat. Its a common issue on the forum.

If you find a jackson's is the species that intrigues you most then do your research, figure out whether you can meet their temp/humidity needs all year round, and get one after you are set up. I'd rather see a newbie take on a species they love above all others and be a quick learner/adaptor, than to settle for a species that doesn't matter to them as much.

Couldnt have said it better!!! The only thing I can add is to get a WELL STARTED captive bred specimen if possible. You want it to be at least 4 months old because neonates of this species can also be very tricky.