Jackson's: Males and females OK in one terrarium?

[Vandyman]

Hello all...

I recently got myself into the world of Jackson's after I met a breeder at the All Animal Show over in Wheaton, IL who sold me a pair M/F of very healthy two year olds that appeared to be doing well near one another in the enclosure they were being sold from. Seemed like a no brainer to get the pair at the price I paid.

After a few weeks of observing them at home, it was obvious that the female is not at all happy with the male and has she gone into a defensive swaying stance and darkened color any time ol boy comes near. If you can tell me if this is a sign that the female is gravid, this will make a lot of sense.

I'm concerned that in this 30x24x60" screened environment, the female is going to stress out to the point of no return, as she hides and is always found in the nooks and crannies of all the foliage.

Again, I'm a newbie, and I realize now that I should have done better research before making a purchase, but I guess I put some trust in the dealer that this would be A-OK as they were described to be a co-habitable species with a single male to four females in one enclosure. I'm hearing just the opposite now from friends and was hoping some of you seasoned herps can show me the way to proceed with a successful setup based on what I have going on now.

Thanks for reading. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[MelissaB]

Welcome to the forum. Chameleons, with a few exceptions, are solitary animals. Usually they're only together for mating, and then go on their separate ways. By housing them together, the female is going to be constantly stressed. If I were you, I would get her a separate enclosure right away. Here's a link to the site's care sheet for Jacksons.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

If the people that sold the pair to you were giving you incorrect info about housing them together, I wouldn't trust whatever care instructions they told you either.

 

[SaintJimmy]

You are going to need another cage. That's all there is to it.

 

[Action Jackson]

Welcome to the forum. Chameleons, with a few exceptions, are solitary animals. Usually they're only together for mating, and then go on their separate ways. By housing them together, the female is going to be constantly stressed. If I were you, I would get her a separate enclosure right away. Here's a link to the site's care sheet for Jacksons.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

If the people that sold the pair to you were giving you incorrect info about housing them together, I wouldn't trust whatever care instructions they told you either.

Excellent advise.

 

[Vandyman]

Thanks for the advice!
I'll post an update to follow up later. I have a little work ahead of me.

Is a glass tank ok for either of the two? Like a 55 that I never got rid of..

 

[SaintJimmy]

Thanks for the advice!
I'll post an update to follow up later. I have a little work ahead of me.

Is a glass tank ok for either of the two? Like a 55 that I never got rid of..

That glass tank would rather hold bearded dragons, geckos, or anything... but not a chameleon.

They need vertical space and ventilation. Get another screen cage

 

[nick barta]

Go to the sponsor button top right, and go to LLL Reptile or DYI Cages, both have good screen cages.

Nick

 

[Carlton]

Thanks for the advice!
I'll post an update to follow up later. I have a little work ahead of me.

Is a glass tank ok for either of the two? Like a 55 that I never got rid of..

Nope, both chams would need the same type of cage environment. Unless you modify the tank with screen vent panels. Depending on the tank dimensions it may not provide the vertical space that suits chams as opposed to terrestrial herps or fish. Tanks generally don't provide good temp and humidity gradients that arboreal chams are adapted to. If you keep it humid enough for a jax it will also be a breeding ground for mold unless it is kept really clean.