Keeping Jackson"s outside.

[Action Jackson]

I've been keeping Jackson's almost exclusively outside for close to 15 years now. I don't think you can beat the benefits of real sunlight and cool nighttime temperatures.

Here are some pictures of my outdoor setups. I don't over crowd the cages with plants because they really like to cruise around. You can see I have the branches and vines set up in a kind of loop at the top of their cages. They really use this to go 'round and 'round all day. Since I don't have a ton of plants in there I'll cover their cages with towels on cool nights usually below 50 degrees.

They are hooked up to a automatic misting system and right now are getting misted 3-4 times a day for 8 minutes each time, as it gets hotter I'll increase the misting times and length. On really hot days say mid 90's and above I'll run the misters all day. I use a dripper on them about every other day. I really don't worry about ambient humidity levels but I live by the beach so it's usually pretty good anyways.

I keep all three sub-species of Jackson's the same way. I supplement very rarely but gut load feeders well. They are currently eating crickets,silks, BB flies,dubias,supers and mantis.

Male Meru basking.

Cages are partialy shaded always.

My Panther lives outside most of the year too. I bring him when thems get below 50 at night.

Hope this helps anyone thinking of doing this. I highly recommend keeping Jackson"s outside if you can. It's sad to see so many people having troubles with their Jackson's. Natural sunlight really helps.

 

[jdog1027]

Hello fellow Jacksons keeper. I have my Jacksons outside right now, but I was just talking to the wife today about how I thought it might be getting ready for them to come inside. I'm in central Alabama and the temps here have just started to kick into high gear. It has been upper 80'sF until this last week, but it is begining to creep into the 90'sF and I felt it was inside time. You mentioned in your post that you have them outside when it is in the 90sF and have been doing so for 15 years. What are the highest temperatures that you have had your Jacksons experience and what is the longest duration of those temperatures? Our nighttime lows in the summer here never get any lower than low 80'sF maybe upper 70sF. Just wondering what your experience with this was. Thanks in advance.

 

[Noliaboi]

Jackson's

Hello, your pictures really helped out alott!!! I would like to keep my JC outside but I LIVE In Houston and the wheater out here is crazy one day is cold, next rainy and the day after that is like 98. degrees.... But I work 10 hrs a day and I dont leave the AC running cz it comes out expensive but the temperture stays at around 85. degrees. I mist wet reptarrarium and plants pretty good, and I leave a dripper for him. I would like your opinion on my schedule and the tempature?? thanks

 

[carol5208]

I was curious what is the lifespan of your Jackson's that live outside? I don't have any but was just wondering if they live longer vs the ones that are kept indoors?

 

[animaltycoon]

i have a jacksons, i was wondering what you do if you want to keep them outside but it gets to be 100 degrees?

 

[SpartyTessy]

That is very cool. I have two Jacksons. I live in hawaii and also keep mine outside but underneath the roof that hangs over so they never get direct sunlight as that was my main concern was too much sun, but they still get the secondary UVB to go along with my reptisun 5.0 UVB light. I also was worried about the days when it rains really hard which is why underneath the roof cover instead of out in the open. Can you show more detailed pics of the drain system you setup? Where did you get the bottom frame that all three cages are sitting on? I really like your setup and is somewhat similar to mine. I also have a MistKing since they never get the direct rain which it rains quite often here in Hawaii. Thank you for sharing your great setup and giving me ideas.

 

[Action Jackson]

Being by the beach it rarely gets into the 90's or above. Last year we did see temps into the 100+ range but only for a few days. I ran my misters often if not all day. I was home most of the time though those temperatures and monitored them closely. I did notice them gaping but when the misters came on they were fine. As you know you just have to pay attention and be ready to make changes quickly when needed.

If I was in a hotter environment I would definitely plant the cages much more heavily with pothos and have a mister going on part of the cage though out the day and maybe even have a cage that went all the way to the ground. If I had to deal with the Temps you do I might opt to keep them inside during those really hot time of the year.

Hello fellow Jacksons keeper. I have my Jacksons outside right now, but I was just talking to the wife today about how I thought it might be getting ready for them to come inside. I'm in central Alabama and the temps here have just started to kick into high gear. It has been upper 80'sF until this last week, but it is begining to creep into the 90'sF and I felt it was inside time. You mentioned in your post that you have them outside when it is in the 90sF and have been doing so for 15 years. What are the highest temperatures that you have had your Jacksons experience and what is the longest duration of those temperatures? Our nighttime lows in the summer here never get any lower than low 80'sF maybe upper 70sF. Just wondering what your experience with this was. Thanks in advance.

 

[Action Jackson]

I'm using these.
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-cages/-/24-x-24-x-48-screen-cage-water-tray/
I drilled them and put a fitting on them which I attach a hose and drain to a bucket. I normally use these on my inside cages but the ground was getting so wet outside I decided to try them outside.

That is very cool. I have two Jacksons. I live in hawaii and also keep mine outside but underneath the roof that hangs over so they never get direct sunlight as that was my main concern was too much sun, but they still get the secondary UVB to go along with my reptisun 5.0 UVB light. I also was worried about the days when it rains really hard which is why underneath the roof cover instead of out in the open. Can you show more detailed pics of the drain system you setup? Where did you get the bottom frame that all three cages are sitting on? I really like your setup and is somewhat similar to mine. I also have a MistKing since they never get the direct rain which it rains quite often here in Hawaii. Thank you for sharing your great setup and giving me ideas.

 

[Action Jackson]

I've had them live as long as 5 years. But, my care these days is better than in the past due to the availability of so many more feeders and gut loading. I lost my 5 year old male last year after I brought him inside! We redid our backyard and I moved him inside, he hated it and stopped eating.

I was curious what is the lifespan of your Jackson's that live outside? I don't have any but was just wondering if they live longer vs the ones that are kept indoors?

 

[Miss Lily]

Wow! Your set ups all look wonderful! Sadly, I don't think we can get those trays over in the UK. Shame, as they look great! What make are the cages they fit? I put Monty outside whenever I can (UK weather is never the same two days running!) and he spends the warmer evenings in the conservatory in his outdoor cage as the temp drops better out there than in the house. My garden is not secure so I wouldn't even consider leaving him outside all day while I'm at work let alone over night. Being in the conservatory he has the safety of being indoors but with the temps drop of being outside.

 

[Cainschams]

Awesome setups!! Cant beat keeping chams outside. Im lucky enough to live on top of a mountain. My friend says hottest temps in summer are around 87 degrees even if its 100 in town.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Action Jackson]

I would move him in and out as weather permits. Maybe put im out in the mornings or afternoons.

Hello, your pictures really helped out alott!!! I would like to keep my JC outside but I LIVE In Houston and the wheater out here is crazy one day is cold, next rainy and the day after that is like 98. degrees.... But I work 10 hrs a day and I dont leave the AC running cz it comes out expensive but the temperture stays at around 85. degrees. I mist wet reptarrarium and plants pretty good, and I leave a dripper for him. I would like your opinion on my schedule and the tempature?? thanks

 

[Action Jackson]

Here's my gravid female Mt Meru's cage. I move her in and out depending on the weather. I have a line into my misting system that I can easily hook her up to.

 

[Action Jackson]

Yep, we're lucky.
I'm still looking for more Meru's if'n you hear of some.

Awesome setups!! Cant beat keeping chams outside. Im lucky enough to live on top of a mountain. My friend says hottest temps in summer are around 87 degrees even if its 100 in town.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[tortoisekeeper]

I am curious about your feeding cup. How do the cams reach it? I have been trying to get my Jackson to cup feed but he won't go near it.

 

[Action Jackson]

I normally don't cup feed. I had a cup on that one cage because my female Meru was not well and I wanted to make sure the food was near her. I typically just put feeders on the side of the cage on the screen and they eat'em up.

I am curious about your feeding cup. How do the cams reach it? I have been trying to get my Jackson to cup feed but he won't go near it.

 

[nimmitz]

That is really neat I also live by the beach, the weather is awesome here in California but due to my apartment I cannot keep my panther outdoors
I do keep them by our living room window which gets plenty of sunshine, but nothing beats the outdoors!
Thanks for sharing your setups/opinions, I'll keep them in mind for future