Lighting for Jackson?

[bluemonster107]

Hello... new here ... i am looking to setup a new enclosure for a Jackson Cham and i am getting mixed info on the lights required.
I always thought that the reptiles/lizards/tutles, etc required the UVB lights??
the local pet place is telling me that the Jackson doesnt need the UVB lights if i feed him the supplement with calcium and vitamen D?
Im confused now. Do i still get the basking light/UVB light combo? or just a little CFL bulb light?

 

[OldChamKeeper]

Your pet store informant sucks.

I worked in the pet industry for years, one thing that set our store apart was that we gave out solid info and never tried to just say what a customer wanted to hear. Many stores worry that the high cost of a set up (lighting being the biggy) will deter the sale. Hence them selling the animal first knowing you'll be back for the equipment later. Very dirty trick.

Here is a good measuring stick for you to remember when looking at ANY lizard for a pet........... is it nocturnal or diurnal? Nocturnal lizards do not need UVB bulbs.

Also concerning powder supplements... way too much bad info out there.

Personally I feed my animals straight calcium on their food items 5 days out of 7.

I use a multi-vitamin supplement on ONE food item every 14 days.

I use a Calcium with medium D3 supplement once every 14 days.

It is actually easy to overdose your pets over a 6+month period.


Proper lighting plus feeder insects that are fed fresh veggies and fruit is one of the most solid ways to care for your chameleons, add in some straight calcium and you are on the right path.

Few tips:

-If you really want to learn about reptile lighting, ask Todd from Lightyourreptiles.com He sells systems to Zoos.

-Remember the animal is cheap compared to the cage and equipment. Do your homework. There is a cage company here on these forums called Dragon Strand. That guy can help you get the right cage and how to set it up.

- Find a new pet store to patronize or instead find the right people here on these forums.

 

[bluemonster107]

Thank you for the most helpful and to the point... And extremely important information!!!! Yeah... I listened to everything he was saying but felt so unsure with what my instincts were telling me.
I was piecing together all the things I needed... BEFORE...I got the cham...
And think you so much for the info you passed along.. Again

 

[Venutus1]

Yes, thank you OldChamKeeper, I am always happy to help!

As Old Cham says--
Sadly, sometimes the WORST place to get info on caring for reptiles are the big chain pet stores. (or anything for that matter.)

Sure-
Once and a while you will bump into an employee at one of those stores that is a serious hobbyist and really knows their stuff...
but that is few an far between.
Animal knowledge it seems is actually pretty low on the list as a job requirement in some pet stores.
So be wary of advice and also be wary of advice from internet "experts" too.

What you need is "the real deal" advising you, and thankfully THIS FORUM does have allot of knowledgeable people who are willing to help.

Here is my e-mail address so you OR ANYONE can shoot me an e-mail (ans also a picture of your set up is most helpful, even a few cell phone pics, so I can see what you are working with.

As far as lighting goes, the newer HO t5 fixtures and Arcadia t5 bulbs I have found to be the best. Hence I started selling them and STOPPED selling other brands.
side note: the high out-put = term "HO"
and t5 just means the real slender skinny flo. tubes.

But if you have a smaller cage, the regular diameter "T8" bulbs will work fine... because the HO t5 bulbs can be too strong on a small cage.

Either PM me or shoot me an e-mail with pics (or just post here) I am happy to advise.

I always suggest e-mailing me IS BEST--
since some days I am packing and shipping orders from sun up to sun down...
and so don't get to check into all the forums I am on.
But, as many folks here know, I do check e-mail every hour or two.
em is:
[email protected]

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Todd

Your pet store informant sucks.

I worked in the pet industry for years, one thing that set our store apart was that we gave out solid info and never tried to just say what a customer wanted to hear. Many stores worry that the high cost of a set up (lighting being the biggy) will deter the sale. Hence them selling the animal first knowing you'll be back for the equipment later. Very dirty trick.

Here is a good measuring stick for you to remember when looking at ANY lizard for a pet........... is it nocturnal or diurnal? Nocturnal lizards do not need UVB bulbs.

Also concerning powder supplements... way too much bad info out there.

Personally I feed my animals straight calcium on their food items 5 days out of 7.

I use a multi-vitamin supplement on ONE food item every 14 days.

I use a Calcium with medium D3 supplement once every 14 days.

It is actually easy to overdose your pets over a 6+month period.


Proper lighting plus feeder insects that are fed fresh veggies and fruit is one of the most solid ways to care for your chameleons, add in some straight calcium and you are on the right path.

Few tips:

-If you really want to learn about reptile lighting, ask Todd from Lightyourreptiles.com He sells systems to Zoos.

-Remember the animal is cheap compared to the cage and equipment. Do your homework. There is a cage company here on these forums called Dragon Strand. That guy can help you get the right cage and how to set it up.

- Find a new pet store to patronize or instead find the right people here on these forums.

 

[Carlton]

Thank you for the most helpful and to the point... And extremely important information!!!! Yeah... I listened to everything he was saying but felt so unsure with what my instincts were telling me.
I was piecing together all the things I needed... BEFORE...I got the cham...
And think you so much for the info you passed along.. Again

Well now you know that your petstore's information should be ignored (or at least questioned). They might happen to carry some product you need, but you now know not to "listen" to them! Good job...your instincts were correct!

 

[kplatvoet]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

You probably just got some of the best advice from the the experts -your first 3 replies were from members who know what they are talking about. Jackson information from pet stores is usually wrong,search in the health section and you'll find too many problems caused by new keepers who were told the wrong info. You might be thinking that because Todd sells only Acadia lights he's selling, but the truth is they really are better - they last longer and the quality makes a difference-