Ill be moving to Hawaii here in the next month and ill be purchasing a Jacksons Chameleon. I'm an experienced frog keeper and unfortunately had to get rid of my frogs due to Hawaii laws. Now I've read several care sheets and have a decent understanding on what I need but what would more experienced chameleon keepers recommend to a new chameleon keeper?
Moving
- Thread starter danfrog
- Start date
Do you guys usually go with two separate temp/humidity readers? One for warm basking area, and the other for the cool side? Also since the frogs I had were nocturnal they did not require uvb. I'm tracking regular calcium dust no D3 twice a week and vitamins once a week. And another question, should the uvb light be the basking spot or should I have a uvb cover the entire enclosure with a seperate basking spot for warmth?
Oh a couple more. I already have a hygrotherm and reptifogger. Should I purchase a monsoon system and put it on a timer. The reptifogger is good at keeping the humidity up, but won't necessarily form droplets for the lizard to drink. And what do you guys recommend for the huge temp drop that's needed for the night time?
SaintJimmy
Avid Member
We usually get a hygrometer and a thermometer separately. I actually haven't even had a need for either, but I do use the cheap ones from time to time. I know it's probably better to use them, but I'll get some good ones soon.
You need a UVB and a bulb that puts off around 83 degrees basking spot.
UVB should be a tube (I suggest 5.0 for babies and 10.0 for adults) going across the entire enclosure, and then the basking bulb should be a different bulb.
Use a 5.0 for the baby. 10.0 might be a bit too much for a baby chameleon, but once the jackson grows up you can use 10.0.
The 40 and 60 watt bulbs will stop being sold JAN 1st (see recent thread on it) but you can use 60 watt or even 70 watt just fine. Just position it so the basking spot is anywhere from 79-83 and you'll be fine.
I have heard that the monsoon SUCKS... Get a mist king or aquazamp. Anything else is a waste of time and money.
Reptifoggers aren't necessary since the misting will provide humidity AND droplets. I personally like the idea of a raindome. It kind of mists and rains.
The humidity needs to have "dry" periods, so don't try and keep the humidity too high all the time. Just have the rainy/misty periods be around 70-80% humidity as they dry, then leave it off for around 2-3 hours.
Too much humidity ALL THE TIME causes infections in the lungs and stuff.
Temp drop during night time? It's hot in Hawaii I guess (vacationed there). As long as it's not over 70-73 during the night you shouldn't worry about it.
NO night bulbs at all. Turn everything off at night.
They don't "need" a 50-60 degree temp drop. Chams live on hawaii (jacksons) too. Maui I think has them too. So you shouldn't have to do much for the night time drop.
bobcochran
Chameleon Enthusiast
Jacksons do just fine in Hawaii outdoors. I 've seen them cruising in the up country on Mauii and I know people breed and keep them just out side Honolulu. Do you have a problem with keeping them outside? You would need to provide shade for them there but UV and temp should be no problem.
Jacksons do bask, but not a lot if the ambient temps are warm. If I were you I'd buy one there and talk to the breeder (not somebody who goes out and collects them to sell) and see what they do.
Jacksons do bask, but not a lot if the ambient temps are warm. If I were you I'd buy one there and talk to the breeder (not somebody who goes out and collects them to sell) and see what they do.
ridgebax1
Avid Member
DON'T get a Monsoon; they are crap. I am on the third unit and it barely works! I am hoping to upgrade to an aquazamp within the next few months.
Ide rather have the lizard inside. But the lows in Hawaii are in the lower 70s-high 60s. We will be sleeping with the windows open most likely. I will not own a wild caught animal. Money is not really an issue for my animal. I can easily put some sort of misting system on a timer. I used to have a crested gecko that required a light misting in the morning, and a heavier misting at night. Would I be good with just a spray bottle, and the humidity spikes? I would rather have all husandry on automatic mode so all I have to worry about is feeding and enclosure cleanings.
melble68
Established Member
I have an digital thermo/humidity that i put sometimes at the bottom of the enclosure, and sometimes mid way on the rocks of his potted shefflera . It shows 24hrs worth of highs and lows for both temp and humidity. I also have a digital heat gun that I got from the Depot that I spot check his basking and mid levels of the cage quite often.
I dust tues thru sunday w/ calicium only. 1st and 3rd monday I dust w/ calicium w/ D3. 2nd and 4th monday I dust w/ multivitamin. In the warmer months we we're outside, D3 will be eliminated completely due to the incredible FL sun. But that's what I do for my panther, which may be different for a Jacksons. But I would think if you are able to house them outside, D3 will probably also not be needed. The sun is the best either way for any cham.
I think you are better off w/ a basking spot and a UVB tube that covers a bigger area.
Wattage for the basking area depends somewhat on the age, species, and at times the sex. Here is where you will find some different recommendations from different experts. I still consider myself a modest novice w/ chameleons even though I had a female about 20 years ago for a couple of years, and have had lots of reptiles and amphibians since I was a young child. The care sheets under for most chams under the "Care Resources" tab to the left side of these pages will list some standard recommendations per age, and sex. This is where the digital gun comes into play real nice, so you can achieve your desired basking temp. You need to experiment and see what works for your set up. Check the care sheets for Jacksons, if that is what you wish to still purchase. They have needs are different than the panther that I have.
I'm not familiar w/ a hygrothem so I can't help there, but I have seen a pretty good You Tube video that the guy has Jacksons and he used a fogger to keep the humidity up. I hope you'll get some Jackson experts to chime in on their specific humidity recommendations. Misting systems w/ a timer will help ease your daily routine. You'll see varying thumbs up and thumbs down on different misting systems. I think I usually hear folks not being happy w/ Monsoon. I hand mist and have a dripper that will last for 4-6 hours depending on the speed of the drip. Have you lights on a timer, and the temps should drop at night. Gradients should already be different from the bottom, mid, and basking area anyway.
Well the good thing is that I already have just about everything I need minus the wire cage, and uvb bulbs. I have light fixtures with dimmer switches, temp readers, humidity readers, hand held temp gun, timers, all sorts of different dusts, and plenty of decor. Do chameleon keepers have a problem with over saturation when using misting systems? Should I provide a drainage layer in the enclosure, or just have the misting system turn on a couple times a day?
melble68
Established Member
Zero substrate. You want all the water to be able to drain out of the enclosure. There are some great threads that touch on a ton of folks custom ideas.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/drainage-systems-cages-get-creative-102038/
And here is what I came up with.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/custom-drainage-system-121443/
https://www.chameleonforums.com/drainage-systems-cages-get-creative-102038/
And here is what I came up with.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/custom-drainage-system-121443/
Very cool! I got a few ideas for an enclosure/free range. Is there a good link for non toxic plants? I'm thinking live vines growing and surrounding a permanent screen enclosure. Ill need plants that drink crazy amounts of water, and I have zero experience growing plants. Man this is going to be a really fun project. I'm really looking forward to getting a chameleon. Don't worry though. The animals I keep get top of the line equipment and care. Ill be doing tons and tons more research before I purchase my chameleon, and ill have the enclosure pre-setup and stable.
melble68
Established Member
Safe plant, water friendly, and easy to grow: POTHOS, POTHOS, AND MORE POTHOS. You'll do just fine.
melble68
Established Member
Excellent someone brought up "poop talk" again. LOL!!!!!! I have zero substrate in Luke's enclosure, and I want to see his poo each and everyday to keep an eye on how he's doing. Poo is a great indicator of their health. I spot clean w/ a paper towel everyday. Off the bottom, off the leaves, etc... I want to see how big, what color the urate is, etc... There are even threads that are dedicated to Poop talk.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/poop-101-a-120171/
