Newbie found Jackson's male

[bac2tsuki]

I am in Honolulu, HI & found this male walking in my parent's back yard, late this afternoon. They live on the hillside of an area well-known for wild Jackson's. I posted this photo on Facebook & a friend wrote that he looks dehydrated from the sunken eyes. I raise all kinds of critters, had a pair of Jackson's over 15 years ago, so think I basically know how to care for these guys.

I went to Petco & bought the largest crickets, Fluker's Repta+Boost & ReptoCal powders. I cleaned-out an aquarium & put in just-pruned, azalea branches, fitted a cover of 1/4" wire mesh & threw in 4 crickets dusted in Repta+Boost.
He went into the aquarium directly from the coffee can he was held in but afterwards, didn't move much & has closed his eyes most of the time. This was already about 6 p.m. It's in the kitchen w/a dark towel over so he doesn't get stressed from seeing people moving around.
I can move him to a sunnier, higher place in the morning. The temperature here is between 60-low 80s this week. We have not had any rain for over a week, (unusual for the rainy season) so I can understand his condition.

My question is, what is the best way to improve his condition as quickly and efficiently as possible? I can easily get a hibiscus bush for him to live on & make him a screen & wood cage once he's healthy. My plan right now is to mist him tomorrow (Sunday) when it's light & sunny, then see if he'll eat. Please advise.

 

[Lovereps]

How kind of you to help out this cham.
They're often so shy an nervous, I can't imagine a Jackson's not being very stressed in an aquarium.
You probably already know how touch and go these chams can be, so if you can throw together a quick outdoor screened enclosure it would surely be much better for him.
Aside from that, it's the degree of dehydration and the cause of it that matter most.
If he laps water readily with long mistings maybe he will bounce right back.
If he is extremely weak maybe some pedialyte diluted with an equal amount of water administered with a dropper to the tip of his mouth could help get him back in good shape.
Of course if he has other health issues, like infection or parasites, then misting will still help but not to the same extent until the other ailments are treated.
Wishing you success and hoping you'll let us know how he is doing.

 

[bac2tsuki]

First misting worked!

Took him out on one of the branches he was on & he readily began lapping up the water as I misted. The 4 crickets are still in there & I will embark on a potted hibiscus quest today. My neighbors grow them but they are all in the ground. I'm glad I don't have to do much in the way of acclimatization as Jackson's thrive & produce well here. The other good news is that the breezes & showers are back. He may be able to just live on his plant in a screened enclosure in the yard. I know where to hunt for crickets & will read up on how to start raising them. Thanks for the advice & so glad I found this forum!

 

[bac2tsuki]

photo update

Hope it's not just wishful thinking but about 1 hr. after first misting, his eyes appear a bit less sunken than when I found him yesterday. During 2nd misting he didn't drink. I found a 4' long rabbit cage I'll cover w/screen that should do it. Off to my father's to see if he'll donate an immature bonsai tree to the cause.

 

[bac2tsuki]

Photos showing up?

I don't see any of my photos I've been attaching. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Lovereps]

Glad he seems to be rehydrating.
For small creatures they need a lot of room to be healthy.
He could certainly live in a bush outdoors if it was surrounded by screening.
I suspect that chams which live outdoors year round in a great climate like yours , in a suitably roomy enclosure,and with proper feeding and watering live longer than most chams that live indoors.
I don't think that a rabbit cage would be good unless you put it on its end, so it is tall, rather than it being just wide.
A bonsai while cute, isn't going to make a good place for a cham to live--way too small.
Remember, these guys like to live in trees, so they're up higher than many predators.
Here are some good guidelines for Jackson's care.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/amanda509/581-basic-care-jacksons-chameleons.html

 

[bac2tsuki]

Not drinking, eating

I have received written input from friends; a vet, a hobbyist who moved away, etc. The only person I actually spoke w/who keeps Jackson's said if his eyes are sunken then he's too far gone & to release him. We covered the rabbit cage w/1/4" mesh & put on its side. It measures 14" x 15" x 36". I placed the bonsai & a potted hibiscus inside along w/guava & azalea branches so there is a lot for him to climb on & hide in. I was told to put the crickets in a large, open mayonnaise jar so they can't get out & he can catch them in there. He has a basking light as of yesterday. I moved the cage inside the house to the corner of a study where there is no human traffic, this morning because it's way too windy this week & I don't think the misting is doing any good being blown away & drying him off in a couple of minutes.

He is not opening his mouth to drink any of the water he is being misted with & keeps his eyes closed. I don't think he is hunting the crickets that are loose in the cage. I am going to look for a Jackson rescue person/group here because I think he's in more serious condition than my work schedule allows me to dedicate to his well-being.

 

[Lovereps]

He is not opening his mouth to drink any of the water he is being misted with & keeps his eyes closed. I don't think he is hunting the crickets that are loose in the cage. I am going to look for a Jackson rescue person/group here because I think he's in more serious condition than my work schedule allows me to dedicate to his well-being.

That's too bad.
I was very much hoping it was simply a bit of dehydration and that he would make a full recovery and be a nice pet for you.
It sounds like he's very ill with either an infection or internal parasites.
If there is a Jackson's rescue group or person nearby, maybe they can get him the vet care that he seems to need right away.

I don't know if any of the following can help but I thought I'd give the info to you and maybe someone will be of help
read that Chuck Pikuna of Tsunami Tropicals of North Kohala helps Jackson's but he might just provide a nice place for them to live outdoors and not get vet care.
He lists his email in the comments section on Jan 3 2010 (I don't want to repost it on this forum.)

These vets in Honolulu might be willing to help or may be able to direct you to a rescue center
http://www.alohaanimal.com/about/Veterinarians.asp
or this one http://www.featherandfur.com/

In any case, thanks for being a kind person to an ailing creature and I hope the little guy will be able to recover in the hands of someone with the necessary time and resources.
Mahalo nui loa!