observations from a new owner

[mrguy]

I am very new to this and I made the mistake of buying a chameleon from Petsmart a few months ago. It was a veiled and didn't live but 3 weeks. I had bought several books on the subject and had immersed myself into this. Devastated at his early demise I sought more info. Looking back I see two problems. It was too young for me to handle for starters (looked to be 3-4 months old). Also, I was misting his enclosure but I never noticed him licking the leaves in his enclosure but readily went after gut loaded crickets that I offered. Thinking he would be better off in a non glass enclosure I went with a screened enclosure. I believe it was dehydration that did the little guy in, and it wasn't warm enough in the screened cage.

I went to a repticon here in Orlando last month after more research I settled on a Jackson. I was able to peruse the room and pick what looked to be healthy and active. Jump forward several weeks he is thriving. I raise my own crickets and gut load them with bug burger and dusting with reptical once a month before feeding. Jax is extremely active compared to the other and I am not sure if this is species related.

My observation is this and it concerns lighting:

Even though I have the 5.0 repti glo and a sun glo 25watt he is most active in direct sunlight. Night and day difference. Within minutes of moving his cage to direct sunlight (shade provided) he goes "hunting".

I live in Orland FL so we have plenty of sun etc. Is the lighting I have enough or is the bulbs I am using really not affective for his needs?

Great site here

 

[JaxKiwiTiger]

Welcome to the forums! Sorry to hear about your Veiled. Jacksons are awesome creatures, but generally not an ideal starter species.

In comparison, the two species are faintly related. Lots of differences between the two, just to name a few: veileds grow much faster, have much larger appetites, can be very aggressive, and generally don't take well to overhandling. Jacksons are pretty chill, but they grow much slower. Do you know how old your Jackson is?? Their appetites are small, maybe 6 - 8 crix a day at most, depending on their age, so I'm surprised you raise your own crickets. Sunlight is the best for them, but make sure there is tons of foliage in the cage whenever he wants to cool down or hide to feel safe.

If possible, can you post pics of your cham and your set-up? That way we can maximize providng you the proper assistance!

 

[Olimpia]

I started off with a Jackson's and he was a great chameleon. But I know what you're talking about, I just think the lighting (which is sufficient for a cage) is just never going to be as good as natural sunlight. It's not your fault, there's just nothing out there that replicates the sun. I live just 50 minutes from you and I keep my chams outside as often as I can because it's the best thing you can do.

My Jackson's actually lived outside for months last spring before I rehomed him. But he loved it outside, and did great. He also looooved water, he could easily drink 20 minutes twice a day, so I started the misting schedule I have now which provides about 45 mins of water a day.

 

[mrguy]

Welcome to the forums! Sorry to hear about your Veiled. Jacksons are awesome creatures, but generally not an ideal starter species.

In comparison, the two species are faintly related. Lots of differences between the two, just to name a few: veileds grow much faster, have much larger appetites, can be very aggressive, and generally don't take well to overhandling. Jacksons are pretty chill, but they grow much slower. Do you know how old your Jackson is?? Their appetites are small, maybe 6 - 8 crix a day at most, depending on their age, so I'm surprised you raise your own crickets. Sunlight is the best for them, but make sure there is tons of foliage in the cage whenever he wants to cool down or hide to feel safe.

If possible, can you post pics of your cham and your set-up? That way we can maximize providng you the proper assistance!

It is hard to tell from a picture but he is about 7-8" long including tail. I just took some pictures but I don't have the lights on top of the cage as he was in my door way sunning. I have a live hibiscus and climbing vine, and a fake top to bottom Ivy he goes behind. Seems to be doing quite well. Eats about 6-10 of the 1/2" size crickets almost daily. He looks like a little dinosaur.

 

[mrguy]

Photos of Jax

Need to find a better way to get pictures but he is about 7-8" including tail.

 

[TyggyToo]

Welcome to the forum! Lovely pics of your cham too. I am looking forward to the day I can take mine out onto the deck, but its New England, and weather that warm is in the unforeseeable future.

Submitted for your approval,
Tyg

 

[laurie]

That is a very nice healthy looking jackson you have. Funny you think he looks like a dinosaur. One of our members cal her jackson, Monty a montysaur. here is a link to one of her pictures.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/more-montysaur-73389/

 

[Thezillaman21]

Welcome to the forums! Sorry to hear about your Veiled. Jacksons are awesome creatures, but generally not an ideal starter species.

In comparison, the two species are faintly related. Lots of differences between the two, just to name a few: veileds grow much faster, have much larger appetites, can be very aggressive, and generally don't take well to overhandling. Jacksons are pretty chill, but they grow much slower. Do you know how old your Jackson is?? Their appetites are small, maybe 6 - 8 crix a day at most, depending on their age, so I'm surprised you raise your own crickets. Sunlight is the best for them, but make sure there is tons of foliage in the cage whenever he wants to cool down or hide to feel safe.

If possible, can you post pics of your cham and your set-up? That way we can maximize providng you the proper assistance!

actually\ they\ are\ recomended\ starters.\ just\ not\ as\ much\ as\ veileds\ or\ panthers.\ jacksons\ take\ an\ easy\ 3rd\ place.\ and\ it\ dont\ really\ matter\ what\ you\ go\ with\ because\ if\ its\ what\ u\ want\ you\ will\ take\ more\ intrest\ and\ better\ care\ of\ it.

 

[carol5208]

welcome and congrats on your new Jackson's! If I can make one recomendation to you, it would be to raise the cage up off the ground. Put it up on a table or something(or maybe it is already?). They like to be high up. Great thing getting him out in the Fla sunshine. I am a Floridian too and my cham spends much of his day outside.