Preparations for a Jackson's Chameleon

[muellerb24]

I'm new to the community so this is my hello. I've been planning on getting a chameleon for years now but the window has opened and it's time. I'm planning on buying a male Jackson from a reptile show/convention as Jackson's are easily my favorite at the conventions and once I get a cage set, I will set out to get a chameleon.

I know the basics for caging like screen cages, non-toxic plants and branches, cool-air humidifiers and basking spots and UVB lights and needed temperatures and humidity in the cage. I will look to get a misting system in the future but I will have to live with spray bottles for now. I've watched all of the videos out there and still have got extra questions.

My cage will be 18x18x36 (which I read is a decent size) but I'm not sure which UVB light to purchase. The one I have in mind is a 18 inch 5.0 UVB 15 watt. I believe that's a good choice but just looking for a confirmation. I also found a 40 watt for the basking lamp for fairly cheap and should work well.

I also considered buying a waterfall but hesitated as people were saying it's off limits and the water will turn bad due to feces. Still wondering how much it would affect my chameleon. If there is other ways to hydrate my chameleon or if the spray bottle (and misting in the future) will do good work, it would be appreciated.

And finally food. I'm planning on crickets and mealworms but I've now read that crickets should be fed nutrients and stuff so the chameleons diet is better. Is this necessary or not? If so, then what are the nutrients I absolutely have to give to these crickets. How would a feed these crickets? Would I put the nutrient in the box and let the pack of them go at it or another way.

And my final question is how to feed my chameleon... Should I let the crickets crawl around the cage. handfeed or have them in a small container ready for my chameleon to pick some out?

If there are any other tips, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, I look forward to my chameleon journey and can't wait to get involved in the forums.

 

[JacksJill]

Welcome to the forum. Jackson's are my favorite.

I will look to get a misting system in the future

I would advise you to start with a misting system unless you are home most of the day every day. Jackson's have high humidity requirements that can easily lead to dehydration. Dehydration becomes kidney failure and a severely shortened life span. You would need to do 4-5 mistings spaced thru out the day. The longest should be for 3-5 minutes to really get them to drink. I'd recommend a pump sprayer if you do have that kind of time.
Consider putting in a drainage system of some kind to accommodate the overflow.

My cage will be 18x18x36 (which I read is a decent size) but I'm not sure which UVB light to purchase. The one I have in mind is a 18 inch 5.0 UVB 15 watt. I believe that's a good choice but just looking for a confirmation. I also found a 40 watt for the basking lamp for fairly cheap and should work well.

If you can swing it a 24x24x48 would be better and I'll bet you end up getting one eventually as your cham grows. Don't forget to provide light in the 6000 to 6500K range to keep your plants alive.

I'm planning on crickets and mealworms but I've now read that crickets should be fed nutrients and stuff so the chameleons diet is better. Is this necessary or not?

Crickets can be gut loaded the night before they are fed off with a variety of fruits and vegetables from the gut load list. https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/food/ I take mine and food process the whole batch and freeze it in chunks that I drop in with my feeders. Only gut load the number you plan to feed off. Mealworms are a poor feeder. You should look for superworms instead they are easier to digest. The rest can be fed a standard cricket diet if you want. Other good feeders are dubia roaches, snails, silkworms and hornworms.

Should I let the crickets crawl around the cage. handfeed or have them in a small container ready for my chameleon to pick some out?

Do some of each. Hand feeding is fun. Cup feeding less you keep an eye on appetite and free ranging gives your cham something to do.
Hope that helps.

 

[JacksJill]

Oops misted the fountain. Everyone I've heard that got one got tired of cleaning it all the time and at most uses it for when they are away for a weekend.
Expect that your reptile convention chameleon is probably wild caught and will need to have a fecal run and may need to be dewormed. Plan on taking a fecal to the vet a few weeks after he settles in. Find out the source before you buy. Captive bred would be better if possible but that don't guarantee that he won't have parasites.

 

[muellerb24]

Expect that your reptile convention chameleon is probably wild caught and will need to have a fecal run and may need to be dewormed. Plan on taking a fecal to the vet a few weeks after he settles in. Find out the source before you buy. Captive bred would be better if possible but that don't guarantee that he won't have parasites.

Thamks for all of the advice and I'll keep it all in mind!

 

[muellerb24]

Captive bred would be better if possible but that don't guarantee that he won't have parasites.

What would be a better place to find captive bred Jacksons?

 

[CJ's Exotics]

What would be a better place to find captive bred Jacksons?

Some people on the forums breed them. If you look around, you will find some captive breeds eventually,

 

[GreenChameleons]

In the next 5 or so months I’ll have some baby Jackson’s but you’d have to wait 6 months or so because I won’t find them homes till they are strong and I like to keep a close eye on them to insure that someone is getting a healthy chameleon just how I do things.

 

[muellerb24]

In the next 5 or so months I’ll have some baby Jackson’s but you’d have to wait 6 months or so because I won’t find them homes till they are strong and I like to keep a close eye on them to insure that someone is getting a healthy chameleon just how I do things.

Thanks, I will consider this if my process slows down a little as I renovate my cage.