Rookie needs help with breeding Jacksons. Help please!

K

KevinUSAF

New Member
Ok, to start with I'm an experienced pet owner, but these two are my first chameleons. I bought two Jackson's Chameleons from a locally owned pet store, I usually like to keep my business local. But this dude clearly didn't know much about chameleons. He had this 'breeding pair' in the same cage at the shop and told me when they reached maturity, they would mate. Admittedly, I should have done more research. But here I am with a chameleon that the girl at Petsmart said is preggo and I don't really know what to do.

I'll post some pictures to follow this up so you all can see my plight. Any advice is much appreciated! Honestly, assume I know near nothing about reptiles. Tips on telling if there's a bun in the oven, proper water care, cricket care, etc... I could use it all! Thanks so much for helping me out!

Kevin
 
Photos

Here is a link to some pictures of when I first got them. Like any eager pet owner I let the shutter fly as soon as they were home!

http://s241.beta.photobucket.com/user/kpr859/library/Chameleons

Some of the photos are of the brand new cage that I build for the female. It doesn't have any running water but uses a fogger and daily misting.

The live plants in the male's cage are:
Golden Pothos
Live moss
It also has a filtration/waterfall system that the male has been drinking from

The live plants in the female's cage are:
Dracaena (large center plant)
Asparagus "Plumosa"
Fern "Maiden Hair"
Alyssum

I checked with a few different websites and these plants all seemed to be safe for the chameleons and would be small enough for the babies to get their tiny claws around.

Again, I appreciate anyone and everyone's input!!

Kevin
 
Is there any way the two are related? If tho that may not turn out well. This seems to be a common problem with the jacksons people buy a female and a few months down the line they wake up to baby's so it is better to be prepared. Pics will help and do you no the age of the female?
 
ChrisZ said:
Try using google or search this website. Enough information has been written.
Click to expand...

On their question...?

This is a forum for help, people are willing to help. It's rude to say "Go look for it"

I don't breed my Jackson's but I'm sure someone will chime in.

Here is a caresheet for the Jackson's chams:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/care/caresheets/jacksons/

Definitely give this a good read and adjust your set-up. It's a general consensus that waterfalls aren't a good idea due to bacteria build-up and the fact that chams use running water as a toilet -- but I've heard it can be done with REGULAR cleaning, daily or more than daily.

Like I said, I know nothing on breeding or gravid females...I'm sure someone will chime in.
 
If you'd like, we could take a look-over of your set-up if you fill out this form to make sure everything is checking out:

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.

Cage Info:
Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?

And perhaps any specific questions following. :)
I keep my crickets in a 10gal aquarium with paper towel, a wet food, and a dry food. Gutloading is VERY important for chameleons - the better your crickets eat, the healthier your chameleon is! There are great gutloading basics blogs on this site. :)

Gut Loading: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/sandrachameleon/75-feeder-nutrition-gutloading.html
 
Breeding jacksons is not for rookies :) Jackson babies are especially fragile and difficult to cater for and raise (all baby Chams are) but jacksons especially.

If I was you I would keep the two I had and he really good at keeping them, research until my head hurt and then try breeding with my next 2 :)
 
AngieL said:
Breeding jacksons is not for rookies :) Jackson babies are especially fragile and difficult to cater for and raise (all baby Chams are) but jacksons especially.

If I was you I would keep the two I had and he really good at keeping them, research until my head hurt and then try breeding with my next 2 :)
Click to expand...

i believe he means he was told by the girl at petsmart that the female he purchased is already pregnant.. at least thats what i understood!! :)
 
Yeah, so I didn't intend to breed these two. I'm pretty sure they came from the pet store gravid. I appreciate everyone's help. I'll work on that post with all the info about them and get that up later today
 
sounds great! we will be able to trouble shoot anything that may need adjusting with their enclosures after you get that up :)
the caresheet we posted a link to has a section on breeding and birthing also! lots of owners so have bred their jacksons will be able to give you pointers if she is pregnant too
 
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