Surprise Jackson’s babies!!

[Rollininthehay82]

Hello. My name is Noah. My Jackson’s had babies out of nowhere. I was not prepared. Looking for tips on what to feed them. Even the smallest crickets I can find aren’t small enough. I have pinheads and fruit flys ordered. They won’t be here until Tuesday. These were born two days ago. I went to pet smart and bought the two vials of fruit flys they had. Any other tips for new babies would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kinyonga]

Welcome to the forum and the world of chameleons!

@JacksJill @Kaizen and a few others keep Jackson's so they'll be better to help you its this...but pinhead crickets and fruit flies are good beginner insects for them.

 

[Lindasjackson]

@JacksJill @Mendez @Kaizen

 

[Lindasjackson]

Welcome to the forum! They sure are cute! Unfortunately lots of female Jackson’s owners get surprised by babies. They can retain sperm from just one pairing and produce babies any time they want. Usually around 3 clutches. They don’t need any heat lights for now but you do want to provide uvb light with a t5 Ho fixture and either a reptisun 5.0 or Arcadia 6% bulb. You willl need to separate them from mom because she might eat them. You can put them in a cage all together for a month or two but then they need to be separated into their own cages. Jacksjill can give you better info than I can because she breeds them. There are some easily made small cages for them. They needs lots of plants to hide in and they’ll need misting so they can drink. Pinhead crickets and fruitflies that have been lightly dusted with plain phosphorus free calcium no D3. There’s lots of info on this at https://chameleonacademy.com/. Bill Strand runs this site and he is also a Jackson’s breeder. Good luck and let us know if you need more help!

 

[Lindasjackson]

https://www.rainbowmealworms.net/ Check out this site for pinhead crickets and fruit flies

 

[Mendez]

You can catch some fruit flies by setting out fruit. If you keep your chams outside, given the temperatures are good, it's as simple as putting a little bit of fruit in the cage. Otherwise, you'll probably have to trap the flies outside and bring them in.

Here's a video:


(Of course, use healthy fruits to to bait them)

Hopefully this will be enough to keep them alive until your fruit flies arrive. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Murry]

The petco by me has fruit fly cultures. Over 100+ in each one. Maybe check them out to help hold you over.

 

[JacksJill]

Fruit flies are the way to go for the first couple weeks. Bean beetles and pin heads can be added in as they grow. Start cultures of the ones you bought with either home made culture media or I use Repashy Super Fly.

They will need UVB lighting but no basking bulb at this stage unless your house is colder than 72 during the day. If you do use a basking bulb keep it high above them, have it on for short periods of time and don't let it over heat and dehydrate them.

There is a lot to it I will add a link that should help.

https://chameleonacademy.com/trioceros-jacksonii-breeding-jacksons-chameleons/

 

[Rollininthehay82]

Thanks for the advice and the links. Armstrong cricket farm is here in my town and I talked the owner into giving me a tube of pinhead crickets. So that should help some too. Also is there a way to tell male from female this young? The all seem to have three nuns where the horns will be.

 

[JacksJill]

They are all born with nubs. In xanths the males will grow longer and the females won't. Time will tell.

 

[Kaizen]

Hello. My name is Noah. My Jackson’s had babies out of nowhere. I was not prepared. Looking for tips on what to feed them. Even the smallest crickets I can find aren’t small enough. I have pinheads and fruit flys ordered. They won’t be here until Tuesday. These were born two days ago. I went to pet smart and bought the two vials of fruit flys they had. Any other tips for new babies would be appreciated. Thanks.

Obviously ff are great; but don’t discount bean beetles and pinheads.

 

[Rollininthehay82]

 

[Rollininthehay82]

Update. One died. My screen cage will be here on the 8th. This is all I have to put them in for now. They are eating well and drinking. Hopefully they will all make it.

 

[Lindasjackson]

You’re doing the best you can! I’m sorry you lost one.