Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had a male jackson's adult for about 3 months and since then he seems to get slower and slower. Recently he's been eating crickets, mealworms, and superworms. He is in a 3ft circular wire cage, with a uv heat bulb. Lately he has been moving very slowly, and when he's sleeping it takes practically a chainsaw to wake him up- I think he's dead everytime, but once he's up, he's up and movin, and cruisin, he's been eating fine, deficating regularly. It's just he doesn't seem as active as he used to be. Any help?

p.s.
he also has a variable drip for water.

A UV heat bulb?
Can you be more specific?

We have over 50 jacksons - and not one of them is under a UV heat bulb. They are a montane species (mountains) and prefer cooler temperatures and lots of moisture. We use ReptiSuns (tubes) instead of spot lights on them.

Some of ours have basking spots (a small incandescent bulb - 40-60 watt) in one area of their cage - but cooler temperatures and more moisture than the lowland species prefer.

When is he sleeping? If it is during the day - this is uncommon and may be a sign of illness. Most of our jax are awake 12 hours of each day. We use no lights at night.

If you can - try some lobster roaches for him too. Our adult jax go through 5-10 roaches in a sitting! We also give them crickets and silkworms and not too many superworms.

Some of the jax may perch on their fav branches - but by far, this species is generally very active. Most love a warm misting and many drink from the misters. They love to explore too - our big gals will go "walk-about" everytime they get the chance!

Hope this helps some,
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Well last night the bulb burnt out, I think zoo med made it. It's a incandescent bulb that boasts giving off uv a & b rays. He's sleeping 24hours it seems. Drinks often and seems to eat often. Maybe a vitamin deficientcy? He's cage is about 3ft tall with numerous perches on different levels, with now an incandescent bulb at the top. When he sleeps on the wire siding he hangs his head almost like he's dead. Im really worried about him.

VET NOW

what have you fed him? anything that was wild caught?

my jackson found a slug and a wasp outside and ate them.
he died the next month from some neurological problem..that he must have gotten from the slug even though wasps are bad anyother one ate one he is fine.

I have kept a watchful eye over him tonight, He wasn't drinking at first, but now i'm practicually bottle feeding him with my water sprayer, his color is coming back, eye arn't sunken in anymore, and he's drinking on his own. Im thinking he became dehydrated at one point or another. He has never eaten anything wild caught, only captive farmed insects from private breeders.

Eyes sunken?
Gosh you didn't mention that in the post we answered earlier.
Most likely the temperature of that original light was too much for him. Jax will drink and drink when they really get thirsty!

You might try some Pedialite (found in the baby food isle at your grocer). Get the small bottles, and give him that to drink instead of the water - it is what they give babies who are dehydrated.

Next - you have to keep him eating. We hope you are not getting your feeders from the pet stores - they are not fed properly at most pet stores and can be contaminated. We recently saw that happen with a cham we sold. The crickets were full of parasites.

How is the poop? Is it solid? Is the urea dark or light? You may have to get some Parazap if he got contaminated food - one sign is runny, slimy poop.

Have you got a vet you can consult?
How about a breeder that is close to you and can see your guy?

Keep us posted.
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All of the feeders I get are reptile show feeder breeders. I buy them in lots of about 250 a month and feed them gutload while I have them. The poop- nice white urate, solid- but not hard poop. Well earlier tonight he was at his worse, so I held him and gave him a warm shower and he started drinking, I got him drinking like that, and then he's been drinking in his cage on his own for about... 2-3 hours off and on. His movement is up and color looks better, now to get him eating more. There arnt any breeders around and no vets that will take chams. I had originally got him at the reptile show from a guy walking around with him that was selling him with a "cage" the cage was a cricket keeper cage!! and he's an adult! He was pretty bad- not getting any water, and getting 12 crickets once a week. So I felt I should take him with me no matter what. His eyes are looking better, but he seems on the light side.

So glad to hear he is drinking!!!!!
This is very important... and hopefully he doesn't have any renal damage from being dehydrated.

The guy was just walking around with him? In the shows we exhibit at, the promoters won't let you in with animals unless you have a booth.

Well, you have him now, and it sounds like you are really trying to take good care of him. That is the main thing. It sounds like he needs some fattening up too... can you take a picture so we can see?

Can you get silkworms or lobster roaches?
I know many places won't sell them in small amounts - but if you want to email us (offlist), we can send you a care package of treats for him.

Our jax love silkworms; roaches; giant mealworms and crickets! They go nuts over moths... sometimes I take the net and go catch a few outside. I have heard a lot of folks recommend butterworms for fattening a cham - but I have seen silkworms and roaches put good weight on, with much less fat.

It's a shame there are no breeders or vets that can help you out. But there are herp shows in your area? Hmmmm. Maybe a pet store knows of a herp vet? There is a list you can check for your area too - the URL is: http://www.arav.com/USMembers.htm

Check your state and area.

Keep offering those gutloaded crickets!
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Well he is still drinking, but I noticed he has retreated right to the bottem of the cage onto a log. He's pretty skinny, i'll take a pic later tonight, his eyes are wide open when he's awake, but he's still pretty "lazy". How much would you charge me for a jax "care package"? I havn't seen lobster roaches or silkies in the area. The pet show I got him from was the all ohio reptile show, your aloud to walk around with animals "properly contained". This guy wasn't very... smart. So I should be using a 50 - 60 watt normal bulb? I read in millions of general chameleon write ups that they NEED uv lights?

i would use a 40 watt incandesant light or less(depending on temps of house.) along with a uvb floresent tube since the tubes dont give off light. the floresnt light should be a repti sun 5.0

>>Well he is still drinking, but I noticed he has retreated right to the bottem of the cage onto a log. He's pretty skinny, i'll take a pic later tonight, his eyes are wide open when he's awake, but he's still pretty "lazy". How much would you charge me for a jax "care package"? I havn't seen lobster roaches or silkies in the area. The pet show I got him from was the all ohio reptile show, your aloud to walk around with animals "properly contained". This guy wasn't very... smart. So I should be using a 50 - 60 watt normal bulb? I read in millions of general chameleon write ups that they NEED uv lights?

Yes, they NEED those UVB lights. Just don't get a metal halide or mercury vapor type for your jax. The ReptiSun is a good choice as it is readily available at pet stores.

The basking bulb can either be a 40 watt or a 60 watt - depending on how close it is to the screen and him inside. If he hangs on the screen - use the 40 watt.

Remember - this is going to take some time. He won't "instantly" be better with some water... he needs nutitrition to have energy, so he will most likely be lethargic for a while.

We offered the "jax treat package" as a gift.... no charge. We would need your address to send it, however. If you are reluctant - just ask around here in the forum - many folks know us - we are breeders, and we fortunately have feeder insects readily available. Many local folks who have purchased chameleons from us, keep coming back for their feeders. It seems we are less expensive to buy from...so we are told.

Anyhow... take it slow with your guy. Offer crickets and don't be too surprised if it takes a few days for his appetite to increase. If he is weak, it is best he isn't way up high, as he could fall.

Have you tried the Pedialite yet? You can offer it in a dropper once his drinking response has been stimulated. Also there is a powdered product made by Flukers called REPTI-AID. You want to get the insectivore-carnivore formula. This you can mix with Pedialite (to a thin consistancy) and drip that into his mouth when he is drinking too. It will provide strength so he can resume eating normally. It runs about $8 here in the pet stores.

Keep us posted on your progress,
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Here's a close up of the little guy, this is how he spends most of his days and nights. His face/eyes are looking a tiny bit better after drinking everything in sight last night.

Here's a cage shot, the variable drip isn't in the shot, but I have one and he is in dire need of new bulbs.

not looking good at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yup, he is dehydrated and undernourished, for sure.
The best thing is that he is still trying. So you need to get some kind of nourishment into what he IS consuming - i.e. the water - that is why I mentioned the Pedialite and the Repti-Aid.

On those round cages, there is only room for the one bulb on top - so I would get one of the 20watt twisted ESU bulbs that puts out UVB. It will screw into that light fixture you have. It's not as strong of UVB output as a ReptiSun 5.0, but it will be sufficient for a jax - especially if he gets some real sunshine sometimes. You can always sit a small lamp with a regular bulb for warmth next to the cage.

If this is where you had a UVB/heat bulb before - it was way too much heat for the jax. The temperatures our jax like is 70's during the day. When they get too warm - they park.

Also... are you misting? If you could give him a pothos plant in there, it would help his humidity. All montane species like it cool and moist.

If you can bring him around - you will reap the rewards of a good pal. Most all of our Jax are quite personable and friendly. Some are downright characters! The jax are really more tolerant of handling than most chams.

Give us a yell if you still want that "care package"
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