Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone, had a quick question. I have a jackson that lives in an umbrella plant. the enclosure is 3x3x2.I have had him for about a year. he eats crickets,silkies,roaches supers, mealies, spiders waxworms. he is misted 3 times a day and has a dripper at lest 5 hours a day. A nyway his temps are 77-80. i USE A REPTI-GLO 5.0 AND A 40 WATT BASKING BULB. WHEN EVER I HAVE THE BASKING BULB HE IS SHOWING HIS STRESS COLORS. MY THERMOMETER READS 80. WHEN THE BULB IS OUT IT READS 77. IS IT O.K. TO NOT HAVE A BASKING LIGHT. I WOULD ONLY USUE THE UV WHICH DOESN"T LIGHT THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURE. HE DEFINATELY CALMS DOWN AND RETURNS TO HIS NICE GREEN SELF. HIS NIGHT TIME TEMP DROP IS ABOUT 5 DEGRESS. SHOULDIT BE MORE? THANKS MATT

Are you sure he is not just darkening his skin to absorb more heat from the basking bulb? When he shows the darker colors is he the same color on both sides? Chams can turn darker on the side closest to the heat, but the far side does not turn. Check that and see. Also, when he is actively basking he may tend to curve his body and lean away from the heat to expose the broadest part of his side to the warmth.

HE IS SHOWING DARK PATTERNS AN WILL NOT GO IN HIS PLANT. ALSO WILL STAY ON FAR SIDE ON THE SCREEN ONLY. THE PATTERNS ARE BLANCHED COLORING AND SOMETIMES DIAMONDS. MATT

Blanched coloring means he's too hot. Maybe the bulb is too hot for him, so he can't get comfortable in his plant. Then, feeling vulnerable and exposed, he sits stressed on the screen. To lower the basking bulb temp, move the fixture farther away from the cage or use a lower watt bulb.