Jackson's Chameleon Eats a Snail

This is my male Jackson's, Kenya, eating one of the snails I bred and raised. He is hanging out on a recovering schefflera in front of a white door so you can see everything better.

Notice how instead of shooting at the snail, he approaches and grabs it. I have noticed that all of the chams that I have who will eat snails do this. I believe it to be instinctual to the montanes because snails have quite a firm grip and would probably sprain a cham's tongue if the cham shot it and had to struggle to pull it off of the branch. My other species that are not montanes rarely seem interested in the snails and seem to like faster moving prey.

Excuse the cockatiel chirp in the background :)

If you are interested in keeping chameleons, chameleonforums.com is the best site around for husbandry info, classifieds and good advice from solid keepers. :)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• jacksons
• jackson's
• jackson
• chameleon
• eat
• snail

[123adrianramirez]

hello KenyaChams! I am about to get my jackson tomorrow. I am getting it of a friend that found it, I think it is most likely wild. Any word of advice would help me maintain my jackson strong and healthy. I already have my screened system ready and the plants and everything. I assume they eat crickets like my iguana? Pleas give me some word of advice! thx

[KenyaChams]

Hi Adrian,

Check out the chameleonforums site and read all you can. Ask questions there.

I assume you are in Hawaii or California if your friend found a Jackson's for you.

Chams are insectivores but they need a varied diet. Look up "gutloading" and "dusting" on the forums.

You will need a UVB light and not just any will do. Get a ZooMed reptisun 5.0 LINEAR tube. It is the only safe one.

Also, your iguana doesn't eat crickets; they are generally vegetarians and also need that UVB light.

[KenyaChams]

If you have any specific questions or want a full care sheet, email thisexact username at gmail and I will do my best :)

[PhilsReptileHouse]

where did u buy it and for how much money

[KenyaChams]

I bought Kenya at a reptile expo many years ago for $50. If you are in the market for some chams, check out the online stores for FLchams, ChameleonsNorthWest, and the classifieds section of ChameleonForums.

[hobbysrule808]

when i have my jackson a jar teaming with grasshoppers, there were so many it just got very close and started chomping away mouthfulls, im guessing its just less complicated and they do it because they can, its also a lot faster if there is a lot of food available.

[KenyaChams]

Letting them exercise their tongues is important, though. It is just like any other muscle in that matter- it needs to be used to keep it functioning properly.

[TalesOfTheDales]

How embarrassing if you fail at catching a snail >.< i still like chameleons though

[poplglop]

And we all know that during the event of a nuclear war this thing will mutate and turn into a horrible beast! Kudos if you get the reference.

[koolaid5684]

He just munched that shit

[mblythe1]

is that a snail with a shell?

[chirpchirp46]

I LOVE JACKSON CHAMELEONS!!!!!!!

[frfsolrac77]

Sweet! Jackson's are the shit! My sister had one back when I was in college. Maybe I'll have one one day too.

[whoareyou881]

lol fail at the first attempt

[Travianero94]

FUCKING DEATHCLAW

[TranquilFury1993]

D'aw, it looks so adorable. I wonder what it would look like if it were anthro-

*cue year 2177*

Y'know I should learn to keep my fucking mouth shut.

[SlipknotFanize]

It's a Deathclaw run!

[chameleonlover4967]

why doesn't he use his tounge to get the snail?