Classification
Order: squamata
Family: chamaeleonidae
Genus: chamaeleo
Species: chamaeleo jacksonii
Subspecies: trioceros jacksonii jacksonii, trioceros jacksonii merumontanus, trioceros jacksonii xantholopus. It is possible that there are more subspecies.
Habitat
All three subspecies are native to Africa: Chamaeleo jacksonii jacksonii can be found in Kenya, near Nairobi. C.j. merumontanus lives in Tanzania, near the mountain of Meru, and C.j. xantholophus can be found in Kenya too, but in different regions than the nominative subspecies.
Outward appearance
The size of the chameleon depends on the subspecies and varies from 15 to 35 cm.
Males of Chamaeleo jacksonii jacksonii can reach 30 cm, and females are usually from 20 to 25 cm. C.j. merumontanus is the largest subspecies; males can grow to 35 cm and females from 25 to 30 cm. C.j. xantholophus is the smallest subspecies, males are rarely longer than 25 cm, females on average reach 15-20 cm.
The main color of the chameleon is green (can be many different shades). Like many other chameleons, this species can change its color depending on its mood and on the surface it is on. When stressed, chameleons normally become darker. If the surface is unevenly colored, they can also show on their skin stripes and spots imitating the substrate.
The specific feature of this species is three horns in the head. One of the horns is straight and thick, two other horns are thinner and bent. Only males have horns, they show the sex of the chameleon. On the spine the chameleons have saw-like spikes; their tails are very flexible and they get thinner towards the end and can bend. The tail enables the chameleon to hold onto branches when it climbs trees. Also the Jackson’s chameleon has very clingy fingers, so it can be very difficult to take the chameleon off the branch.
Males are bigger than females and have three horns.
Character
The Jackson’s chameleon is peaceful and docile. It moves quite slowly and likes sitting still on a tree. Its protective coloration males a perfect disguise and enables the chameleon to hide from predators, so it doesn’t need to flee.
This species is peaceful and friendly towards people.
Males tend to be territorial and aggressive to each other, even if their tank is very big. So it is strongly not recommended to keep two males in one enclosure.
Maintenance care
The Jackson’s chameleon requires a vertical tank. Despite the fact that this lizard is not very large and has sedentary lifestyle, it needs a large tank so that the chameleon can move freely. The minimal required size is 100x60 cm. It’s best to keep the chameleon alone; if the tank is big enough, you can keep a male with a female. In this case the tank should have plenty of hiding places.
For decorations you can use bog logs, e.g. a grapevine. For substrate you can use coconut husks or milled bark. The substrate should be at least 10 cm thick. Real plants will look great, you can place them in the pots and decorate them with bark or moss. The plants should big and powerful enough to stand the chameleon’s weight. You have to take into account the size of full-grown plants, so that they don’t become too big for the tank. It is best to place the plants so that the highest of them are located at the back and serve as hiding places for a female.
During the day you should heat the tank up to 26 degrees; at night the temperature can go down to 20 degrees. The temperature gradient is required for the chameleon to feel comfortable. There should be a heating lamp in the tank above the log for the chameleon to bask under. The lamp should not be closer than 15 cm from the lizard, otherwise it can get burnt. A UV lamp is a must, otherwise the chameleon won’t be able to digest vitamin D from the food and it can result in rachitis.
A water bowl is desirable; the water has to be changed daily. Live plants have to be misted daily, it increases the humidity in the tank and is good for the chameleon. A cascade is perfect: chameleons love drinking from it and it helps to maintain the humidity level.
The ambient temperature should be around 20°C at night and about 26°C at daytime.
The air humidity should be around 60-70%.
The Jackson’s chameleon need moderate light for 12 hours every day.
Feeding
The Jackson’s chameleon is a predator that mainly east insects. In captivity they eat crickets, cockroaches, superworm, flies, small snails.
Variety of the menu is required, it means you should alternate the food.
You shouldn’t feed the chameleon with too big or too tough insects, it can choke.
You should cover the food with calcium powder and about once a month you need to add vitamins to the food.
Features
The Jackson’s chameleons are quite rare, it may be difficult to acquire them.
Males are aggressive towards each other, so they mustn’t be kept together.
This species requires a large tank.
It requires proper care: feeding, misting etc.
They are slow and not active.
Diseases
Rachitis is a development disorder which occurs due to the lack of calcium that is developed under UV light. The main symptoms are bones; distortion and softening of the lower jaw which makes it difficult for the chameleon to chew. It can be treated with calcium injections that should be made by a vet.
If the shedding is incomplete, some molted skin can stay on (most often on the lizard’s fingers and tail). It can lead to necrosis which is lethal. If this occurs, you will need to remove the molted skin very carefully with the help of tweezers, but you have to wet it properly first. For prevention you should see to that the lizard gets enough of A vitamin and that the air humidity in the tank is high enough.
Respiratory infections occur due to poor husbandry (draughts, wrong temperature in the tank). The lizard becomes lethargic, it loses appetite, pants and breathes heavily. You should show the chameleon to the vet and he will prescribe antibiotics. You will have to improve the reptile’s environment too.
Eye infections can occur if something gets in the lizard’s eye. The chameleon tries to scratch the eye, it gets swollen. Normally it is easy to treat with simple rinsing of the eye.
Stress is the most common problem with the chameleons. . It can be caused by other lizards in the same enclosure, wrong type of light or wrong temperature or too many people around the enclosure. It is easy to know when the chameleon is stressed: it stays darker than usual for a long time. If the chameleon grabs a branch and sits like that for a long time, this means it is stressed. You should find the reason for it and eliminate it.
Breeding
The Jackson’s chameleon is sexually mature at the age of 9 months. If a couple is kept together, they can start mating without stimulation. If the male is not active, you can temporarily separate the couple or else show a rival (in the mirror).
This species is ovoviviparous; after copulation eggs develop in the female’s body and prior to “delivery” hatchlings come out and are born live. The eggs’ shell dissolves in the female’s genital tract. The first “pregnancy” lasts from 5 to 7 months, then the female can give birth every three months. The sperm can be kept in the female’s body for a long time, so further copulations won’t be needed. Hatchlings are 5-7 cm long and start eating immediately. Mineral supplements are required for them.
Average life span is about 10 years. Males usually live longer; most females don’t get older than 5 years.