Image Credit: Wikipedia
Jackson's chameleon has four names, like
1. Jackson's chameleon,
2. Jackson's horned chameleon,
3. Three-horned chameleon, or
4. Kikuyu three-horned chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii) which is a species of chameleon (family Chamaeleonidae).
A scientist named Jackson did not discover Jackson's chameleons; their name comes from an ornithologist and former governor of Kenya, Frederick Jackson.
Originally native to East Africa, these chameleons have been introduced to California, Hawaii, and even Florida in recent years.
Jackson's chameleons are brownish, but they develop green coloration around the age of four or five months. Men usually have brighter colors and a yellow or blue marking. The males of the species are called three-horned chameleons because they have small brown horns above their eyes and one on their noses.
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Common Names: Jackson's chameleon, or Jackson's horned chameleon
Scientific Name: Chamaeleo jacksonii
Size: This species of chameleon can grow to a length of 9 to 13 inches including its tail. Males are larger than females.
Length: 9-13 inches
Weight: 3.5-5.5 ounces
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Colors: Bright Emerald Green
Temperament: Easily stressed, Solitary, Not playful, Docile
Best Suited for: Experienced reptile owners
Table of Content in this Article
Jackson's Chameleon: A Description
The Temperament and Behavior of Jackson's Chameleon
Jackson's Chameleon Habitat
Heat for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
Light for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
Temperature for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
The Humidity or Water Ratio
Design and Size of The Cage
Supplies or Furniture for Cages
A Healthy Diet and Clean Water
Food for Jackson's Chameleon
Hydration for Jackson's Chameleon
Breeding Jackson's Chameleons
Exercise for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
Food & Diet Requirements
Male vs Female
During Captivity
Symptoms of Common Health Conditions
Jackson's Chameleon's Intelligence
How Much Do Jackson's Chameleons Cost?
Jackson's Chameleon: How to Choose
Jackson's Chameleon: A Description
Jackson's chameleon is also known as the three-horned chameleon. There are three brown horns on males. In a manner similar to that of the ceratopsid dinosaur genus Triceratops, the horns are located on the nose (rostral horn) and above each superior orbital ridge above the eyes (preocular horns).
Females without horns or with remnants of the rostral horn (in subspecies Jacksonii and Merumontanus) sometimes have traces of the horn. Chameleons are typically green, although some individuals have blue or yellow markings. However, they will change color depending on their mood, health, and environment.
Males can reach a total length including the tail of up to 38 cm (15 in), and females can reach 25 cm (10 in), but more typical lengths are 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in). The dorsal ridge is saw-tooth-shaped, and it lacks a gular crest. After five months, it reaches sexual maturity. Females generally live longer than males, but the lifespan varies.
Since the 1980s, the T. j. xantholophus subspecies of Jackson's chameleon have been bred in captivity.
The Temperament and Behavior of Jackson's Chameleon
It is important to house Jackson's chameleons individually because they are territorial. As with other chameleon species, they are pets that are best watched rather than handled due to their stress-inducing nature.
Jackson's Chameleon Habitat
Chameleons should never be kept in glass terrariums. Fine metal or fiberglass mesh is not recommended; they need ventilation provided by a mesh enclosure. Chameleons like to climb high up off the ground, so vertical space is essential.
When the weather is warm enough, outdoor cages can be used provided that they are not overheated.
Two Periods prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in the cage, the cage must be kept clean. Lining the cage with paper towels or newspaper makes cleaning easier. Keepers sometimes use soil (no vermiculite or perlite) or peat moss, but these are more difficult to keep clean and dry.
You can place potted plants on plain paper substrates for easier cleaning while still allowing live plants in your cage. Avoid using wood chips or any other substrate that could be accidentally ingested and cause blockages.
Give your chameleon plenty of non-toxic plants and branches to climb on. The sap from Ficus trees can irritate chameleons, which is why they are often used as chameleon housing. Pothos, hibiscus, and dracaena are other plants you can try.
You can also add artificial plants, such as artificial vines. It is important to provide a variety of branches (of different diameters), along with secure perches at different temperatures and levels within the cage.
Heat for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
During the day, Jackson's chameleons need a temperature gradient between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 and 26 degrees Celsius, with a basking spot up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit or 29 degrees Celsius.
Usually, their temperatures do not fall below 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 to 21 degrees Celsius at night, so you may not need to heat at night if the temperature in your home does not drop below those levels.
Generally, the best method of heating is to use a reflector with a basking or incandescent light or a ceramic heater, which should be placed outside the cage to prevent burns.
Light for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
Also, chameleons require full-spectrum ultraviolet (UVA/UVB) light, so you should invest in a good lamp. During the day, keep the UV light on between 10 and 12 hours. Depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, these bulbs should be replaced every six months.
Jackson's chameleons do well outdoors during appropriate temperatures in natural sunlight, but overheating can cause health issues since they cannot tolerate temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 degrees Celsius.
Temperature for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
You should maintain a temperature gradient of 70-80°F or 21-27°C with a basking spot that reaches 82-85°F or 28-29°C. Jackson's chameleon should never be kept above 84°F or 29°C for long periods of time. Provide a drop in temperature that ranges from 55°F to low to mid-70s or 13-24°C at night.
The Humidity or Water Ratio
Maintain a relative humidity of 60-100%. Water is only ingested from leaves or other surfaces by Jackson's chameleons. A mist watering system or an automatic watering system can be used to provide water to the plants. In some cases, cool-mist humidifiers are also recommended.
Design and Size of The Cage
Adults should be housed in a large, vertical enclosure. Enclosures welded with plastic-coated wire mesh are good choices. Two adult pairs should have a minimum cage size of two square feet by two square feet by three feet.
Supplies or Furniture for Cages
Providing climbing branches, potted plants, such as Ficus Benjamina or hibiscus for visual security as well as full-spectrum lighting can improve calcium absorption.
A Healthy Diet and Clean Water
The humidity level for Jackson's chameleons should be between 50 and 80 percent. A drip system or misting system can be used to mist the plants in the enclosure regularly or at least twice daily. Although chameleons rarely drink from water bowls, they will lap up water droplets from plants; they can also drink from mist and drip systems.
The water droplets will cascade over the plants in the enclosure when an irrigation system is installed. Consider investing in a hygrometer to measure the humidity.
The chameleon is an insectivore, so offer it insects to eat. The diet usually consists of crickets, but mealworms, super worms, waxworms (in limited quantities), roaches, silkworms, flies, fruit flies (for young chameleons), and grasshoppers are also acceptable.
Generally, wild-caught insects should only be fed if their exposure to pesticides has been verified, and fireflies should never be fed. You should gut load all insects before feeding them to your chameleon.
It's important to use non-toxic plants since some chameleons eat plants, including live ones in a cage. You can also attach turnip greens, collard greens, and sugar snap pea pods to the sides of the cage.
As you monitor your chameleon, you will have to adjust the amount fed as necessary; if many insects are left uneaten or your chameleon is too fat, reduce the amount fed. You should not leave uneaten live prey in the cage for an extended period as the insects may attack and injure your chameleon.
Food for Jackson's Chameleon
Jackson's chameleon is an insectivore. You can use live gut-loaded crickets, waxworms, butter worms, cockroaches, house flies, or small snails as bait. Providing high-quality, nutrient-rich insects is essential.
Jackson's chameleons are especially susceptible to gout and edema when exposed to excessive amounts of synthetic vitamin A. Sticky Tongue Farms Vit-All can be used to gut load prey items with vitamins and amino acids, and Sticky Tongue Farms Miner-All can be used to dust prey with calcium and trace elements.
You should not feed your chameleons more than five to seven insects per feeding. A chameleon's eyes should not exceed the size of any insect. The chameleons get exercise by hunting and eating in the open, which I prefer. You can also use a plastic feeding dish placed under a branch for easy access.
Hydration for Jackson's Chameleon
In the native range of Jackson's chameleons, rainfall averages 30 to 60 inches per year. Year-round, the humidity ranges from 50 to 80 percent. When fully hydrated, a chameleon will possess full eyes, skin, and wings (top of the head).
To keep the tongue lubricated, offer water before feeding. A chameleon's eyes are cleaned and it is hydrated when it is in a rainstorm. It's completely normal for chameleons to puff out their bulbous eyes and rub them on a branch, even if they aren't drinking rainwater. Their delicate skin and lungs will be hydrated by the humidity.
Continue to offer water to the chameleon until it slows down or stops drinking or washing its eyes. A minimum of twice daily, mist the chameleon's entire tree and body with water. When the humidity drops below 50%, a cool-mist can be produced using an ultrasonic humidifier.
Chameleons can also be placed in a rainstorm once a week for full hydration, even if a humidifier is provided. Simulate rain by placing the chameleon in a shower on a plant or rack, under light rain or mist for a minimum of 12 hours each week.
The chameleon needs more hydration in high temperatures. Observe the plants and adjust watering times accordingly.
Breeding Jackson's Chameleons
Jackson's chameleons are ready to breed after 9 months to 1 year of age. You can place the female in the enclosure after the male breeds for three days. If the male seems disinterested, show him another male or offer a rainstorm.
Show him his mirror image if none are available. A male that is housed next to the females or can see them becomes too familiar with them and is not interested in breeding with them. An imaginary or real male will entice the lazy male to breed with the female.
Exercise for Pet Jackson's Chameleons
Most animals need more exercise than chameleons do. Hanging out on tree branches is all they want to do. It is during feeding time that you will see them at their most active when they are hunting down their prey.
In addition to climbing the tree branches, your little one should get plenty of exercises simply by climbing them.
Food & Diet Requirements
Jackson's chameleons consume only insects and invertebrates in their diet. Their preference is for them to be alive. It is packed with specific proteins and nutrients that insects need to stay healthy. Crickets, waxworms, mealworms, house flies, cockroaches, and small snails are great insects to feed them.
Male vs Female
I think the easiest part about Jackson's chameleons is sexing the males and females. There are three large protruding horns on the males, and they're often larger than the females. Chameleon females also exhibit bright green colors like their male counterparts, but their patterns are more intricate.
Males are also a bit stronger and less prone to illness but usually have a more unpleasant temperament - especially if there are other male chameleons nearby.
During Captivity
Jackson's chameleons require high humidity and colder temperatures at night in captivity. This animal is susceptible to eye and upper respiratory infections caused by excessive heat and humidity. Jackson's chameleons are known to live between five and ten years in captivity.
Symptoms of Common Health Conditions
Insectivores are prone to parasitic infections, especially if stressed or ill. Jackson's chameleons are prone to respiratory infections and fungal infections, as with most reptiles. Veterinarians who specialize in reptiles should be consulted for these diagnoses.
Jackson's Chameleon's Intelligence
Despite their appearance, these creatures can feel and respond. That isn't even close to the truth. Your chameleon will tell you exactly how he or she feels from the way they look.
Chameleons, in general, are known for their ability to change color. Using their coloration to camouflage, regulate their body temperature, and even communicate with you and other chameleons.
Bright and vibrant colors, such as emerald green, blue, and yellow, indicate that the chameleon is doing well. However, dull greens and browns can indicate that something is wrong. From just being grumpy to being quite ill, this could mean anything.
How Much Do Jackson's Chameleons Cost?
Jackson's Chameleon can be found for $75 to $175. The cost of starting and maintaining an animal habitat is far greater than that. The cost of owning a chameleon is high. Proper maintenance of their habitat requires a lot of specialized equipment.
Additionally, you will have to buy a lot of live insects for food. In other words, raising insects for food just might be necessary. As a result, the costs are higher.
Jackson's Chameleon: How to Choose
To ensure your pet has been treated properly, find a reputable breeder. The eyes of chameleons should be clear and not cloudy. An infection may manifest as swollen limbs or digits, so be on the lookout for this condition. Jackson's chameleons that are drooling or wheezing may have respiratory infections.
Jackson's chameleons are supposed to have smooth, cut-free skin. After you get your Jackson's chameleon, you should have it checked for parasites by a reptile veterinarian.
Jackson's chameleons are all ovoviviparous. In other words, neonates are incubated in a softshell membrane inside their mother. For the first brood, the gestation period is typically seven to nine months. If breeding has taken place, the chameleon will create a new brood every three months following this.
This occurs because sperm can be stored within the chameleon. To maintain high sperm counts, it is recommended that a female is reintroduced to the male two weeks after giving birth.
It is an amazing experience to witness and observe Jackson's chameleons in their natural habitat. There are other places where you can find active pets, however. They are not suitable for casual pet owners. As a pet owner, you should only take on a chameleon if you are very experienced. To survive, they require a lot of special care and constant monitoring.
