Chameleons are primarily an African and Madagascan group of arboreal insectivorous lizards. They are found at elevations of five-thousand to eight-thousand feet. Rainfall in these areas average over fifty inches per year. Most chameleons are egg layers but the Jackson chameleons give birth to live young. In 1972 this specie was accidentally introduced into the wild in Hawaii. They are now well established in the Hawaiian islands and large breeding populations now exist there. They are imported to the mainland by the thousands. Jackson chameleons live singly and individuals have their own territories. Jackson chameleons should be housed individually. The larger the enclosure the better. Screened enclosures are best, allowing for good ventilation. Small Ficus trees can be placed into the enclosure. The tip of the chameleons tongue is like a suction cup. The chameleon propels its tongue out and it attaches to an insect and the chameleon jerks the insect back into its mouth. The length of the Jackson chameleons tongue is about 1 1/2 times the length of its body. This specie is very easy to sex. The males having three rostral horns approximately 1 1/2 inches long. The females are lacking these horns. The babies may be sexed at about four months of age. At this time the horns begin to develop in the males. Ideal humidity is between fifty to seventy-five percent. Mist the enclosure twice a day. The chameleon will drink drops of water from the leaves in its enclosure. They will not drink from a bowl. You may also create your own water drip system by placing a plastic container on the top of the enclosure with a pinhole in the bottom of the container. Daytime temperature should be around seventy-five to seventy-eight degrees F with a nighttime drop of at least ten degrees F. The chameleon should be given a basking spot of about eighty-five degrees F and this can be achieved with a clamp lamp using a sixty watt bulb. Commercially raised insects such as crickets or Madagascan roaches may be fed daily. Occasionally you may want to feed wax worms or mealworms. It is important to vary the diet because chameleons can become bored with the same diet and may refuse to eat if fed the same diet over a period of time. Always dust the insects with a calcium powder such as Rep-Cal. Two to three times a month dust with a good vitamin supplement such as Nekton-Rep. Always introduce the female into the males enclosure when breeding the Jackson chameleon. If the female is receptive she will allow the male to mount. If the female is not receptive she may gape and attempt to bite the male. She may also turn gray or black in color. If this happens remove the female and place her back in her own enclosure and try again in a couple of weeks. Gestation period for the Jackson chameleon is about six to nine months. The Jackson chameleon have live young and will produce anywhere from ten to fifty babies at one time. Each baby is encased in a membrane and the membrane sacks are dropped from the females cloaca to the ground. The babies emerge from the membrane and disperse. Babies should be removed immediately after birth and placed into their own enclosures. The babies are light brown in color and do not turn the adult green color until about four months of age. The babies may be fed pinhead crickets and fruit flies. The babies should be misted four to five times a day. All insects should be dusted before being fed and just like the adults the young should be provided a basking spot and this may be achieved with a clamp lamp and a sixty watt bulb over the enclosure