First described nearly a century ago, Jackson's Chameleons are the only Old World chameleons found in the wild in the United States. They can be most commonly found in Texas, California, and Florida, and many of them are imported from the Hawaiian Islands. They are originally native to Africa.

Jackson's Chameleons are usually calmer than other chameleons. Males can be very territorial and will fight other males. Males use their horns to shove rivals in the wild, and they will also fight in captivity. Their horns usually do not injure their opponents. On the whole, Jackson's Chameleons are like other chameleons, preferring to live alone. In the wild, they are rarely seen in groups, and in captivity, it is best to house them separately.

Masters of camouflaging themselves, the Jackson's Chameleon possesses a sophisticated ability to vary their skin pigments to protect themselves from predators. They are able to change their colors to blend in with backgrounds found in the wild, and they can also flatten their sides, which gives them the appearance of a leaf on a tree. They are arboreal , finding food and spending most of their time in trees. They use their specialized tongues to capture food, sending them flying through the air. Their tongue is nearly as long as their body is, and the tip of it acts like a suction cup that attaches to their prey. Their feet are like pincers with opposable toes, and their prehensile tail gives them superior climbing abilities. Because they are an Old World species, their tail cannot regenerate if it is broken.

The Jackson's Chameleon is a solitary animal in the wild. For this reason, they should be housed separately and should not be over-handled.

For their housing, use screen aluminum, pre-coated wire, or plastic structure netting to build their terrariums. The mesh should be a minimum of 20x20 microns, and preferably 1/16 inch. This will allow the chameleon to climb within the cage and prevent insects from escaping. It is recommended to use a minimum enclosure which measures 24"L x 24"H x 18"W. Decorate with plants such as Ficus, Gardenia, Jade, Pothos, and Schefflera. In captivity, Jackson's Chameleons will require temperature fluctuations - 74 to 80F during the day and 57to 65F during the night. Constant temperatures or those that only change minimally can compromise the health of your chameleon. They will also require an area to bask in, in which the temperature should be 76-80F. Allowing the temperature to exceed 90F for a significant amount of time could prove fatal. Humidity levels between 50 and 75% are recommended. In their cages, they will need plenty of air circulation and room to move around. The Jackson's Chameleon also requires full spectrum UV lighting. A good rule of thumb to remember is that the captive environment should mimic the natural one as closely as possible.

For feeding, ideally your chameleon should be offered a different food item each day, such as crickets, super worms, regular meal worms (tenibrio), butter worms, wax worms, roaches, grasshoppers, snails, fruit flies, and the common house fly. Dust all of their food with calcium supplementation. Jackson's Chameleons, like most species, have substantial water requirements and should be watered by using a plant misting spray bottle, or an overhead drip system, whatever is chosen it needs to mimic raindrops and dew found in their natural environment. They will not drink from standing water. Calcium supplements and other vitamin supplements are also recommended. Deficiencies in calcium can result in the onset of Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). It should be noted that Vitamin A is thought to be harmful to most chameleons. Also, be warned that over-supplementing your chameleon can be as harmful or more so than giving no supplements.

The Jackson's Chameleons is susceptible to infections, parasites, metabolic bone disease (MBD), and stress, which can compromise their health. To avoid illness it is recommended to have your chameleon examined regularly by qualified veterinarian who specializes in chameleons. It is also important to maintain a clean sanitary environment for them to thrive in. Constant monitoring for changes in behavior, stool, and other physical changes is recommended. If anything is seen that is out of the ordinary, contact your veterinarian.

Unlike many chameleons the Jackson's chameleon gives birth to live young. Females will birth between 6 and 40 live young. Most Jackson's Chameleons will reach sexual maturity in between six and ten months. To induce breeding, introduce the female into the male's cage. Receptive females will usually remain all green or gray green and will not run from the male. Copulation will last about 15 minutes, and as long as the female shows no signs of stress (color change), they may be left to repeat breeding. The female's gestation period is between 5 and 10 months, and the female's appetite will decrease because of the growing embryos, coming to a complete stop one to two days before birthing. Birth will usually occur in the early morning.