Trioceros jacksonii

Highly ventilated arboreal terrarium of the screen-cage type or a terrarium with generous ventilation, densely planted (live non-toxic plants: Ficus, pothos, Schefflera) with numerous fine horizontal branches for moving about and resting up high.

Minimum for a single adult; larger is always preferable (ideally 60 x 60 x 120 cm). Ventilation is crucial: enclosed, confined environments promote respiratory infections. Avoid non-ventilated all-glass setups and overheating. Keep individually.

A humid cloud-forest atmosphere. Manual or automatic misting twice a day, with higher humidity peaks at night and partial drying during the day. Good ventilation between mistings is essential to avoid stagnation and respiratory and fungal infections.

A bare bottom or paper towel makes hygiene easier and prevents any risk of ingestion. A draining bioactive setup is possible to manage the high humidity, but requires good drainage to avoid standing water. Avoid fine, dusty substrates.

Essential. Linear T5 UVB tube 5-6% (Ferguson zone 2-3), placed above the mesh, replaced every 6-12 months. Moderate UVB exposure allows vitamin D3 synthesis and prevents osteofibrosis; avoid excessive intensity and provide shaded areas.

Does not drink from a bowl of stagnant water. Hydrates from the drops present on the foliage: provide a drip system and/or misting twice a day. Chronic dehydration is common and is recognised by sunken eyes and orange urates.

East Africa: humid montane forests (cloud forests) of Kenya and northern Tanzania, generally between 1,500 and 2,500 m. Introduced feral populations exist in Hawaii, from where a large proportion of the animals in the trade originate.

Insectivore — Crickets, flies (fruit flies, houseflies), roaches (Blaptica dubia), locusts, silkworms, hornworms; occasional snails as a supplement.

Varied live insects, smaller than the inter-orbital space. Gut-loading (feeding the prey) 24-48 h before offering. Dusting with calcium without D3 at most meals, calcium with D3 and vitamins sparingly (1-2x/month). Do not overfeed adults or females, to limit gestation problems.

No egg-laying: the female gives birth to live young after a gestation of about 5-6 months. Reproduction is demanding for the female (risk of dystocia, exhaustion and mortality); rest and good condition are necessary between two litters. The young are independent and must be raised separately to avoid competition and cannibalism.

• Heatstroke / hyperthermia (overheating of the terrarium, a major cause of mortality)
• Osteofibrosis (MBD) from calcium or vitamin D3 deficiency or insufficient UVB
• Respiratory infections (insufficient ventilation, stagnant humidity, an overly warm environment)
• Chronic dehydration and gout / kidney damage (inadequate hydration or temperature)
• Gestation complications in the female (dystocia, exhaustion) and chronic stress (oedema, dark colouration)