Basic Care of Chameleons

We are all mesmerized by the thought of chameleons. They are one of the most unusual pets that any of us can own. Their eyes looking in different directions. Their little feet that look like Sleestack from Land of the Lost. And the clincher, their tongue shoots out.

So, you run out and get one for yourself but, now what? What is the next step? What do you do with the little guy? You can't just throw him in a tank with some pretty leaves and hope for the best.

Hopefully you have done your basic studying into Chameleons before running out to buy one. As cool and tempting as Chameleons are to buy on impulse, that is usually never a good idea when finding new exotic friends to bring home.

Chameleons are actually one of, if not the most, finicky and temper mental reptiles you can own. Chameleons as a whole need a lot of care and maintenance. This is no snake you can leave in the tank while you go on vacation for two weeks and not worry about it.

The very first thing you will need to get is a proper tank. Chameleons cannot live in a regular old ten gallon tank. Chameleons need a lot of ventilation and fresh air. Most reptile stores will sell special enclosures specially made for Chameleons. They look like they are made out of a screen door most of the time. I am sure where ever you bought your Chameleon has them. Do not underestimate the need for a cage like these, they are very important.

Chameleons also need very regulated heat and UV. You will want to make sure their enclosure stays between 80 and 90 degrees during the daytime and doesn't drop below 70 degrees at night. Day and night heat lights are available at all reptile stores and even places like Petco or Petsmart will offer them.

Also their UV is very important, keep up on changing out the UV bulb every 6 months. I have seen Chameleons go simply a week without UV and get metabolic bone disease. This disease is irreversible and very painful for your Chameleon. You may be able to find a light fixture at your local store that will hold all three of these lights. If you will be away for a night you may want to invest in a simple timer to shut these off at night so your new pet can still sleep.

As far as substrate goes with Chameleons you will want to get a potted plant that has strong limbs and lot of leaves for your Chameleon to climb in. The plant should be almost as tall as the tank and fill it out well. In the wild Chameleons live in these types of bushes and trees, they are not ground dwelling animals. Around the base of the plant coconut bark works well to cover the floor of the enclosure.

A lot of people will install a simple drip system on the top of the enclosure for the Chameleon to drink from and keep the plant watered. If you are unable to do this, you can simply spray the plant daily with a squirt bottle and it will work just as well. The key either way to keep your Chameleon happy is to make sure the humidity level in the enclosure stays up. A simple gauge will help you keep track of this.

Now for the fun part of your new Chameleon, feeding. It is fun for all to watch them shoot their tongue out and grab up crickets or meal worms. Please keep in mind though that these are still lizards and just like their UV is vital to them so are their vitamins.

You can get calcium and vitamin powder to dust your Chameleons food with. It is simple to do just take a pinch of either one of the powders and shake the crickets or mealworms around in the bag with the powder. Mixing the powder is not advised. You can simply switch off from day to day which one you use on the crickets. I usually keep one of the bags my crickets come in just for dusting the crickets.

Chameleons will want to eat a few crickets or mealworms every day. Chameleons have a high metabolism, like most lizards, and get hungry quite often. You will not want to put too many into the enclosure with them at a time though. If they don't eat them all you will want to try to get the extras out of the enclosure. Crickets are known to try to nibble on your pet if they are left in the tank for too long. Sometimes this can kill your Chameleon if the damage is bad enough so take caution when feeding.

Holding your Chameleon should be done delicately also. They look pretty sturdy and all but their little legs can be pretty fragile. Chameleons are not happy when giving up their branch either. Some Chameleons will get used to the handling but, just like dogs they all have their own little personality and some never get used to this.

If you notice that your Chameleon has a fiery little attitude and hisses at you a lot no matter how often you are holding it don't fret. Chances are you have a male. Male Chameleons are more aggressive and territorial and will always be a little hissier. On the upside of this temper they have pretty colors and will change them more for you. Females are calmer and easier to handle but, their colors are not as pretty as the boys generally.

The best thing to keep in mind is as long as your Chameleon is well taken care of and fed often they will live a long happy life. Chameleons can be a very interesting reptile to own and your kids will love to watch them and learn from them. Do not take them lightly though, they do need a lot of care and love. But, the payoff is always worth the work.