Facts on the Veiled Chameleon

Veiled chameleons, sometimes known as Yemen chameleons, are native to Yemen, Saudi Arabia and other nations in the Middle East. They live high in treetops, move slowly and change color to match their surroundings or their mood. They have long sticky tongues that they use to catch insects and a long prehensile tail. Because of their beautifully patterned skins and hardy dispositions, veiled chameleons are the most popular pet chameleons.

  1. Diet

    • Veiled chameleons mostly eat crickets, cockroaches and a variety of worms such as mealworms and silkworms. Captive chameleons will eat right out of their owner's hand and, in fact, many owners prefer to feed veiled chameleons this way to make sure their pets are eating healthy portions. Some chameleons will eat leafy green foods, like spinach, while others will refuse to try greens. Each veiled chameleon has a particular set of favorite foods, so owners should experiment to find healthy, enjoyable meals for their chameleon. Spraying crickets with calcium supplements and keeping the crickets well fed before giving them to your chameleon keeps your chameleon's bones strong and helps maintain good health.

    Appearance

    • A large, bony ridge on top of the veiled chameleon's head gives this lizard its name and its distinctive appearance. Veiled chameleons begin life with green coloration; over time, however, bands and stripes of various colors, including blue and gold, appear on the chameleon's body. Like other members of their genus, veiled chameleons have eyes that can move independently of one another, giving the lizard a panoramic view of the landscape. Males are larger than females, and are also more brilliantly colored, both to attract mates and to scare off competing males.

    Habitat

    • Veiled chameleons are native to the Middle East, particularly the nations of Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. They can live in a wide variety of habitats, both dry and wet, including river ecosystems and mountain ranges. Although most stay in the tops of trees, some live in bushes or other large plants that are low to the ground. Veiled chameleons can tolerate a range of temperatures, but prefer temperatures in the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit. Many veiled chameleons are taken out of their natural habitats and sold to pet distribution centers.

    Care Needs

    • When kept as pets, these animals need to have heating lamps set up in different sectors of their cage so they can heat themselves and then cool off, based on their blood's temperature. Cages are normally made out of wire because glass cages don't circulate air well enough. Although veiled chameleons are slow moving, they need several levels of structure to climb on in order to be happy and healthy. Many chameleon owners buy large branches and set them up as climbing structures for their pets.