How to Care for a Chameleon Lizard

If you want a pet chameleon, you need to be ready for the challenges of caring for one. The biggest challenge comes from the change in environment. Because of the high humidity of these lizards' native homes and their love of basking in tropical treetops, it can be hard to recreate that environment in your house. You also need to protect them from stress, as well as other animals. Although beautiful to look at, chameleons are no social butterflies. They prefer to be kept alone. These and other factors go into providing them with the proper care.

Things You'll Need

  • Large enclosure
  • Perches
  • Foliage
  • Basking bulb
  • UVB bulb
  • Drip system
  • Misting method
  • Gutloaded insects
  • Mineral/vitamin supplement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your chameleon's enclosure. At a minimum, the enclosure should be 20 inches wide, 18 inches deep and 30 inches high. Bigger cages are better, if you have the room, because your chameleon needs good air circulation. Only one chameleon should be kept in an enclosure.

    • 2

      Add perches and foliage to the enclosure. Chameleons enjoy climbing on branches in their tropical homes, so add secured horizontal and vertical perches throughout the enclosure to give your chameleon this opportunity. Vary the sizes of the branches or perches, too. Foliage helps recreate the tropical environment, but add only plants that are safe for your chameleon and that match the temperature/humidity. Weeping figs, hibiscus and pothos are a few of acceptable foliage options.

    • 3

      Use basking and UVB bulbs in the enclosure. The temperature within the enclosure needs to vary. For example, you want one side to maintain a temperature in the 70s during the day while another part is warmed through lighting so the chameleon can enjoy the heat, but can also escape to a milder area. Basking lights give your chameleon a place for warming himself, a necessity for ectotherms. At night, the temperature inside the enclosure should drop by 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • 4

      Keep water and humidity perfect for your chameleon. Chameleons prefer to drink moving water or to lick it from the foliage leaves, and you will need a drop system in the enclosure so they can stay hydrated. You cannot simply place a bowl of water in the cage. Additionally, chameleons need humidity, so plan on thoroughly misting the enclosure with warm water at least four times daily, or invest in an automatic misting system.

    • 5

      Feed your chameleon properly. You will need to feed your chameleon live insects, such as crickets, grasshoppers, flies and worms. To ensure your chameleon is not exposed to dangerous pesticides, you should purchase the food instead of catching it in the wild. Before turning the insects over to your chameleon, gutload them by feeding the bugs a high calcium diet and dust them with a mineral/vitamin supplement to ensure your lizard gets all of the nutrition he needs.