Chameleon CornerChameleons are often sold as easy, decorative pets. They are not. They stress easily, they usually dislike being handled and they are sensitive to small mistakes in their environment. This page is a general overview, not a care manual.
The basics most species need
- Tall, well-ventilated housing with plenty of branches and leaves to climb and hide in. Glass tanks hold stale air and cause stress.
- Proper UVB light and a warm basking spot with a cooler area to retreat to.
- Water from droplets. Many chameleons ignore a water bowl and drink from leaves, so misting or a dripper is common.
- A varied insect diet that is well fed and dusted with supplements.
- One animal per enclosure. Chameleons are solitary and can fight if they share space.
Signs something is wrong
Sunken eyes, staying dark all day, refusing food, a swollen jaw or limbs and a closed eye in daytime all call for a visit to a vet who knows reptiles.
If you are thinking about keeping a chameleon, talk to an experienced keeper and a reptile vet first, and choose captive-bred animals rather than wild-caught ones.