VEILED CHAMELEON

VEILED CHAMELEON CARE SHEET

(Chamaeleo calyptratus)

RANGE & DESCRIPTION:

Inland river valleys (wadis) of yemen and southern saudi arabia.males - always have alarger body and casque (head crest) size at maturity. Tarsal spur present, at hatching, on "heel" of hindlegs making sexing 100%. Reaches a total body length of 12-19" within 12-months of age. Highly variable in color, even within a single clutch of eggs. Bold vertical body bands of primarily bright gold, green and blue mixed with yellow, orange or black. Bi-colored or tri-colored males possessing any of these listed colors are possible. A thinly built body appearance is normal in males. Females - 10-14" total body length by 12-months of age. Light green with some mottled pattern of small white to gold body spots and light blue on dorsal crest as adults. Heavy bodied when mature. Both sexes are shy and tenacious

CAGING:

Keep sexes physically & visually separate until 5-6 months old 10-gallon floor space maximum! For animals 2-7" total length well ventilated cage - 1/8" screen for sides or all screen top no substrate, only plain plastic or glass for cage flooring light & heat provided by 30-50 watt reflector spot in a reflector hood exposure to uv lighting is highly beneficial low limbs with plastic or silk leaves for shelter - keep low do not allow them to hang upside down from cage top = burns & stress deliver h20 via 1-2 ice cubes placed on cage top & over shallow lid daily dry cage bottom at all times (splashes from melting ice cubes is ok) days (hottest spot) = 95-102 f / nights 65-72 f lights off do not clean or rearrange cage furniture - causes great stress can be housed outdoors, above 48 f nights, from april-october in 1/8" screen caging and bare ground bottom with live plants. Give morning sun

FOOD:

Our babies take 5-10 two-week-old crickets 1-2 times per day. Don't overfeed.other types of food items are often regurgitated until young are over 7" intotal length. Powder food items with a vit/min. Supplement rich in calciumand vitamin d3. It is absolutely essential to feed your insects a proper diet. We use "layena" chicken feed. Adults eagerly eat live ficus & pothos leaves.

GROWTH & REPRODUCTION:

Grows to 8-13" (sexual maturity) in 5-6 months. Shedding occurs over several days giving them a troubled or dry look. This is normal. Shedsare eaten. Salt cakes at nostrils. Females may lay 3-5 times/year with 30-85 eggs/clutch. Keep sexes physically & visually apart except for mating. A receptive female won't gape her mouth when approached by a courting male. Females turn from light green to black/green with blue & yellow body spots within 18 hrs. After a successful copulation. Egg laying occurs 20-30 days after copulation. Use a 5-gal. Plastic bucket kept at 82-86 f. Fill with 3-5" of moist sand for egg laying site. Place 20 eggs/1 pint deli cup. Punch two push-pin size air holes in clear lid. Mix 1 1/2 parts vermiculite or perlite to 1 part water by weight. Leave 50% of egg showing. It takes 150-200 days to hatch at a fluctuation of 80-85 f days down to 70-75 nights.

HEALTH PROBLEMS:

Captive bred chameleons are never the risk you have with wild-caught animals. Baytril is recommended for respiratory troubles. Oxytocin is never useful to induce egg-bound calyptratus. Consult your vet. Eye problems can arise if vitamin powder is sprinkled on them from above. Buy smart........buy captive-bred.

Written by: Ron Tremper, Center for Reptile & Amphibian Propagation Texas