The veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, make interested but delicate pets. These solitary, slow moving lizards prefer to live alone and capture insect prey using their very long tongues.  They can change colors from bright green to nearly black based on their mood and temperatures.

Veiled chameleons originate from the sandy deserts and dry grasslands of Yemen, Aden, and southwestern Saudi Arabia.

 

Special Characteristics: Adult males can be distinguished from females by their large casques or crests on their heads. As juveniles, the best way to tell the sex is to look for small "spurs" located at the back end of the hind feet, which are only found on males. 

 

Size: Up to 24" in length

 

Veiled chameleons do best kept alone, especially males who will become quite aggressive with one another. Glass aquariums are discouraged for this species because they don't provide enough ventilation and the glass often causes the animals a lot of stress. Screen cages are preferred. 

Babies:  16"x16"x30"

Adults: Minimum 18"x18"x3'

Coconut fiber or Cypress Mulch approx. 3-4 inches in depth kept semi-moist.   

Branches for climbing, live plants such as ficus provide excellent climbing and leaves are edible.  A fishbowl with a branch suspended above it makes an excellent way to contain feeder insects so they cannot escape into the cage or hide from the chameleon. 

80-90 degrees F, with a basking area of 95-100 degrees F. For more information on heating, click here. 

UVB lighting require. For more information on UVB lighting, click here. 

 

Veiled chameleons are for the most part insectivores, meaning the bulk of their diet is insects. However, this species is known to nibble on foliage from time to time. Providing a live ficus tree within the enclosure will give them the opportunity to eat greenery if they wish. Otherwise, these lizards should be fed a variety of feeder insects daily.  Select a variety of the following: Crickets, Mealworms, Superworms, Phoenix Worms/Calciworms* (Black Fly Larvae), Waxworms, Horn Worms, Silkworms*, and Feeder Roaches*.

 

* - highly nutritious

Supplementation with both a calcium supplement and Multivitamin with Vitamin A (Retinol) are required. For more information, click here. 

Disinfection and Cleaning