Chameleons: Biology, Husbandry and Disease Prevention. Paul Stewart, DVM. Origin: Africa (40% of species) and Madagascar (40% of species)

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1 Chameleons: Biology, Husbandry and Disease Prevention By Paul Stewart, DVM Number of Species: 150 identified Size: From 3.3 cm to 68 cm in length Origin: Africa (40% of species) and Madagascar (40% of species) Also found in Sicily, Spain, Arabia and India Longevity: 4-6 years-males, 2-4 years females Unique Morphology: -Body laterally compressed (useful for thermoregulation, hiding and color display) -Eyes laterally placed (for defense and food location) -Eye movement is independent -Some have crests, horns and modified scales (for camouflage, defense and secondary sex characteristics) -Teeth are not regenerative -Prehensile tail is will not grow back if pulled off

2 -Feet have opposing sets of toes: front=3 inner and 2 outer fused digits, rear have 3 outer and 2 inner fused digits -Parietal eye on top of the skull -No tympanic membrane -Skin cells that allow color change and camouflage -melanophores contain black pigment -xanthophores contain yeool and red pigment -guanophores reflect a blue color -external influences (temperature, light intensity, time of day, seasonal change) -internal influences (health, gestation, nutrition, visual communication) Reproduction: -Females can store sperm -Males: swollen tail base and are often larger and more colorful -Females: slightly shorter thinner tails with duller color patterns (except during pregnancy) -Breeding season is year round -Sexually mature at 4-8 months -Gestation days -Clutch size 2-60 eggs

3 Species commonly kept: -Veiled chameleon -Jackson s chameleon- (live-bearers) -Panther chameleon -Flap-necked chameleon- -Common chameleon -Parsons chameleon *Anoles are not chameleons Husbandry: Caging: (house separately after 3 months of age) -Plastic or vinyl screen cages (avoid metal screen) -Plastic coated wire mesh cages -Aquariums with well-ventilated lids can be used short term for hatchlings -Should contain adequate plants, branches and rope perches for easy access to food, water, hiding and basking

4 Substrate: Newspaper, brown paper towels, sterilized potting soil Plants: -Ficus, hibiscus, pothos Diet: (for insectivores) -Feed appropriately gut-loaded crickets, mealworms, wax-worms, flies, grasshoppers -Feed daily as juveniles, every 2 days as adults. -Should feed separately to avoid injury. -A salad of mixed appropriate greens can be offered for adults (veiled chameleons). -If not gut-loading your insect food items, supplemental dusting with a balanced formulated calcium and vitamin powder is necessary. For growing or pregnant chameleons, a safe calcium supplement should be provided each meal. For adult non-breeding chameleons, twice weekly calcium supplement is adequate. A balanced vitamin powder should be supplemented 2-3 times per week in growing or pregnant chameleons, weekly in adult non-breeding chameleons. Water: -Misting (twice daily) with spring water (85 degrees) -Drip systems (constant water source) -Water bowls (for larger individuals)

5 -Pipette watering (once daily for juveniles, once every other day for adults) -Routine disinfection of water storage device is needed to prevent bacterial overgrowth Lighting: -A full spectrum fluorescent bulb that emits UVA and 5%-8% UVB should be used during daylight hours for general cage lighting. -An incandescent heat bulb or ceramic heat bulb can be used to provide a focal basking site, placed at a safe distance from the chameleon (closely evaluate temperature under the basking source to prevent thermal injury). Thermal gradients: (species-dependant) -Provide optimum daytime and nighttime ambient temperatures and daytime basking temperatures for the species you keep (either with an incandescent heat bulb or ceramic heating bulb). -For larger cages, the room temperature may need to be controlled. Humidity: (species-dependant ranging from 40% in desert dwelling species to 80% in tropical species) -This can be provided with room humidifiers, misting, drip systems and damp sphagnum moss in plant pots (kept moist). Disease prevention: -Learn specifics on the care of the species being kept.

6 -Prepare an optimum enclosure. -Start with a captive bred moderately sized well hydrated juvenile (3 months old), that is active, alert, strong, free of swellings and bruises, and has been cared for appropriately. -Schedule a post-purchase exam/parasite screen and regular annual check-ups. -Quarantine for 60 days if introducing into an existing reptile collection. Common diseases: -Parasites -Egg binding -Toe injuries/infections -Abscesses -Mouth rot -Secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism (a form of metabolic bone disease) Visit for Chameleon Information Network