Chameleon

Chameleon care sheet

Veiled Chameleons Chamaelo calyptratus and others. An Introductory Information Leaflet From Reptile Ranch in association with Europe's Premier Reptile Product Company

Cage Decor: Repti-Sand, Desert, Savannah or Rain Forest Substrates, all used as a dry cage base. These will blot up and 'clump' any fouling by the lizards. Clumps of waste can then be removed without cleaning the whole tank out. Climbing branches, Cork Bark Logs or Curio Wood could be used to make an interesting three dimensional display. Flake Rain Forest Substrate scattered over the surface makes for an attractive display and acts as an activity medium in which the lizards can hunt. Draping Repti-Vines in the cage will provide refuges the lizards can hide in or move through to loosen shedding skin. Repti-rock caves and water dishes would lend even more functionality and security.

Food: Crickets, Locusts, Mealworms, and
as a special treat Waxworms. Supplement livefoods by dusting insects with Repton or feeding Cricket Diet Plus & Mealworm Diet Plus. Tame individuals may also accept a commercially prepared, fresh meat reptile diet and thawed rodent pups. Water should be fresh and changed every day. A few chameleons may also eat an amount of fresh leafy salads and flowers.

Hot Spot: A local area of higher temperature
can be created with a Basking Spotlamp or a ceramic heater. Use the former in conjunction with a HabiStat Dimming thermostat and the latter with a HabiStat Pulse Propor-tional thermostat for precise control. Hot spots should be maintained for the same day length as the lights, sixteen hours in summer, eight in winter.

Background Heat: Use a heat mat between half and two thirds the size of the cage to provide background heating. The hottest spot in the cage should not be above 32ºC while the coolest should not be below 25ºC. Use a HabiStat Mat - Stat if the temperature is too hot but put the whole
cage in a cooler place if the temperature is not cool enough.

Cleanliness and Hygiene:
A routine cleaner for all non-porous surfaces could be Vetaclene. Anything that cannot be easily cleaned should be thrown away and replaced. Any little graze or blemish on the animals themselves would benefit from the first aid afforded by dabbing the wound with Vetadine. As far as human hygiene is concerned, Vetasept Surgical Scrub will clean hands and surfaces while Vetasept Hand Rub will allow ad-equate cleansing and disinfection even in cases when water is una-vailable.

Cage Set Up: The cage should be set up to
allow an active lizard plenty of scope to climb, bask in a hot spot, move to a cooler spot, drink and hunt for food. The lizards should also be able to secrete themselves into refuges and rub themselves against some-thing when shedding their skin.