Veiled chameleons, found in desert and arid countries like the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, are suitable for those who aim to have a pet chameleon. They can look at nearly 180 degrees angle without rotating their head or their body. Here is a comprehensive veiled chameleon care guide for the readers.
Building their house
They are solitary animals and tend to live alone. They only interact with the opposite sex or competitor of the same sex during the breeding season. Male chameleons are territorial and can become aggressive if there are other males. So, it is better to house a chameleon in one cage. If you have more than one chameleon, make sure to place them so that they cannot see each other.
The veiled chameleons are usually tree dwellers and vertical creatures. Hence you need to provide them enough vertical space. In general, a 2ftx2ftx4ft cage is enough to house an adult chameleon. Vinyl mesh coated mesh cages are best. The glass cages can be overheated for them, and rough enclosures can damage their feet. It is better to place the cage on a table or shelf of 6 feet height to provide some security to the chameleon. They are responsive to drafts. So, you need to place them away from AC ducts or windows and doors.
You need to recreate a dense forest like area with multiple real and artificial plants to offer them enough space for climbing and hiding. Additionally, you also need to design a basking spot for your chameleon. Plants like ficus, hibiscus, ivy, fake ivy, Bougainvillea are best for the veiled chameleons. You need to include different branches inside their cage to give them a feeling like the real atmosphere.
If you are thinking about including branches, you need to choose a size that they can hold with their paws. Any bigger or smaller branches will not work.
You can use alfalfa pellets, sphagnum moss, and mulch substrates to create an even layer in the base. Solid substrates like newspaper, butcher paper, or paper owls are fabulous and fuss-free. You need to skip dirt, gravel, sand because they are hard to clean.
You need to maintain two types of temperature for the two spaces. For the closed areas, 70 degrees F is enough, while the basking spot needs to have 100 degrees F. You can use a thermometer to maintain the temperature.
Additionally, humidity is also essential. You need to maintain the humidity of less than 60%. You can use a dripper to retain the humidity level, but, regular misting the plants helps.
Furthermore, you also need to provide UVB lights for at least ten to twelve hours. The light should be covered with glass and a proper filter. You can also use a day bulb to offer basking light during the day. Using a ceramic heater or red incandescent Is also a great idea.
Food items
Veiled chameleons are ambush predators in nature. Their eyes help them spot their prey, and they catch them with their sticky and long tongue. They generally eat insects. But, an occasional diet of fruit is also good. You need to provide them different types of insects to prefer them enough nutrition. Insects like silkworms, wax worms, grain beetles, mealworms, cricket, roaches, hornworms, walking sticks are high as their staple diet.
It is best if your gut loads all the insects for athletes a day to ensure your chameleon gets enough supplements. Supplements like calcium supplements and multivitamin supplements are the best choices. The chameleons need a lot of calcium and vitamins.
You should never feed them dead insects. Instead, use a shallow bowl and place the insects near the chameleon so that they can eat their food.
Water
The veiled chameleons do not drink water directly. They drink the water droplets found on the leaves. So, you need to spray the leaves to make sure they have large droplets for your pet.
So, if you are planning to buy a veiled chameleon, you know how to take care of them. You can also talk with an expert to more about their upbringing and care regimen.
