Housing Environment for Veiled Chameleons
Enclosures for veiled chameleons should have the following key elements:
A vertical-shaped enclosure
Isolated housing
Basking light
UVB light
Fog and/or misting system
Décor to provide enrichment
Specifics of these elements are described in more detail below.
Enclosure Sizes
Veiled chameleons are arboreal reptiles (aka. they live mostly in trees) and therefore require more vertical space than floor space.
Babies: Small cage (12” L x 12” W x 24” H) or larger enclosure
Adults: Large cage (24” L x 24” W x 48” H) or larger enclosure
House veiled chameleons alone
Veiled chameleons are territorial reptiles and should be housed alone unless housed for breeding purposes. Keeping two or more veiled chameleons together is a risk for injury and fighting that can be harmful to your exotic pets’ health.
Lighting for veiled chameleon enclosure
Proper temperatures and lighting are essential for the development, growth, and maintenance of your veiled chameleon.
Veiled chameleons in the wild typically live in tropical climates where they spend most of their day basking in the sunshine. When domesticated, they require special UVB lights within their enclosure to make up for lack of access to direct sunlight.
UVB (Ultraviolet B) is a type of light emitted by the sun that helps animals produce vitamin D3. (If you have ever heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder in humans, this is caused by a vitamin D3 deficiency due to lack of UVB sunlight!)
Ideal daylight to nightlight hours: 12hrs with light & 12hrs no light
Use a timer connected to their lights to simulate the 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of nighttime your veiled chameleon needs.
Replace lights every 6 months
UVB lights lose strength over time. Even though they may still emit light they should be changed biannually.
Avoid obstructing the lights
It is important to note that windows and glass block UVB rays, screens and mesh can decrease the UVB strength to your veiled chameleons.
Recommended UVB Lights for Chameleon Enclosure
T5 Strip Lights
Arcadia T5 D3 Reptile Lamp 6% UVB, 6 inches from light
Arcadia T5 D3 Reptile Lamp 12% UVB, 12 inches from light
Zoomed Reptisun 5.0 UVB T5-HO
Heating for veiled chameleon enclosure
Veiled chameleons are ectotherms, meaning they get their body temperature from the environment. This is key for proper metabolism and digestion of their food as well as overall health and function.
Ideal Daytime Temperatures
Basking area that reaches 80-85°F
Cool side with air temperature of 72-78°F
Ideal Nighttime Temperatures
Should remain between 55-65°F
Avoid temperatures below 40°F due to risk of causing health issues.
This temperature regulation is achieved through strategically placed light sources. We recommend keeping at least 2 thermometers inside the enclosure to help monitor heat, especially if household temperatures vary considerably throughout the day. Avoid placing glass enclosures in direct sunlight as this can heat up the interior much higher than anticipated.
Humidity and Hydration
Humidity and hydration play several important roles in your veiled chameleon’s health. Humidity assists in proper shedding and rate of dehydration but can cause respiratory issues if too high.
Ideal humidity for a veiled chameleon is 30-50% humidity during the day and 80-100% humidity during the night.
Monitor humidity levels using a hygrometer inside the enclosure.
Early morning fogging is recommended for 3-5 hours ending an hour before lights turn on.
Mist throughout the day at intervals of 30-90 minutes to maintain daytime humidity and provided a consistent source of water.
Plants, Canopy, and Enclosure Décor
Perches and Climbing Materials:
Sterilized branches, bend-a-branch inserts, reptile vines, and/or sterilized bamboo branches all make great perches and climbing accessories for your veiled chameleon.
Creating a Canopy
Having a canopy within your veiled chameleon’s enclosure is essential for providing shelter, security, enrichment, and surfaces to collect mist for hydration.
Plastic plants or live nontoxic plants can be used to create a canopy. Any plastic plant that is not able to easily fit into your chameleons’ mouth is appropriate. Avoid plastic plants that have removable leaves as these can be a risk for accidental consumption.
Recommended Live Plants for Veiled Chameleon Enclosure:
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
Climbing Fig (Ficus pumila)
Dwarf umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricola)
Money tree (Pachira aquatica)
China doll (Radermachera sinica)
Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp)
What To Feed a Veiled Chameleon
Nutrition is a very important for the growth and development of a veiled chameleon. Understanding the appropriate food choices can help your veiled chameleon stay healthy and avoid many medical complications.
Feeding Schedule
Baby and juvenile veiled chameleons should be fed 1-2 times a day, or as many times as they want. Adults can be fed 1 time a day, every other day, or as needed to maintain desired weight.
Supplements (Dusting) for Veiled Chameleons
Your veiled chameleon’s food must be supplemented with calcium and vitamin dustings to ensure they are receiving all necessary nutrients.
Calcium should be dusted during every feeding.
Multivitamin (including Vitamin A) dustings are recommended every 2 weeks.
Some veiled chameleons may need vitamin D3 added with their calcium dusting. Consult your veterinarian to discuss if this is necessary for your pet.
What to Feed Your Veiled Chameleons
Veiled chameleons are pure insectivores, aka carnivores that eat an insect-based diet. There are several appropriate methods to feeding adults including offering 2-3 dusted insects once per day or 4-5 dusted insects every other day.
Babies and pregnant females should have free access to as much food as they can consume to allow for appropriate growth and egg development.
Main Insect Food Sources: (~90% of Diet)
Crickets, dubia roaches, or grasshoppers due to low fat to high protein ratios.
Snack Insect Sources: (~10% of Diet)
Mealworms, superworms, hornworms, phoenix worms, silkworms, or butterworms due to high fat or low protein rations. (Hornworms are a good source of fluids, and Phoenix worms are a good source of calcium).
It is important to know that mealworms and superworms are high in fat and should NOT be a main food source in veiled chameleon. It is recommended associating mealworms with handling and enrichment activities to help differentiate them from their main source of food.
Enrichment Activities for Veiled Chameleons
Enrichment is an important and stimulating part of a veiled chameleon’s day-to-day life. In addition to providing plenty of climbing branches within their enclosure, you can try adding some extra activities into their routine:
Use a Feeding Dish
Instead of simply presenting food to them directly, placing meals or treats within a feeding dish can help provide additional stimulation. Your chameleon will need to seek out the dish in enclosure for their insect food source, keeping their brain and body active.
Supervised Time Outside Their Enclosure
Allowing your veiled chameleon to explore the environment outside of their enclosure can greatly enrich their daily routine while providing extra space for movement. Make sure you have a clean, item free area where you can supervise their activity and that no other pets have access to this area. Feeding snacks at this time can entice exercise and help them feel more comfortable exploring.
Is My Veiled Chameleon Male or Female?
Veiled chameleons have some helpful physical characteristics that can be used to determine sex. In addition to these at-home identifiers below, a skilled veterinary professional can always help you! Their deep knowledge and access to diagnostic technology provides several routes they can take to definitively determine the sex of your exotic friend.
1. Look For a Tarsal Spur
Male veiled chameleons have a spur or bump on their rear feet. This can be visible at hatching and can help in determining the sex of veiled chameleons
2. Measure Their Size
Male veiled chameleons tend to grow larger than females. Fully grown males average between 17 – 24 inches long (from snout to tail tip), while females average between 10 – 14 inches. This method can only be used once your veiled chameleon has reached adulthood.
3. Compare Coloration Patterns
Male veiled chameleons tend to have more colorful and defined casque (protrusions on the top of the head). Gravid (pregnant) females display black colorations with yellow and blue spots when threatened or intimidated by another male attempting to mate.
Should I Take My Veiled Chameleon to The Vet?
Just like all other pets, veiled chameleons benefit from annual wellness/physical exams with their veterinarian or exotic animal specialist. A full physical, fecal testing, and bloodwork provides a complete picture of your exotic pet’s health and allows for any potential health problems to be spotted early.
In addition to annual wellness exams, you should have your veiled chameleon examined by your veterinarian in the following situations:
Pre and post brumation (hibernation) wellness exams
Not eating or pooping for over a week
Open mouth breathing or noise while breathing
Diarrhea, blood in feces, vomiting, or regurgitation
Retained shed, redness, swelling, or open wounds of the skin
Swollen eyes, swelling or bleeding of the mouth
Closed or sunken eyes
Any health concerns or questions
