So, you are going to buy a chameleon but not sure, how to care of them? Well, they make great pets but if you want them to stay healthy and happy then you’ll need to set some things up. Read on to find out what kind of chameleon you should get and the requirements of caring for them.
1. PICK THE SPECIES OF CHAMELEON YOU WANT TO GET :-
If you want to get chameleon who are easier to take care of, then you can get Jackson’s, Panther or Veiled chameleons. Most of the chameleons which are on the sale are usually three to eight weeks old. Different chameleons have different personalities, some like to interact with people while some not. So, if you want to know whether your chameleon likes people, watch him closely while he is being fed in the pet store.
2. SET UP AND MAINTAIN THE CAGE :-
Remember that chameleons which are juvenile can still grow quite a bit so make sure to buy a cage which is twice the size of your chameleon. When you bring chameleon in your home, put him into a cage of tall glass with mesh ventilation. You can also put some things in the cage in order to make your chameleon comfortable such as fake plants, real plants, proper lightning and moisture, climbing limbs etc.
3. FEEDING :-
The most common food for chameleons is crickets which you can buy from any pet store. Even if there is no pet store in your locality then you can always order them online. You should avoid feeding them wasps and bees. If you have a baby chameleon then you will need need to feed a smaller breed of crickets, they can also survive off of fruit flies. You have probably see the term gut – loaded crickets which actually mean that the crickets have been fed a very nutritious diet which will help the lizards to get all the required nutrients. You might have also see the term calcium – busted crickets which will help your chameleon to get the required calcium. Chameleons also enjoy insects like meal worms, wax worms, flies, super worms, grasshoppers and moths.
4. GIVE WATER TO YOUR CHAMELEON :-
There are different ways to give water to your chameleon. If you see him licking any shiny objects, then he is doing is because he feels thirsty and looking for dew for licking. You can spray on the side of the tank or on leaves by a spray bottle so that your chameleon can lick. You can also buy a waterfall for your chameleon from any pet store which might be a little expensive but is nice. Some people have even teach their chameleons to drink water from a bottle but this will take a lot of time.
5. INTERACT WITH YOUR CHAMELEON :-
Interacting with your chameleon is not that needed but can be a real fun. As I said above that each of the chameleons have different personalities and some likes to be handled by others while some not. The best way to interact with your chameleon is feeding him by your hands as he will not be aggressive towards you. You might also find that he loves to be taken outside for basking in the sun. If you will take him outside then this is another way for getting him UV – A and UV – B which any healthy chameleon needs. They not only love basking in the sun but also it keeps them healthy.
6. KEEP YOUR ENCLOSURE CLEAN :-
Remove all the dead things from the bottom of the cage, otherwise bacterias and parasites will come. Before doing so, remove your chameleon to some other safe place so that he will not get disturbed. You can create a cleaning solution with a bit of dish soap and water. Then spray it on the floors, walls and the things under it like fake plants but do not spray it on real plants, you can use a paper towel in order to clean and dry them off. Now mist the enclosure and dry it off again with a clean paper towel. You should also change the material on the floor regularly in order to remove shed skin, dead bugs, fecal matter, fungus or mold etc.
7. CHAMELEONS ARE SOLITARY :-
You should remember that chameleons are solitary and they do not like other chameleons, so if you think that keeping two chameleons will be a good idea as they will keep each other company then you are absolutely wrong. Introducing two of them is definitely not a good idea as they will fight with each other so do not even think about it. They aren’t sociable at all, only when they are babies, they will feel comfortable with other chameleons but once they grow a year older, they should be separated from each other.