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Erdington Aquatics
97-101 Church Road
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Chameleon
Common Name: Yemen , Veiled Chameleon Latin name: Chamaeleo calyptratus Native to: Yemen and southern Saudi Arabia Size: Reaches a total body length of 12-19 inches Life span: 5 years for a female , 8 years for a male General appearance: Males have a very high crest, with fantastic colours. Females are slightly smaller and are normally shades of green (except during breeding colours or when gravid). Housing requirements Enclosure: Juvenile Yemen chameleons can be housed together until about 3" snout to vent length, then it is best to separate them. Chameleons are a very territorial reptile so it is highly recommended that only 1 adult specimen is kept per enclosure. Yemen chameleons can grow extremely fast if given the right conditions (adults in 4 months). Height is an important factor in choosing the right size cage for your chameleon as they are an arboreal lizard . A good sized cage for an adult would be a screen mesh vivarium, 2ft x 2ft x 2ft. Temperature: Daytime high should be 75oF near the bottom of the enclosure to 95oF under a spot light (choose wattage appropriate for providing the correct temperature. Night temperature should drop no lower than 63oF. Heat/Light: UV lighting is required, The photo period should be set at 16 hours on and 8 hours off. Heating should always be provided at one end, with a heat gradient ranging from 95oF down to 75oF. A night time temperature drop will not not harm them if no more than a drop of 12oF (i.e. min night temp of 63oF). Heat can be provided by either a ceramic bulb or a incandescent SPOT light, both of which should be wired into a dimming thermostat. It is normally better to use a lower wattage heat source that stays on for longer, rather than a heat source that the thermostat keeps turning off (therefore always providing a basking area for your chameleon). Heat pads are NOT recommended for Yemen chameleons as they must be able to bask under a heat source. Substrate: Anything from newspaper to sand or bark may be used. Environment: Tropical Rainforest , Chameleons need a moderate humidity level (around 50%). Misting the plants twice daily will help with humidity levels, and a drip or misting system is also recommended. Chameleons rarely drink from a water bowl, but they will lap up droplets of water off plants, so the misting/drip system also serves as a water source. Position a drip system so the water droplets cascade over the plants in the enclosure. . Yemen chameleons require a a few good branches of different sizes to climb on. The vivarium can be decorated with plastic plants as these look very attractive and offer some privacy. These will also be used by the crickets and locusts to hide in, encouraging your chameleon to actively hunt them. Live plants however are a poor choice, as the heat will kill them very quickly and the chameleons and crickets will eat them. Diet: Yemen chameleons are mainly insectivorous and will eat crickets, locusts, mealworms, and wax worms. Crickets and locusts are to be used as the main foods as they are lower in fat than wax worms and easier to digest than mealworms. Vitamin powders are very important to prevent problems such as Metabolic Bone Disease, which is a calcium deficiency, and can be a serious problem. Chameleons will also eat leafy salads, such as Rocket, Water Cress, Dandelions and mixed salads are readily available and easy to use. Try to offer variety to keep a balanced diet. Salads should be offered every day, it is easiest to hang large leaves up in the branches away from the heat. Maintenance: Keep substrate free of waste products. Water dish must be washed and refilled daily to prevent bacterial growth. Chameleons can produce quite a lot of waste so the vivarium and decorations should be cleaned regularly. Depending on cage conditions, remove all substrate & cage furniture and completely disinfect using safe disinfectant. Rinse the enclosure thoroughly and allow to dry before replacing cage furniture and your chameleon. This document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of information. |
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