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Veiled chameleons
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Newly hatched baby veiled chameleons.
Chameleons are not the best lizards for beginners, but are fascinating animals. Of all the species of chameleons that are kept as pets, veileds are the easiest to keep and breed.
Sexing baby chameleons can be tricky with most species, but not with veileds. The males have a little bump on the back of their back of their rear foot that is visible as soon as they hatch.
Chameleons don’t live long lives, usually 3-7 years, but they make fascinating pets.
Veiled chameleons come from Yemen where it is quite warm during the day (80-95 F) and cooler at night (70-85 F). They like a basking area in the 90s F.
Chameleons have many adaptations that have evolved to help in their daily life. They have prehensile tails, almost like another foot, that enable them to climb easier. Another climbing adaptation is their toes. They have the bone structure of five toes on each foot, but two toes are fused together to appear like one and the other three are together. This foot structure helps in grasping branches.
Chameleons have the most amazing tongues of all of the reptiles. The tongue is about as long as the body of the animal! When an insect walks by, the chameleon can “shoot” its tongue out of its mouth to grab the insect. The tongue itself is very sticky so the food just sticks to it. That is also why you should not put anything at the bottom of your chameleon’s cage. If there is dirt or other substrate, when they grab their food, the sticky tongue may also accidentally grab whatever else is there. The tongue is wider at the end so that there is more sticky surface area, making it easier to grab food.
The most commonly discussed adaptation of the chameleon is their ability to change color. The chameleon does not change to the color of its surroundings. That is a myth. They do change depending on their mood. An angry chameleon is a more vibrantly colored chameleon.
Chameleons are insectivores, they eat bugs. Baby veiled chameleons can eat ¼” crickets right off the bat. Veileds will also eat mealworms, superworms, wax worms and Phoenix worms. A varied diet is always best.
Veiled chameleons will also eat vegetables as a dietary supplement. They also need something green where they can hide. That reduces their stress. You should always make sure that the plant is edible. Pothos is probably the most common houseplant and is fine for the chameleon. You may notice little triangles bitten from the leaves as the chameleon chomps on it. You can also offer vegetables like green beans, collard greens and other green vegetables.
Veiled chameleons don’t do well in glass cages. As babies they can live in a glass cage with lots of vines wound around the inside. They walk around and around all day! Reptariums work nicely for adults. They like a vertical, rather than a horizontal cage since they live in bushes and trees.
Veiled chameleons are relatively inexpensive to buy. They are usually in the $35-60 range.
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