They tolerate a decent range of temperatures and will thermoregulate whenever they need some adjusting. Stable humidity levels are important, too. This species needs at least 50 percent humidity at all times. They can get stressed out when handled too much. This type of chameleon also prefers to live alone.
In a good environment, these chameleons will be still and calm. But in the presence of others, aggressive behaviors can come out! Most of the pet Mellers you see in the trade today are wild imports. These lizards can take a while to acclimate to life in captivity, presenting a challenge for new and novice reptile enthusiasts. When happy and healthy, these lizards take on colors of bright yellow in green. But the lizard will dull its color or develop black spots when it feels threatened or anxious.
This type of chameleon has a couple of other notable physical traits. For one, they are quite large. They reach lengths of up to two feet as adults. They also have a signature scalloped ridge on the back and a single rostral horn on the head. Expert Tip: This is the species we recommend for experienced owners who want to mix things up a bit.
This chameleon has a different look than many others, making them quite fun to observe. Panther Chameleons are colorful creatures that can take on a spectrum of vibrant hues. These lizards change their color to communicate with one another and absorb radiant heat. You might see them take on shades of turquoise, red, green, and more. Generally, males are more colorful than females.
But, female Panther Chameleons can alternate between beautiful shades of pink and high-contrast tones of red or black. In most cases, the color change in females all depends on their receptiveness to breeding.
Males can reach lengths of up to 20 inches while females usually stop growing after 12 inches. Panther Chameleons are solitary animals. They can get territorial with others, so they prefer to live alone.
While not particularly aggressive, excess handling could lead to unwanted stress. Some can have a single horn or sport as many as six! Either way, their horns are the most defining feature of this species. Unlike other popular types of chameleons in the trade, this kind is more muted when it comes to color. They usually have more natural tones of red and yellow. Their scale pattern is more varied as well. You might see some accents of purple, orange, or blue. But, most of the body is natural-looking for easy camouflage.
Four-Horned Chameleons are best for reptile enthusiasts with some experience. The reason for this is the strict demands of this species. They require very warm and humid environments like their native habitats in Cameroon. Males can reach maximum lengths of about 27 inches!
Females only get about half that size, but they can still be hard for inexperienced owners to manage. Not only do they need large enclosures, but they need a lot of humidity. This type of chameleon prefers humidity levels to be at 70 percent or higher. They come from humid forests in Madagascar, so this preference is not surprising. Many owners shower their chameleons with warm water for an hour every week.
This can help keep the lizard hydrated. These lizards need a well-planted enclosure with plenty of moisture-absorbing substrates. Regular misting and relatively warm temperatures are a must, too.
They do not drink standing water. The veiled chameleon is the most commonly kept pet chameleon. It is also most often recommended for beginners because it adapts well to captivity and requires slightly less humid and moist conditions than other chameleons. You only need to spray its enclosure heavily once a day to provide drinking water. That being said, veiled chameleons grow fairly large and require a lot of space.
They eat a combination of insects and green leafy vegetables. The panther chameleon is similar to the veiled chameleon. It, however, requires higher humidity levels, which can be difficult to maintain while keeping airflow going. Both sexes have bright green coloration, and males have yellow markings along their sides as well. One of the pictures above shows a pair of my Rudis chameleons mating. The female gave a successful live birth several months later.
The babies are moderately difficult to raise to adulthood. The picture below is of my biggest male, who is still growing. Generally speaking, the bigger it is, the longer the lifespan, ceteris paribus. The females do seem a little more receptive to handling than the males. Malagasy also happens to be the national language of Madagascar. They reach a moderate size, tipping the scales at around inches in total length—once in a while I come across one a bit larger. These chameleons come in a wide array of colors, with some being green with dark green mottling, some bright green, some more yellowish, some accented with bright yellow crests, and some with blue hues.
These African chameleons generally do very well in captivity, and I highly recommend starting with a juvenile, sub-adult, or adult, but not a baby. The babies can be tricky to raise.
This is a live-bearing species so if you purchase a pair, you very well may end up with babies so do your research. I created a page dedicated to learning about baby chameleons that you may want to peruse!
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