Veiled chameleon,      (Chamaeleo calyptratus)  Low   80's to 90  day  60 to 70 night
Flapneck,                     (Chameleo Dilepis)        Low   80's to 85  day  60 to 70 night
Panther chameleon,    (Chamaeleo pardalis)       Low   80's to 85  day  60 to 70 night
Jackson's Chameleon  (Chamaeleo jacksoni)      Mid   70's to 80   day 50 to 60  night

A choice should depend on your ability to maintain the best temperature for the chameleon you pick. All chameleons need to bask. In a cage, you need to provide the basking spot using the high temperatures as a guide. Of the four chameleons listed above Veiled are the easiest to care for then Flapnecks then  Panthers then Jackson's.
  Generally speaking it is easier to heat a cage than to cool one.

Books on chameleons.

Chameleons Their Care and Breeding,  by Linda Davison. *
Chameleons, by Bartlett and Bartlett*
Chameleons in Terrarium, by Friedrich Wilhelm Henkel and Sabastian Heinecke,
 Masters of Disguise, by James Martin
Chameleons bunte Juwelen der Natur,  by Petr Necas
Chameleons, by Claudia Schnieper
The Care and Breeding of Panther Chameleons,   Edited by Philippe de Vosjoli and Gary Fergusan*
The Care and Breeding of Vieled Chameleons,     Edited by Philippe de Vosjoli and Gary Fergusan*
The Care and Breeding of Jacksons Chameleons, Edited by Philippe de Vosjoli and Gary Fergusan*
The Care and Breeding of Parsons Chameleons,   Edited by Philippe de Vosjoli and Gary Fergusan*
 
 

Can I keep more than one chameleon per cage?
  Males will not tolerate each other in the same cage. It is not advisable to try and house two chameleons in the same cage. During breeding is the only time two chameleons should occupy the same living quarters. And then only for short periods of time.
 Hatchlings can be kept together for the first few weeks. Then you must separate them.

How cold can a chameleon get at night?   Depending upon the species some can take cold weather! Then this depends on your location! Use the guides in the first paragraph of this paper. These ranges should keep your animal in prime shape. A chameleon in New England is going to experience much colder night time lows than a chameleon in Florida.

Imported (wild caught) chameleons can be tricky to keep at first. You need to give them a fresh start. This includes a trip to a Vet. Most vets will need stool samples to treat these animals properly. Most chameleons that are wild caught will be dehydrated. Properly hydrating them is essential to their survival.
 Dripping water supply is best, out door caging is also best in the beginning. When ever possible allow these chameleons to receive real sunlight. A proper hiding area (potted plant) is also important until the animal has the opportunity to relax. A brightly colored chameleon is nervous. If you are thinking about purchasing a W/C chameleon take all this into consideration. But remember. Captive born chameleons are much easier to start with.
 

Captive Bred baby Chameleons. How old should they be before I purchase one? 6-8 weeks of age. This gives the animal a chance to get a healthy start. Most breeders are providing the proper sized food items that are not so readily available. Usually after 6 to 8 weeks the babies are eating the larger insects that we all can purchase in pet stores. If you see very tiny babies for sale it's best to pass them and wait for larger one to become available.
 

Chameleon  cages  Chameleon keepers agree screen cages are best for the animal's health. They provide the best environment for chameleons. The air circulation is of the utmost importance. Aquariums are not advised as a means of keeping chameleons. The animal's reflection in the glass is noticed buy them as an intruder.  This intruder is always in sight. Even though we might not be able to see the affects of the stress on the animal it is there, and causes harm.
  Yes there are some smaller terrestrial chameleons that can be kept in glass aquariums. But none of the tree dwelling arboreal species does well behind glass.
 Screen cages provide a barrier allowing the animal's to see a boundary. Glass will not offer the boundary and your animal might start to claw at the glass. It is simply trying to go to another spot it prefers. The screen will act, as a visual barrier telling the animal it can't get there from here. Allowing it to decide to   relax in it's present environment.

How can I maintain the humidity in a screen  cage?  Keep the cage well planted. Misting the cage during the day works well. Ultra sonic humidifier works just fine. If you have a room with a door, closing the door will keep the room more humid.

What plants are good for the cages ? Pothos, Ficus benjamina, Chinese evergreen,
Hibiscus, and Sheffelera. The plants should be able to support the weight of the animal. Remember chameleons will eat the leaves so do not use toxic plants .  That is why the selection is rather limited.
Wood dowels are useful as long as properly supported in the cage ..

What substrate should I be using in the cage ?  This is one tuff question ! You need to be able to clean the cage often and, you certainly do not want problems with molds and mildews. But if you are in a dry climate the soil substrates offer an opportunity to trap some humidity. In a more humid climate the extra humidity offered buy having the soil as a substrate, is nothing but a problem. With that said . We feel the potted plant sitting on a clean bottom or one lined with news paper offers a substrate useable in humid climates or dryer climates.  In dryer climates using a larger pot  ( 3 gallon ) is probably better. Any soil you chose should not have perlite or vermiculite added to the mix . These minerals can be ingested and cause intestinal blockage..

Free roaming insects - Cup feeding ... Feeding from a cup is a great means of being able to count or monitor your chameleon's food intake. And we recommend doing this when feeding babies. You will know exactly what and how many feeder insects are devoured. Some chameleons might be confused buy having to many insects in the cup! So if it looks like your animal is a bit mixed up when looking at all the little bugs just cut back on the amount in the deli cup (8oz.) Also another advantage to cup feeding is being able to feed mealworms. Because if you don't know. The mealworm will find the potted plant and dig down into the dirt to metamorphous into a beetle. You could be surprised buy a large beetle that shows up inside you cage. As your animal grows it is best to feed crickets by broadcasting them. Or letting them free roam in the cage. Of coarse you will need cricket tight enclosures for this. It's perfectly natural for a chameleon to want to "hunt " the insects as prey. This is how these animals have survived for centuries.
Prior to the advent of proper cages, pet stores and chameleon enthusiasts were looking for a cage or means of caging chameleons that worked for the animal as well as the people keeping them. One off the biggest problems was the feeder insects were able to crawl out between the wire. So everyone went to cup feeding! One of the hidden problems with cup feeding is the tongue damage that can be caused buy the animal hitting it's tongue on the feeding cup as it eats the insects. One cure for this is to line the bottom of the cup with grated carrot or lettuce. If some of the vegetable matter is caught up when the animal is feeding it will simply consume the vegetables without any ill affects. We are talking about the cup feeding because it is a popular method used to feed chameleons. It works for many chameleon owners as well as free roaming insects inside the cage. If your animal becomes tired of eating the same insects (chameleon food burnout) try placing a few flies inside of your cage. Nothing will stimulate a chameleons feeding response like a fly buzzing around inside of its cage. Flies do not make a good feeder item when compared to crickets and adult moths, mealworms, wax worms, grass hoppers … The use of flies is usually reserved for chameleons with a problem eating. Unless you are just putting flies in the cage to make your chameleon chase them.
 

Do I have to breed my female? NO you do not ! As a matter of fact not breeding her can extend her life.
Your female may develop infertile eggs.  When or if she does, provide her with a nesting place to deposit these eggs. She will dig down and bury them exactly as a chameleon that has been bread will.. With time you will see that egg production is directly related to the amount to food offered to the female.. Over feeding is certainly going  cause your female to produce eggs.

How do I know when my female is ready to lay her eggs? She will become restless and spend more time on the floor of the cage than normal. You will have noticed the developed eggs buy looking towards her back legs next to her stomach. The eggs will be visible buy looking for the bulging on the sides. Panthers do not get as large as Veileds. Jacksons are very obvious when they are gravid Jacksons are also live bearers.
 Providing a laying site for egg carring chameleons is important. It should be inside the cage as a precaution. Or removing the animal and putting her is a 33 gallon trash can with 16 inches of potting soil will allow her to dig down and deposit the eggs .
  Yes you can stay up all night to make sure the soil does not cave in on her! Or you can have the trash can ready weeks in advance. The soil will compact down enough to support her digging..
 Jaxson Chameleons have live babies and a good amount of small branched shrubs inside of the cage will benefit the babies. However it makes it harder to see all the babies when they start to hide from you .

I hope this helps you with a choice in chameleons !
Robert Sligh .