Caring for your exotic pet chameleon
Chameleons are increasingly being adopted as pets. They are beautiful reptiles that are harmless and fun to keep. Their changing colors never cease to amaze people who keep them as pets. But just like any other pet, a chameleon too has its own share of special needs. If you choose to keep one as a pet, it would be good to go through the following tips to ensure that it leads and happy and healthy life.
1. Feeding your chameleon
The chameleon is not a fussy eater. It will feed on a wide variety of bugs and insects. The younger ones have voracious appetites and they eat about 20-30 bugs a day. The adults have a moderate appetite and can consume about 8-10 crickets a day. The various bugs and insects that your chameleon will eat are grasshoppers, earthworms, flies, beetles, moths, spiders and cockroaches. You could also feed it young mice. It will not generally overeat if it is assured of a constant food supply. You could place a bowl of mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion leaves, sweet potato, water crests and carrots within easy reach. The chameleon will also require supplements for calcium and vitamins at least twice a week. A water bowl in the enclosure will help. You can judge the well-being of the chameleon from its tail size. It the tail is flat and thin, it means that it is not getting sufficient food.
2. Housing your chameleon
Chameleons need plenty of space and ventilation in their enclosures. The ideal size would be about 4 feet high and 3 feet broad and wide. It is preferable to make the enclosure from mesh. Always keep male chameleons isolated. Do not keep two males together for chameleons are very territorial in their nature. They will definitely fight and live in great stress. For the same reason, it is not advisable to make enclosures from glass because the chameleon may reflect its own reflection as a rival! It seeks privacy and so ensure that if you have other pets at home, they do not disturb the chameleon. Also keep the enclosure relatively cool with proper ventilation and shield it from direct sunlight.
3. Reading the chameleon's body language
You will notice if your chameleon is disturbed when it begins to hiss and puff itself up. This means that there is something in its environment that it is not comfortable about. It might be the temperature which is too high or it might be the presence of another chameleon. It might also be the presence of another pet. You must take action because stress affects the chameleon's longevity. Try isolating the disturbing variable by making changes, one at a time and reading the chameleon's body language. Once you identify the source of stress, eliminate it. Sometimes, you will notice the chameleon keeping its mouth open though it is otherwise active. This means that the temperature is too high.
4. Special needs of the female chameleon
It is suggested that you spay the female chameleon. In spite of this, she will lay her eggs. When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she will stop eating and begin to scratch the bottom of the enclosure. When you observe this, get her a large bucket filled with moist sand and place her in it during the day. Shift her back to the enclosure at night. Keep doing this rotation till she lays her eggs.
5. Caring for a sick chameleon
Illnesses can be detected by a change in physical appearance. To notice this, it would be advisable to photograph the chameleon on a monthly basis at least. The chameleon is very sensitive to changes in diurnal cycles and this may reflect in its irregular eating habits. Do not get worried and mistake this as a sign of illness. The sure shot signs of illness are when the chameleon breathes through its mouth and sits silently in a place without much movement, keeping its eyes closed. At times, there will be a white powdery stuff around its mouth. This will imply an over-supplementation of calcium. Dust away this powder and reduce the supplements for a while. In case of any suspected illness, please do not try out your own remedies! Consult a veterinarian.
6. Other things to take care of
Ensure that you know the sex of the chameleon that you are buying. This will help you take care of the female's special needs later on. It is highly advisable that you sign up for the reptile-pet insurance when you own a chameleon. It will save you many losses in the future. You could also have a timer for lighting so that you maintain the same diurnal cycles as far as possible.
