Today, Wiki PET shares with you. How to feed and care for Chamaeleo gracilis at home. Let’s learn about the diet that helps them stay healthy, grow fast and have beautiful colors.
Table of Contents
1. About Chamaeleo gracilis
| Scientific name | Chamaeleonidae |
| General description | They belong to the family of scaly reptiles. As one of the popular lines of reptiles kept as pets today. Chamaeleo gracilis has the ability to change color on the body constantly. Popular colors include: pink, blue, red, orange, turquoise, yellow and green. Their eyes can rotate in 2 different directions. That’s why they can be seen from the back without having to turn their heads. |
| Size and weight | Children: 30-45cm in length Males: average length from 45 – 61cm |
| Lifespan | average 4-7 years |
| Character | They are very friendly to humans |
How does Chamaeleo gracilis change color?
Chamaeleo gracilis can change body color depending on emotions. Different times of a day. Or in the stage of finding a sexual partner.
- When angry: their body is dark brown.
- When happy: their bodies will change to a fresh green color.
- During the reproductive period: their bodies will change color and pattern constantly. To help attract females and scare away other males.
- At dark age, most of them will have white bodies.
2. How to feed Chamaeleo gracilis at home
2.1 Making a barn
According to each stage of development of the chameleon you choose the right cage.
- For baby chameleons. You can use glass pots with mesh lids to feed them.
- But as they mature: You need to keep them in a larger space. One suggestion is that you can keep them in a cage with a net. With standard dimensions of: 50x50x100 cm (length x width x height).
Tip: you can use twigs or leaves to get into the barn. Because chameleons are very fond of climbing. It will help to create the most natural environment in the barn.
2.2 Ideal habitat
| Temperature | The ideal temperature to feed Chamaeleo gracilis in the morning is 35 – 43 degrees C. The evening will average from 21 – 24 degrees Celsius. You can use UVA lamps from 30 – 40W (children) and 60W for adults. The UVB lamp only needs to be at 5.0. |
| Humidity | You need to remain at 50-70% by misting 1-2 times per day. |
| Light | It’s best to let them sunbathe every day. It will help supplement vitamin D3 to absorb calcium in daily foods. Avoid delayed growth of geckos or rickets. |
2.3 Diet for chameleons
Chameleon favorite foods include: Locusts, worms, termites, insects …In particular, they can also eat the leaves of plants: betel leaves, mulberry leaves, shady leaves…
To ensure nutrition for chameleons to grow. You can feed them extra grains, vegetables or fresh meat.
Chamaeleo gracilis never drink water in cups. They drink only stagnant water on the leaves of plants. Therefore, it is best to keep a fresh pot in the chameleon barn. And they will drink the water that stagnates on the leaves.
3. FAQ
For beginners, choosing a chameleon to be a pet is not easy. Here are some suggestions for choosing chameleons.
+ The first is that you need to choose chameleons that have been tamed. Select only medium-sized ones. Neither too big nor too small.
+ Next, you need to observe their movements. And absolutely do not choose those whose gait is not ordinary.
+ And then you follow up on the chameleon’s color transformation. Normal chameleons will change color constantly when they are afraid or defensive.
+ And finally, you should choose babies who already know how to eat. Try putting in the cage a few grasshoppers (Legs removed). Children who are eager to eat will take the bait right away.
Chameleons are reptiles, their favorite food is insects and worms. You can feed them: worms, crickets, termites, beetles… And it is also recommended to feed them with additional grains, root vegetables and leaves. It will help your pet to be healthy, grow quickly and have a beautiful color.
