Diet Housing and Light Veiled calyptratus “Salad”: dark leafy greens (chard, mustard Caging should include vertical and greens, kale, dandelion, parsley, top of branched climbing with foliage. Branches carrot, etc) chopped and mixed crumbled such as cleaned vine maple, willow, apple; Insectivore Fare plus Calcium (USP: ficus tall plants, shefflera or hibiscus can be carbonate, citrate or gluconate), 10 mg per used. A basking branch should be salad. Do not use calciums that contain positioned for optimal uVB exposure. vitamin D unless directed by your Newspaper is fine for substrate. If live plants veterinarian. Edible green plants can be are used, screening should be cut to cover used in the habitat such as shefflera, ficus, the dirt. hibiscus, vine maple, etc. The insect portion of the diet can consist of commercially-  Light – on timer: 13 hrs on, 11 off; The veiled chameleon is being bred in raised crickets, silkworms, roaches, uVB available (recommend captivity. It is considered the hardiest of the superworms (Zophobas), waxworms, MegaRay® bulbs non-desert or low and better suited to being a mealworms, and other live insects. These wattage, www.reptileuv.com, pet. It is indigenous to coastal regions of should be fed the “salad” listed above for at checked by meter with measurement Yemen and Saudi Arabia. least 24-48 hrs before they are offered to of optimal distance for basking the chameleon. Larval insects like branch, be sure can get out of direct Veiled chameleons have prehensile tails mealworms and waxworms contain very light to protect eyes.) frequently kept curled into a coil. The have little calcium and should only be offered in  Basking Temperatures: 95-105oF long whip-like tongues, independently limited quantities and rarely. Chameleons on 13 hrs moving eyes, zygodactyl feet, and can be taught to eat in a deep container to  Ambient (cage) Temperature: Day- continuously changing skin colors reflecting reduce insect dispersal throughout the 82-85oF; Night: 70-75oF environmental or stage of the habitat. Roaming insects may chew on the  Humidity: 100% when misted; night reproductive cycle. Veileds have a high chameleons, and it is best not to leave a lot time drops to 40-60%. Mist 1-2X casque on the head, with the males’ being of uneaten prey in the habitat: remove it in daily dependent on size of habitat, much larger. The function of the casque is the evening and offer the next day. ventilation and type of furnishings. debated: amplification of low frequency  Heat: Supply with heat emitters or “buzzing” sounds for communication, Water room heaters. Do not use hot rocks, dissipation of heat, or for furnishings or elements that attach collection/channeling of water. Free-ranging chameleons drink the dew and to the glass: direct contact with raindrops from leaves and wet surfaces. In these may burn the chameleon. Generally chameleons should be housed captivity, they generally will not drink from individually unless a breeding colony is a bowl. Their enclosure should be fitted with established. Any new chameleon should be a drip system that can range from simple Evergreen Avian & Exotic Hospital quarantined in a separate area of the home drip cups with melting ice cubes to Holly G. Carter, BVetMed for at least 30 days, and checked by a automatic drip line systems. The enclosure 12930 NE 125h Way, Ste B130, Kirkland, WA 98034 veterinarian prior to exposure to any should be misted 1-2X daily to they can Ph: 425-821-6165 Fax: 425-821-6130 resident . drink off wet surfaces. Chameleons not [email protected] watered regularly may become dehydrated www.exopet.com which can lead to severe illness.