Cage & Habitat
A pet chameleon will need a fairly elaborate habitat to remain healthy. With the correct cage, decor, humidity, and care you can have a healthy and happy pet. A chameleon with an appropriate habitat size and setup will also be more active and entertaining.
Cage
A chameleon cage can be a tall glass terrarium with screened top, a screened or wire cage, or even a large and tall bird cage. Glass terrariums do provide better temperature and humidity control and may be better suited for those living in dry or cold climates. For chameleons a foot or less in length the cage should be at least 2′ x 3′ x 3′. Bigger is always better so go with the largest and tallest cage possible.
Chameleons can also be kept in the home without a cage where they can live in a tree. A cage free chameleon is not recommended if you have other pets like cats or dogs. The Ficus Tree is one of the best trees for a chameleon’s home. It has suitable branches for walking, leaves for drinking, does well indoors, and is readily available at plant nurseries.
If you pick a different type of plant, make sure it is not toxic to your chameleon since he may nibble on the leaves and bark. You should also wash and rinse any plant and its leaves with soapy water to remove any pesticides that may have been sprayed on the plant.
It is also possible to combine a cage and the Ficus Tree as a suitable home for your pet. You would need a screened cage large enough to completely cover the tree. You may be able to find a commercial cage large enough or you can make one from wood and mesh screen inexpensively.
Decor
If you don’t use a Ficus Tree for your pet’s home, you will have to provide places for him to climb and drink. He will need a variety of horizontal branches where he can sit and climb. The cage will also need a bunch of leaves from which your chameleon can drink droplets of water. The leaves also create areas where your pet can hide and rest. There are a variety of artificial leaves, bendable branches, and other reptile decor available that have been designed for habitats.
Light & Heat
Your chameleon will need a source of UVB lighting. Fluorescent UVB bulbs that extend the length of the cage work well and ensure that your pet gets enough exposure. You want to make sure the lights are located where your pet can’t get too close and possibly burned.
A source of heat may also be needed to maintain the cage temperature. Basking bulbs and heat emitting bulbs are a good way to provide additional heat. They also focus most of the heat in one area creating temperature gradients in the cage which help the chameleon regulate heat by moving around.
Food, Water & Humidity
A food bowl will be needed for insects like mealworms that your pet eats. The food bowl should be located where your chameleon spends most of his time. A bowl that can attach to the side of the cage or a branch and won’t spill work best.
A source of water will also be needed. A dripper or a mister on a timer work best. A dripper slowly drips water onto leaves and other items where your chameleon can drink. It also indirectly waters the Ficus Tree if that is where your pet lives.
A mister or fogger is a good choice especially if the cage is in an area with low humidity. A mister is on a timer and sprays the leaves and cage with a mist creating droplets of water and raising the humidity.
It is recommended that you have a thermometer and humidity gauge. Maintaining an ideal temperature and humidity level is important for your chameleon’s health and well being. Many chameleon’s do well with around 50 – 70% humidity, but it varies by species.
Substrate
The substrate of your pet’s cage can be as simple as newspaper or paper towels or as realistic as Eco-earth. Whatever substrate you use should make cleaning up debris and waste easy. If your pet lives on a Ficus Tree, a large pot for the plant and its potting soil may be sufficient.