Chameleon Lizard
Information on the Chameleon Lizard
The chameleon lizard is known for its ability to change its skin color, although not all varieties of chameleon lizard can do this. Chameleons have parrot-like feet and very long tongues. They can live for as long as 10 years, so be ready for a long time of extra responsibility if you decide to take one home as a pet.
Chameleons vary widely in size, with the smallest being just over an inch long and the largest ranging up to 30 inches long. Many varieties of the chameleon lizard have formations on their head or face. Some resemble horns, while others are more like a very large, bulbous nose. All chameleons have five toes on each foot, and the toes are fused into two groups on the foot. They allow the chameleon lizard to scurry up trees and grip the bark with their feet.
Chameleons eat insects, usually crickets, which you can easily purchase at your local pet store. It’s also a good idea to give your chameleon lizard other kinds of insects just to change up its diet sometimes. Other common insects you can feed your chameleon include meal worms, fruit flies, moths, and grasshoppers. Just try not to feed your pet too many winged insects all at once because the wings can be hard to digest. It’s best to pace your new pet. Also avoid feeding it insects that are too long for the chameleon to eat. Choose insects that can be easily swallow in one bite.
The amount of food you’ll need to feed your chameleon lizard varies depending on what size the animal is. It also depends on if your lizard is about to go through a growth spurt. You’ll know a growth spurt is coming if your chameleon lizard suddenly starts eating 15 or 20 crickets per day.
If you feed your chameleon fresh insects, don’t forget to feed your insects too. It’s common for lizard owners to forget that their pet’s food needs to eat too. After all, your chameleon lizard will eventually eat whatever your insects eat, so if you starve them, your lizard won’t get the proper nutrition.
If your chameleon doesn’t want to eat, the first thing you should try is to increase the temperature where you’re holding it for a couple of days. Chameleons don’t like to eat when they feel too cold, so giving them a warm-up will help build their appetites.
It’s also important to make sure your chameleon has enough water to drink. It’s fairly common for lizard owners to never observe their pet drinking water, so try different water delivery methods to find the one your pet likes the best. One of the easiest methods is to simply place some water in a paper or plastic cup. Use a pin to poke a tiny hole in the bottom of the cup and place it high where your lizard can get underneath it while it drips. Some lizards prefer a gentle spray to get their water, so you may consider just giving him a soft shower daily with a spray bottle instead of using a drip method.