Pygmy Chameleon
The Pygmy Chameleon, A Nice Little Pet
One of the reasons the pygmy chameleon makes such a great pet is, as the name implies, it is quite small. So small in fact that you may wish to have several, which is usually not a problem. If you own larger chameleons or lizards, it's often the case that a single specimen will be plenty, and having two in the same enclosure can become a real handful, if possible at all.
There are several species of pygmy chameleon. One particularly cute little fellow resembles a tiny rhinoceros, but with 3 horns. Other species can be best described as having a leaf-like appearance. This a means of camouflage when on the forest floor, where they spend much of their time. Whatever species you get, you can plan on a reptile that is unlikely to exceed 3 inches in length, and probably will be a bit smaller.
Humidity, Temperature, And Ventilation - The pygmy chameleon is a tropical animal and as such likes humidity and warmth. Don't mistake baking heat for warmth however. Placing these chameleons in direct sunlight in a glass container could rapidly result in dead chameleons. The pygmy chameleon is happiest at a temperature slightly above room temperature, say 75F, although they will do quite well at 72F. The night time temperatures should be a bit lower, in the mid 60's.
Adequate ventilation is important, and for that reason some will tell you that any container should have mesh sides to allow for circulation of air. Some larger chameleons and other members of the lizard family demand this. There are many on the other hand, that will tell you a glass terrarium or aquarium container will be just fine. The best approach here would be to talk things over with a breeder of the species of pygmy chameleon you're interested in, and see what he or she recommends.
Two Males Can Be A Crowd - Pygmy chameleons can be kept in small colonies if you wish. Generally when keeping reptiles, fish, and other types of animal life, such as pet hedgehogs, it is never a good idea to put two males in the same enclosure. The same would seem to apply here, although depending on the species, you might get along with more than one male in a container, if the container is large enough. It does seem though, if you have several males and several females in the same container, you're asking for trouble. As far as having a male and female is concerned, you need to ask yourself if you want a couple of pets, or eventually many pets, as they tend to be rapid breeders. You may or may not wish to get into the breeding business, which is far different from keeping a couple of pets.
Listen For “The Buzz” - Partially because of their size, you have to be very careful in handling a pygmy chameleon. Some species will buzz when picked up. This is a warning, though they're too small to do you any harm. Buzzing means they are stressed, and an overstressed small animal can soon become a sick small animal. So it’s best not to handle them too much unless they've become used to it. One of the first things one learns when handling a chameleon is it can be hard to put one down on something, since if your hand is pointed down, they will try to crawl up your arm. You have to reach into the container and put them "up" on something, such as a branch.
Food And Water - As far as food and drink is concerned, most chameleons will only eat live food. There may be some exceptions, but live food is normally what is required. Crickets are the favorite of most species, and meal worms or wax worms will work as well. In fact the chameleon will probably try to eat anything moving as long as it's small enough. Having a pygmy chameleon as a pet usually means having live crickets in the household so bear that in mind and plan accordingly. As far as water is concerned, chameleons need it of course, but will not drink from a bowl, or from any standing water. A good way to get around this problem is to have a drip system, where water is allowed to drip from the leaves of plants in their enclosure. Misting the leaves a couple of times a day can help, and gives the pygmy chameleon the humidity it requires at the same time.
Depending upon the species, and assuming proper care is given, a pet pygmy chameleon will live somewhere between 2 and 5 years. Not too bad for such a tiny creature.