VEILED CHAMELEON Veiled Chameleons are among the most popular chameleon species kept as pets. This is a beautiful large species of chameleon that has fascinating behaviors. Chameleons require daily care and are considered higher maintenance than many other reptiles. Veiled Chameleons are a good choice for beginning chameleon hobbyists, yet are challenging for a beginning reptile keeper. Captive bred Veiled Chameleons are readily available and are always recommended over wild caught animals. Common Name: Veiled Chameleon Scientific Name: Chamaeleo calyptratus Distribution: Saudi Arabia, Yemen & surrounding areas. Size: 8-18" Life Span: Males: 6-8 yr, Females: 4-6 yr HABITAT Zoo Med's Reptibreeze® Open Air Screen Cages are the perfect match for Veiled Chameleons. The Iguanarium® is an excellent choice for adult Veiled Chameleons. Provide plenty of climbing branches and broad leaf plants to create cover and climbing opportunities. Be sure that any live plants being used are non-toxic because Veiled Chameleons will occasionally eat plants. Offer branches of varying sizes to help your growing chameleon develop a strong grip. HEATING Daytime Terrarium Temperature: 72-80° F Basking Spot: 85-90°F Nighttime Temperature: Above 50°F Zoo Med's Basking Spot Lamp™, PowerSun® and Repti Halogen™ Lamps are great choices for heating chameleon enclosures. Chameleons prefer a drop in temperature at night, we recommend a low wattage heat bulb such as a Nightlight Red or Nocturnal Infrared Heat Lamp.   LIGHTING UVB Lighting is essential for chameleons to process calcium in captivity. Zoo Med's ReptiSun® 5.0 or 10.0 Linear or Compact Fluorescent Lamps are a great choice for providing chameleons with UVB. The PowerSun® is an excellent way to provide both UVB and Heat all in one lamp! Without UVB lighting chameleons will develop serious health problems such as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). UVB Lighting should be left on for 10-12 hours per day and turned off at night.   SUBSTRATES Cage carpeting such as Zoo Med's Eco Carpet™ is the easiest substrate to maintain chameleons on. It is strongly recommended that hatchling chameleons are not kept on any type of loose substrate. Eco Carpet™ is the safest and cleanest choice for young chameleons. ReptiBark®, Forest Floor™, and Eco Earth® can be used as a nesting substrate for adults. Provide a nest box with at least 4" of substrate in all enclosures that house adult females.   NUTRITION Veiled Chameleons are insectivorous animals and will require a varied diet of insects. Insects such as crickets and mealworms are a good staple diet. We recommend "gut-loading" your feeder insects with Cricket Care™ prior to feeding your animals. Zoo Med's ReptiCalcium® and ReptiVite™ with Vitamin D should be added to food as directed. Calcium and multi-vitamins are critical to keeping your growing chameleon healthy and active. Veiled Chameleons occasionally will eat leafy greens if offered. Feed Daily and remove all uneaten insects from the enclosure after feedings. WATER Veiled Chameleons prefer to drink or lap water from leaves. This can be replicated in captivity by offering a drip system or a misting system. Zoo Med offers several products that will allow you to provide your chameleon with water. The Big Dripper™ will allow you to drip water onto leaves from above the cage. The Habba Mist® will provide a scheduled misting of your terrarium. Always add ReptiSafe™ Water Conditioner to your tap water to remove Chlorine and Chloramines.