Veiled chameleon — Care Sheet & Morphs

Q: How big does an adult Veiled chameleon get?

An adult Veiled chameleon typically measures 25–60 cm.

Husbandry requirements

Veiled chameleon — origin: Yemen and Saudi Arabia — high plateaus.

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min18 °C

Cool side22–24 °C

Warm side24–28 °C

Basking spot30–35 °C

Hot spot with no direct contact (risk of burns)

Enclosure (adult)

60 × 60 × 120 cm

Mesh (screen) terrarium, densely planted

Ventilation critical; strictly individual housing

Humidity

50–70 %

Misting 2×/day + a dripper; let it dry out between the two

Substrate

Bare floor or a draining bioactive substrateAvoid loose substrate (impaction)

UVB

Recommended

ESSENTIAL — UVB (Ferguson zone 3) + a hot spot

Water source

Always available

NO water bowl — drinks droplets; a dripper/misting are mandatory

Origin

Chamaeleonidae

Yemen and Saudi Arabia — high plateaus

Feeding & health

Diet

Insectivore (also nibbles plants) — Crickets, dubia, hornworms, silkworms — gutload + calcium; non-toxic plants

Calcium without D3 frequently + occasional D3/multivitamins if UVB is present

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 20–80 eggs/young. Females lay even without a male → a laying bin is essential; risk of egg retention

Health watch points

MBD (lack of UVB/calcium)
Egg retention / follicular stasis (females)
Dehydration
Stress
Thermal burns
Respiratory infections (too humid/poorly ventilated)

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 3 documented genes for Veiled chameleon.

Translucent transDom
Piebald (High White)Rec
Hypermelanistic / CharcoalRec

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

🧬

Veiled chameleon × Veiled chameleon

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the veiled chameleon.

How big does an adult Veiled chameleon get?▾

An adult Veiled chameleon typically measures 25–60 cm (strong dimorphism: males 35–60 cm with a large casque, females 25–35 cm).

What temperature and humidity does a Veiled chameleon need?▾

A gradient of roughly 22–24 °C on the cool side to 24–28 °C on the warm side, with a basking spot of 30–35 °C. Humidity 50–70 %.

What does a Veiled chameleon eat?▾

Insectivore (also nibbles plants): Crickets, dubia, hornworms, silkworms — gutload + calcium; non-toxic plants.

Is the Veiled chameleon a good reptile for beginners?▾

Intermediate level. Solitary and territorial — a display animal; handling stresses it Plan ahead: a lifespan of 5–8 yrs.

Track your veiled chameleon on ReptiNode

Create a free tracking log: weight, meals, sheds, health record, QR codes and breeding projects — with the built-in genetics calculator for over 200 species.

Create a free account