What Are Pet Chameleon Breeds? Complete Species Guide for First-Time Owners

If you are looking forward to getting yourself a pet chameleon and are a first-time chameleon owner, you must be wondering about all the pet chameleon breeds that you can choose from. It’s very important to have basic knowledge about the pet chameleon breeds before you decide to get a chameleon for yourself, since there are a variety of chameleon breeds out there that have different dietary and habitat requirements. Just like other pets, chameleons can build an amazing bond with their owners, and before you hop on to get committed to taking care of them, read this pet chameleon breeds guide.

It is important to understand that there are many species in the wild and pet shops, but you should consider getting the ones you think you can effectively care for. From the beginner-friendly veiled chameleons to the brightly colored panther chameleons, there are many options you can consider as they can happily survive in households as well. However, as previously said, all the different breeds have different requirements and have different temperament therefore, its necessary to know about all the breeds a first time owner can go for.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pet Chameleon

There are a number of factors that need to be kept in mind while choosing any pet chameleon breed, including their maximum size, temperament, habitat requirements, and breeding requirements. Let’s look at some of the most common factors to consider when choosing a pet chameleon for yourself.

First off, only go for captive hatched babies and not the ones that are caught from the wild and are held over or sold to you just like that. The reason for that is simple: the chameleons that have lived in the wild are only accustomed to living in the wild, and only wilderness can be their best habitats. No matter how many efforts you put in providing the best habitat to the chameleon, you could never be able to make them live to their fullest. Therefore, always go for captive hatched or captive-born chameleon babies only as they are able to adapt to the captive environment much more successfully and effectively.

The second thing you should remember is that you should be aware of their dietary requirements, such as what to feed them and how much to feed them. If you want to read more on what to feed your chameleon, read our Chameleons Feeding Guide: What & How to Feed Your Pet. The gender of the chameleon hardly matters while choosing a pet chameleon, but you should also be aware of the fact that a healthy female chameleon can lay healthy eggs and if you are looking forward to breed them and are ready to have more than one chameleon then a female chameleon would be a great option.

Popular Pet Chameleon Breeds for Beginners

There are a lot many chameleon breeds you can choose from, but as discussed, only go for captive hatched or born babies. Since there are a lot many breeds in the wild, remember to only buy from a breeder that can provide you with expert support and has enough knowledge about the chameleon breeds. Here are three of the most common pet chameleon breeds that almost all the chameleon owners prefer and have had a great experience with.

• Veiled Chameleon– The first in the list is a veiled chameleon since they are the most common and are the top choice of pet chameleon owners. They are also known as cone-head chameleon because of the shape of their head. Keep in mind that they are of a shy and grumpy temperament, so better not to expect them to be friendly; however, sometimes they can be friendly too (depending on their mood). Another thing to keep in mind is that they are a food connoisseur, so you will probably love watching them eat food. They can easily live in human-required temperatures and generally prefer 75 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. They would at least need a 2’ x 2’ x 4’ tall cage for an adult, since the male can grow up to 43 to 61 cm, and a basking spot too. Remember to not overfeed them and especially not a female veiled chameleon.

• Panther Chameleon- Panther Chameleons are considered one of the most vibrant chameleon breeds and are yet another most preferred pet chameleon breeds since they have a great memory and can easily recognize their owners. They are known to have learnt their feeding schedule and to remember people too. Panther chameleons have a mild temperament, i.e., not too friendly, not too aggressive, however, they may ask you to back off when they feel you are being too intrusive. A male panther chameleon can grow up to 40–51 cm and is usually more vibrant than female chameleons, who are also smaller than the males. Standard cage size would be 24” x 24” x 48” for a male chameleon and a little smaller for the females. The living temperature requirements would be the same as veiled chameleons.

• Jackson’s Chameleon- The third most common pet chameleon breed for beginners is the Jackson’s chameleon, also known as the three-horned chameleon. They are also of a mild temperament and therefore are a nice pet companion to humans. However, unlike the above two species, they require special care with their environmental temperatures. This species has been known to love the nighttime drops, and therefore their temperature requirements need to stay within 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Only their basking temperature should be in the 80s, thats where they can choose to go when they need to get their temperatures high. They would require a cage size of 24” x 24” x 48”, for both males and females, as a male can reach up to 38cm and a female can reach up to 25 cm.
  

Other Chameleon Species for Experienced Owners

Now that you know all the necessary things about the three most commonly opted for pet chameleon breeds, here are a few more breeds one can keep as a pet. You can always opt for smaller-sized breeds or larger-sized breeds depending on your requirements and capabilities to provide for their cage and environmental care. Two of the most well-known small-sized chameleon breeds are the Carpet Chameleon and the Lesser Chameleon. They are typically the size of a finger and do amazingly well as a pet, too. However, they have different environmental requirements so make sure to read well about that.

Now there are some larger-sized breeds too that are also well known as pets, but are most common with experienced pet chameleon owners since they are well aware of their dietary and environmental requirements. The Parson’s Chameleon and the Meller’s Chameleon are two such giant chameleon breeds that have been kept as pets. They are as easy to keep as other pet chameleons, only their cage requirement are different from those of other pet chameleon breeds. They make amazing pets only if you can take out enough time and money to take care of them and their requirements.

Which Chameleon Breed Is Right for You?

Now that you have read the more important part about the pet chameleon breeds, here comes the biggest question. “What breed is right for me?” Again, it totally depends on how much time and effort, and money you can put into taking care of them, since acknowledging the fact that they are living beings and they have certain requirements is the foremost step. Do not only focus on their color but also their special requirements such as temperature requirements and their own temperament is important to look forward to when you are choosing for one.

The veiled chameleons and panther chameleons are the most commonly owned pet chameleon breeds for a reason, since they are beginner-friendly and do not require a lot of special care. If you are not ready to deal with a cranky pet, then you should go for a panther chameleon for your first time pet chameleon; however, if you are ready for a little bit of crankiness, then definitely the veiled chameleons should be your choice. The gender of these beautiful beings hardly matters but should also be considered depending on the breeding requirements.

We hope this article provided you with a basic understanding of the pet chameleon breeds and also helped you in choosing your first pet chameleon. We hope you have a wonderful experience raising a pet chameleon. See you soon with our next informative chameleon article.