The Jackson's chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii) is native to Kenya and Tanzania.

It has been introduced in the US. USA, in California, Hawaii and Florida.

Most measure approximately between 15 and 35 cm length. They usually have several shades of green, but they can become as dark as black when they are very distressed.. Are sexually dimorphic. Males have three long, pointed horns protruding from the head. These horns are absent or underdeveloped in females. The back of the head has a small crest. There are small spines along the vertebral line. Like other chameleons, the Jackson's chameleon has zygodactyl feet (divided so that two fingers point inward and three point outward) that are specialized for life in trees, and a prehensile tail that is also used for grasping.

But, the most recognizable feature of all chameleons are their eyes. The pupil is the only visible part from its skin covering. Each eye rotates 180 degrees and is independent of the other. Chameleons have unusually strong control over the curvature of their lenses, and can enlarge an image.

They are considered a long-lived chameleon (until 10 years).

The Jackson's chameleon prefers to live in thickets and mountain forests. They need to hide and prefer to live in trees. They rarely venture on the ground, except for laying eggs or mating.

Males are territorial and fight with their horns, which they can also use to attract females. When two males meet, they stand on their side, flatten their bodies, curl their tails and push their heads forward. They inflate with air to appear larger and become brightly colored. Next, open their mouths to show the varied colors of their interior, while swaying and wiggling with the occasional soft hiss. The submissive male will normally try to hide, freeze on the spot or try to escape the area. Fade into muted colors. When males fight, they hit each other with their horns and try to push themselves from the branches. These fights can cause physical harm to chameleons.

They use stillness and dull natural coloration to protect themselves from bird predation, Snakes, shrews and lizards.

The Jackson's chameleon has a mating ritual that mimics its threat ritual. The male initiates the display of threat to the female, including color changes, inflating of the throat and elevation of the front legs towards the opponent. The female then has two options. May make threatening gestures, in which case you do not want to mate. If you want to mate, make weak threatening gestures or make no gestures at all, in which case the male recognizes his will. Then the male surrounds the female, grabs your neck with your mouth, is placed on your back and inserts the hemipene into the cloacal orifice. This whole process usually takes a few 13 minutes. The female will continue to mate during 11 days, but not with the same male twice in a day. Gestation lasts approximately 190 days. The young are usually born in the morning. The female opens the cloaca and the young are born one at a time on a branch.. They are still surrounded by a gelatinous egg sac and remain asleep until the egg touches the substrate.. The young then wake up and stretch and break the egg sac.. At birth, the offspring measure some 5,5 cm long and weigh some 0,6 Gm. After 20 days females copulate again. The young will reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 or 10 months.

The diet of this chameleon consists mainly of insects and spiders. Using your eyes independently, sit completely still and watch if an element of prey crosses your path. When you locate it, both eyes converge and it swings a bit to improve its vision and confirm the distance at which the prey is located.. The prey is captured by projecting the tongue, which has a fleshy tip covered in sticky saliva. The prey is brought back to the mouth, chewed and swallowed. Language, one and a half times the length of the lizard, can reach its full length in a sixteenth of a second.

They get water by licking the drops from the leaves.

In the morning, sunbathe, bending one side towards the light and flattening the body and stretching the neck to increase its surface. Once heated, are able to hunt.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) classifies all chameleons as threatened. Two reasons for its decline are habitat destruction and the exotic pet trade.. Demand for chameleons encourages pet suppliers to pull them out of the wild and ship them over long distances; the survival rate may be approximately 1 of each 10, and those who survive arrive malnourished and stressed. Proper care methods for these lizards are not well understood, so they can be mistreated without knowing it. Captive breeding has not been very successful, with the exception of the San Diego Zoo and some private breeders.

• Size: The bigger, best, minimal 60 x 45 x 90cm.
• Type of cage: Full or hybrid mesh (combination of mesh and glass or panel)
• Lights: UVB source (inside or outside), natural light source (window or LED) (inside or outside), Heat source (exterior)
• Hydration: Nebulizer at night, manual misting in the morning and afternoon
• Ventilation: full mesh, Small fans when using a hybrid cage and/or the air is stagnant
• Interior: live plants (not fake), natural branches (no fake vines, non-strings, non-bleached wood), non-substrate.

UVB light source: T5 HO 12 hours a day, 5-12% according to the height of the cage
Visible light: Full spectrum or natural light, 12 hours a day
Resting point: 26-28°C, 1 time maximum 2 times a day
Temperature during the day: 21-23°C.
Temperature at night: Max. 15-17°C, Ideal temperature below 15°C.
Humidity during the day: 50-70%.
Humidity at night: 100%, fog
Hydration: Nebulizer at night, Manual nebulization, Dropper
Type of feeding: Crickets, Soldier flies, Cockroaches, No vegetables, Fruit-free
Volume of food: Youth without limit, Adults maximum 1 daily cricket
Supplement – Every meal: Simple calcium, Bee pollen
Supplementation – Once every two weeks: Calcium with D3

The price of a "Jackson's chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 150 – 250 EUR.

1. Jackson's chameleon, Jackson’s horned chameleon, Three-horned chameleon, Kikuyu three-horned chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon de Jackson, Chamaeleon jacksonii (French).
3. Dreihornchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão-de-jackson, Chamaeleo jacksonii, Camaleão-de-três-chifres (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de Jackson", Trioceros de Jackson (español).

The Furcifer pardalis, also known as Panther chameleon, are native to the island of Madagascar. They are distributed throughout the island, but they are locally abundant on the coasts of the center-east, northeast, north and northwest. The Furcifer pardalis they have also been introduced in areas such as Reunion and Mauritius.

The most fascinating feature that has the Panther chameleon is its extraordinarily vibrant coloration. Adult chameleons are sexually dimorphic and males are recognized by their larger size, the swollen base of the tail indicating the presence of hemipenes, and have a wide range of coloration and patterns. Females are identified by being more uniformly pale green or pink in color, smaller, with a thinner tail base and sometimes with eggs detectable through the walls of the body. Adults can reach a length of 23 cm.. It is much more difficult to distinguish the sex of juvenile chameleons of less than 6 months of age due to their smaller size, its dull coloration and lack of hemipenial protrusion in males.

The coloration and pattern of the Panther chameleon varies significantly depending on its origin or location. Normally, the Panther chameleon of the Malagasy island Nosy Be are bluish green, emerald green or have a turquoise body. Northwest coast males are usually bright pink, with a yellowish-white stripe along the sides; this is commonly referred to as "the pink panthers". Males may also be orange, red and dark green, with a large variation of spots, streaks and/or bands around the head and eyes.

The Panther chameleon lack a vomeronasal organ, an auxiliary olfactory sensory organ found in many animals. They also have no outer or middle ear, suggesting chameleons might be deaf. Chameleons have specialized tongue-like feet called zygodactyls.. On each foot, all five fingers are merged into a two-digit group and a three-digit group. On the front feet, the group of three toes is on the inside of the foot, and the group of two fingers is on the outside. This is reversed in the back foot, which gives them a secure and strong grip and allows them to maneuver horizontally or vertically in a wide variety of vegetation or structures. These specialized feet allow chameleons to hold on tightly to narrow branches.. The sharp claws on each finger help them climb and grip surfaces they can't hold on to tightly., like tree trunks.

The Panther chameleon it inhabits mainly dry deciduous lowland forests, near belts of thin trees that line rivers and roads. This particular species seems to prefer open habitats that are not excessively shaded.. Scientists believe this is due to the need to colonize open spaces where they can sunbathe and males can use visual cues aimed at females. (during courtship) or for males to establish territories. Male panther chameleons also have a greater elevation range than females, most likely for territorial reasons.

In general, the social structure of the Panther chameleon It is little known. It is known that the Furcifer pardalis, like most chameleons, is solitary and territorial, regardless of age or gender. Males tend to have larger distribution areas than females. Males often do not tolerate other males invading their shrub or tree of residence and will defend their territory by participating in an exhibition., chasing and possibly seriously injuring an intruding male. Hostility increases during the breeding season. It is not known whether females of Panther chameleon are intolerant of other females in general or only at nesting sites.

Chameleon eyes do not contain the melanin rods and pigments needed for night vision, which is why Furcifer pardalis is diurnal.

The females of Panther chameleon gestate fertilized eggs during 2 or 3 weeks. The young usually take between 6 months and a year to come out of the eggs. From that moment on, the offspring take others 6 months until they are sexually mature and have developed the coloration and size of an adult.

Courtship usually begins with displays by males. This usually includes the display of bright colors and a series of head movements that shake as they move towards the female.. Some males move slowly, with a choppy or spasmodic step, but others move very quickly and can be aggressive with females. Females that are not receptive or are gravid may run away or face the male chasing them with their mouths open while theirs., they stand on the hind legs and swing to discourage the male's advances. If the female seems interested, the male will mount it by grabbing its flanks and it will be placed to the right or left of its body.. Copulation takes place when the male everteja the closest of his two hemipens and introduces it into the cloaca of the female. Some species copulate for a few minutes and others for several hours, after which they usually follow different paths.

There is little information on the mating systems of the Panther chameleon, but some researchers have observed mating behavior consistent with serial polygyny. Studies in captivity of the Furcifer pardalis have shown that males have wider ranges than females. Females usually stay in a small area and are visited by males during the breeding season. This species has a slight pair bond, which consists of the males deciding to remain in the territory of the female for a period after breeding and probably defend this female from other males. Females that have already mated have shown aggressive behaviors towards successive males that walk through the territory. The successful male stays with the female for a brief period after mating and then continues to roam, probably looking for another partner.

Polygynous mating system

In most places, reproduction occurs between January and May, but this may vary geographically. Females in some areas can breed several times a year. After mating, the period of hard gestation of 3 to 6 weeks. Females dig burrows by digging with their front legs and then backing up on them to deposit 10 to 46 eggs. When they finish, bury eggs, fill in the tunnel and trample the earth to hide the location of the nest. Some females drag leaves and twigs over the place. This is the last act of motherhood of a chameleon, and their offspring shall be independent at birth. The young come out by opening a star-shaped opening at the end of the eggshell with the egg tooth., a sharp, calcified bump at the tip of the upper jaw that then comes off. The young weigh between 0,25 and 0,75 g at birth. Juveniles reach reproductive maturity at 6 months of age.

Females and males of the Furcifer pardalis show no more parental investment than creating and depositing eggs. The mother will try to protect the buried eggs from predators by hiding the location of the nest with twigs and leaves., but that is their last participation and the offspring will be independent immediately after hatching.

The females of Panther chameleon invest a lot of time and energy in making sure their young develop fully. The success of chameleon pups depends largely on the adequate amount of vitamin D from the mother during gestation. Ultraviolet light is known to (UV) the sun produces vitamin D in the skin of many vertebrates, like panther chameleons. UV-induced vitamin D serves as a signal in the body to help adjust the calcium-phosphorus balance in the body. Its main function is to stimulate calcium uptake from the intestine and reduce calcium reabsorption from bone. Eggs do not hatch if the mother does not have an adequate amount of vitamin D, either by exposure to UV rays or by food intake, because you can't supply enough vitamin D to your eggs to make it easier for developing embryos to form their skeleton. An important discovery made in recent years was that females seem to be able to perceive their internal vitamin D status., recognize an external source of UV rays and voluntarily expose themselves to that source when they have a vitamin D deficiency. On the other hand, choose to avoid elevated UV sources when they have enough vitamin D.

The Furcifer pardalis they are considered opportunistic hunters because they wait for prey to pass within reach of their long tongues. They feed mainly on terrestrial invertebrates and, very rarely, of plant material. They have the ability to turn and focus their eyes separately to observe two different objects simultaneously.. This allows them to have an arc of vision 360 degrees around their body while remaining completely still and camouflaged. When the prey is in sight, both eyes can focus in the same direction, providing acute stereoscopic vision and depth perception.

Chameleons have very unique languages specialized in capturing their prey.. An extensive study carried out in the year 2000 revealed the complexities of chameleon language functioning. Prey capture was often attributed only to adherence to the lingual pad., but now scientists believe that the speed and shape of the tongue also create a suction device.. The hyoid bone is a piece of cartilage that extends into the mouth from the throat bones. (called hyaline apparatus) and is attached to the long tongue of the chameleon. This is where the tongue rests when not in use. The tongue is thrown from the hyoid bone with the use of ringed muscles on the tongue. This complex structure is made up of cartilage, muscles, nerves, glands and tissues that work together to create an incredibly fast and effective tongue to grab your food.

Although males can exceed five years of age in captivity, most Panther chameleon wilderness only survives one or two years after maturity. Females have a shorter half-life in the wild and in captivity due to the stress of reproduction and oviposition..

The Panther chameleon is one of the most sought-after chameleon species in the international pet trade due to its beautiful coloration and the success of its captive breeding..

Tighter trade quotas have been applied and recent export levels are within a sustainable range. There is currently little risk to this chameleon species, apart from the threat of continued habitat loss and modification.

The local population uses relatively little of the Furcifer pardalis within its range. Chameleons are not used very often in the local kitchen. But, Furcifer pardalis is caught and sold in the international trade of live animals. United States, Europe and Asia are the main participants in this traffic.

The Panther chameleon is kept in a tall terrarium, but does not require as much ventilation as other chameleon species. These animals must be kept individually. The terrarium must have at least 100 x 60 x 150cm. Higher would be better.

The diet of the Panther chameleon consists mainly of insects such as crickets, crickets, grasshopper, flies, fruit flies, cockroaches, rarely wax moth caterpillars… but be careful when feeding him!! These animals gain weight easily and can develop gout. It also, feeds with leaves, colorful flowers, or possibly some fruit.

no lettuce, iceberg lettuce or similar, since its calcium-phosphorus content is unfavorable. And cabbage or spinach should rarely be fed oxalic acid….

Additional vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended.

The temperature in the terrarium of the Panther chameleon should be 22-28°C (locally 35-40°C) during the day and between 16-22°C at night. The humidity should be 60-80% and around the 100% At night.

In the terrarium of a Panther chameleon there must be numerous possibilities to climb, preferably a tree (Ficus benjamina), remained, other plants, cork tubes and bark, which also offer hiding places.

Good lighting and ultraviolet light (30% of UVA rays and 5-10% UVB) are necessary for your well-being, as well as a place to sunbathe. UV radiation is very important and necessary. In the case of females, it is necessary to provide a suitable place for laying eggs or several possibilities.

A spray system can be installed in the terrarium, that sprays water repeatedly (about three to four times a day), or a nebulizer can be installed in the terrarium. For fluid intake, a dropper must be installed that is always cleaned.

The Panther chameleon it is usually more inactive in winter and here you can simulate a kind of hibernation by lighting. Reduce daily lighting time by two to three hours over a period of about two months. Hibernation is very important for animals to regulate body functions and stay healthy. But here you have to observe the animals well to see if they are prepared for rest.. This can be noticed in the behavior when the animal calms down on its own in autumn..

The Panther chameleon puts up to 46 eggs. They are quite aggressive animals, so you have to be careful when mating. Raising young animals individually in small terrariums.

It is essential to provide enough calcium and vitamins in breeding.

To keep the Furcifer pardalis (Panther chameleon) we recommend creating the following conditions. Especially regarding the minimum size, we ask you to keep in mind that optimal conditions can only be achieved in much larger terrariums.

• temperatures during the day: 22° to 28 °C (locally 35-40°C)
• Night temperatures: 16-22°C
• Humidity: 60-80% during the day and approx. 100% At night)
• Minimum size of the terrarium: from 120x60x150cm for an animal (better higher)

The price of a "Panther chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 300 – 500 EUR.

Furcifer pardalis, photographed at Reunion Island Female panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), Le Tampon, Reunion Island - B.navez, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Furcifer pardalis - Panther chameleon - Struggle - Eric Mathieu, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Panther chameleon - Photographer, Alain Fossé - Wikipedia Panther chameleon at Zurich Zoo, Switzerland - Marc Staub, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Furcifer pardalis (male) (photo from Reunion Island) - See page for author, Copyrighted free use, via Wikimedia Commons Berkenhof Tropical Zoo - Donar Reiskoffer, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Ambilobe panther chameleon, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago - Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Panther chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon panthère, Endormi (French).
3. Pantherchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão-pantera (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón pantera", Endormi de La Reunión, Lendormi, Zendormi (español).

The species is endemic to Tanzania.

The Fischer's chameleon (Kinyongia fischeri) split into several species 2008. Most of them are potentially or critically endangered. They are medium-sized chameleons that are characterized by having two nasal horns., and which are popular with private carers, especially in the United States, but rarely seen in European zoos. Usually, not a real Fischer's chameleon, but representatives of other species of the complex Kinyongia fischeri.

The Fischer's chameleon reaches a total length of 26 – 33,5 cm., the females being much smaller than the males. The queue occupies between 15 and 20 cm.. The most prominent feature is the strongly laterally compressed and warty snout processes., that can measure up to 20 mm in males. In females they reach 8 mm is missing completely. A helmet is only vaguely present. The first third of the back bears a crest formed by a loose row of spiny scales..

The Fischer's chameleon It inhabits the edges of humid mountain forests and, possibly, in neighboring plantations and gardens, at an altitude of 800-1.700 m, with an annual rainfall of 800-2.000 mm, and with a dry season of 2-3 months.

The Fischer's chameleon prefers to eat beetles and grasshoppers, but also takes other invertebrates and small vertebrates. Mating females are light green with a red head.. 47-55 days after mating, the female lays between 10 and 21 eggs in a hole 15-20 depth cm. The young grow rapidly and can reach sexual maturity at 6 months. The most important predator of the fishing chameleon is the hummingbird (Dispholidus typus).

State of conservation ⓘ
Near Threatened ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The Fischer's chameleon (Kinyongia fischeri) is listed as potentially threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2014 because the area of ​​the species is small and the habitat is fragmented. The habitat is gradually disappearing due to conversion of forests to farmland, logging and underuse of crops. The same goes for the Kinyongia boehmei, Kinyongia tavetana, Kinyongia matschiei, Kinyongia multituberculata and Kinyongia vosseleri, are classified as critically endangered. Kinyongia uluguruensis It is not considered in danger of extinction.

International trade is regulated by CITES Appendix II.

Among 2001 and 2015, Tanzania exported an annual average of about 3.700 animals. The main buyers were the United States, with a 53%, Germany, with a 13% (a few 470 animals per year) and japan, with a 10%. But, It was rarely the Kinyongia fischeri Properly said, but mainly from Kinyongia multituberculata, Kinyongia matschiei, Kinyongia vosseleri and possibly Kinyongia tavetana and Kinyongia boehmei. Exports of hatchlings from Europe and North America are insignificant

The Fischer's chameleon should normally be kept alone. To support an adult individual, A well-ventilated and humid terrarium is recommended. 4 x 3 x 6 times (length x widht x hight) the length of the head and torso, that is to say, a few 60 x 45 x 90 cm for a large male. If they stay in pairs, you have to add a 20% of the ground surface.

The terrarium should be equipped with spotlights and UV lamps and have plenty of climbing branches and a water trough. It is recommended to plant the back and side walls with, for example, Ficus benjamina. A mixture of sand and peat is suitable as a substrate that should always be kept slightly moist..

The substrate for the terrarium Fischer's chameleon should be loose and absorbent. These may include, a mixture of sand and peat is suitable. If you have a female, it is important that the substrate is filled to a sufficient height. In this case, the substrate must have at least 20 centimeters high so that the chameleon can bury its eggs.

Air temperature should vary between 24-28°C during the day, locally up to more than 30°C and drop about 10°C at night. Relative humidity should be 50-70% during the day, with slightly higher night values.

If a «Fischer's chameleon» in a pet store or elsewhere, it is not uncommon for it to be another species of two-horned chameleon in the same genus. The gender Kinyongia includes now 18 species; Kinyongia fischeri It is one of the species that is least kept in captivity.. Often an apparent Fischer's chameleon hides close relatives like Kinyongia multituberculata, Kinyongia matschiei or Kinyongia boehmei.

The prices of Fischer's chameleon are usually correspondingly high due to this rarity. It is difficult to give a general amount because it depends on the seller, but you probably won't get a Fischer's chameleon for less than 100 EUR.

The fact that the real Fischer's chameleon is rarely offered is also due to its comparatively small area of ​​origin.

1. Fischer's chameleon, Fischer’s two-horned chameleon, Nguru blade-horned chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon nain de Fischer (French).
3. Fischer's Zweihornchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão de Fischer (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de Fischer" (español).

The Malagasy giant chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti) is endemic to Madagascar, where is the most widespread chameleon species. It has been recorded in all parts of the island at a variety of dry and wet sites at all elevations.. A localized population introduced into Kenya is probably extinct.

Considered the longest chameleon in the world (although exceptionally longer adults such as the Parson's chameleon – Calumma parsonii). This species reaches lengths close to 70 cm., and is also the second heaviest member of the family (after the Parson's chameleon). But, many specimens found are likely to be adults or smaller subadults. The helmet is high, with a pronounced parietal crest. Rostral ridges are present and extend to the tip of the muzzle, but do not connect. A lateral crest is present but poorly developed.

The most important diagnostic feature is the Crest Ridge, which extends to the vent and consists of 45 or more short, triangular spines with a regular space between them. Ventral and gular ridges are present, but they are not connected to each other.

The coloration in both sexes is usually gray or brown, although females are usually more showy and may show a red coloration on the head and limbs. But, females may be variable with a yellow or mottled coloration, and in some cases can be largely green. The pattern may include a row of four large circles of dark edges along the flanks., although a white line is absent in contrast to the Carpet chameleon (Furcifer Lateralis). There are often indistinct dark vertical bands on the flanks. The absence of a white stripe on the central part of the body is considered diagnostic, but see the warning in Taxonomy below.

The Malagasy giant chameleon belongs to a species complex consisting of three recognized species; However, the variation between populations and the wide distribution of both the Malagasy giant chameleon as of the Warty chameleon (Furcifer verrucosus) suggest that both may represent multiple cryptic species. In a population found by the author during fieldwork, animals assigned to Furcifer oustaleti (a diagnosis subsequently supported by Frank Glaw) consistently showed a small size, unusual coloration and pattern; Unlike in the F. oustaleti Typical, sometimes there was a white stripe in the central part. Since these animals coexist with the F. oustaleti Typical, it is not clear whether they represent a distinct population or species, or if this coloration and pattern is a constant feature of the subadults of this population.

In Madagascar, the Malagasy giant chameleon It is distributed in the coastal lowlands. It is found throughout the island, but its appearance in the eastern part of Madagascar is linked to relatively high temperatures. Being a species well adapted to the warm climate of the savannah, benefits from human changes to the landscape (deforestation). It is said that there is an abandoned population in Kenya (ngong forest, near Nairobi) and that a breeding population also exists in South Florida.

The Oustalet’s chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti), also known as Malagasy giant chameleon, leads a mainly sedentary life. Moves very slowly, or does not move at all, for long periods of time, allowing you to conserve energy and stay out of sight of predators, and also be himself a predator. When an insect passes, an unsuspecting lizard or small bird, his very long sucker-tipped tongue is launched to catch him. Language, which is loaded with springs and shoots forward like an arrow bow, can extend to almost twice the length of the entire chameleon.

Until recently chameleons were thought to be totally carnivorous.. Recently, Takahashi (2008) reported the first confirmed case of herbivory in the Furcifer oustaleti, who was observed to select and consume fruits from the bushes Grangeria porosa, Chassalia princei and Malleastrum gracile.

The maximum and average sizes of the layings are unknown, but it is known that females can put at least 61 eggs in a single laying, with a combined weight of 56 g. This registration is from February, but no other information is available on the length of the breeding season.

Gestation lasts a few 40 days and animals reach sexual maturity one year after hatching.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

Apart from a small number legally exported as pets, the Malagasy giant chameleon is endemic to Madagascar, where it enjoys a stable population in various habitat types.

They are also found in a number of protected national parks across the country., but they are abundant enough across the country to earn the conservation status of «least concern«.

Chameleons are usually considered easily excitable animals. It is notorious that, in some particularly territorial species, the constant vision of a congener (for example, when two animals can be seen in adjacent terrariums) can lead to stress-related kidney failure and, Therefore, death! But, the Malagasy giant chameleon is a comparatively peaceful and quiet representative of the chameleon clan. Males do not get along with each other, and pregnant females are strictly solitary. But in terrariums large enough (a greenhouse is, of course, more suitable in view of the size of animals), these chameleons can be kept in pairs. The Malagasy giant chameleon it also shows this coldness towards humans.. Even if they are carefully caught in the hand, do not get too excited. The threatening mouth opening, that we know of many other chameleons, it only occurs with the Malagasy giant chameleon if you are provoked a lot. Field researchers say you can normally put a Malagasy giant chameleon on the shoulder; will stay there quietly for hours.

Since the Malagasy giant chameleon is comparatively common, the local population likes to take advantage of the voracity of these chameleons and put them in their gardens, where they eat unwanted animals up to the size of a mouse and thus keep them at bay.

To the Malagasy giant chameleon all the usual principles of chameleon care apply to you. This includes the need for relatively large feeding., What, However, is easy to satisfy for this species, since animals will eat all the usual food bugs, like crickets, domestic crickets, grasshoppers and zofas, as well as young nest mice; in the nature, small birds and reptiles are also eaten.

All insects that serve as food should always be sprinkled with one of the vitamin lime powders available on the market.

The need to drink water, which is also high, makes the care of chameleons always time-consuming, since most animals do not easily learn to drink from bowls. So, chameleons must be given to drink at least every other day with a pipette. But, there are some tricks to avoid it. Many chameleon caregivers use drip drinkers, of which a drop of water drips into a collection container placed underneath at intervals of 1-2 seconds. Chameleons recognize this simulated "rainwater" and drink. The most natural way to give chameleons a drink is by spraying the water that animals collect from the leaves of plants., etc. But this is also labor-intensive and can cause the terrarium to get too wet.. An elegant way is to install an artificial waterfall with a small aquarium pump. But, these systems are somewhat prone to failure and the pumps always break down – as in Murphy's Law- when you least need it, for example, during the holidays. A very clever way to make water move in the drinker and, therefore, that chameleons recognize it, is to aerate the container with an aquarium air pump available on the market. Simply hang the air hose in the bucket and adjust the air supply so that about two air bubbles per second come out of the hose.. A pleasant side effect of this method of watering is that it simultaneously increases the humidity of the terrarium, which should also be around the 70% of relative humidity for the Malagasy giant chameleon during the day; At night, humidity can rise up to 100%.

Due to their natural habits, the Malagasy giant chameleon can be classified as one of the easiest chameleon species to care for, as it does not react immediately with discomfort and subsequent illnesses if it gets too hot in the terrarium.

Daytime temperatures should range between 22 and 28°C, and under the spot they can rise up to 45°C. But, you always have to make sure that the animals can go to a relatively cool and well-ventilated place in the terrarium..

The female puts up 61 eggs after a gestation period of about six weeks. Eggs take between 210 and 280 days to hatch at an incubation temperature of about 28°C. Many breeders use vermiculite as a breeding substrate. Juveniles grow very quickly and reach sexual maturity at one year of age. In general, care and breeding are similar to those known Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis).

Although they are the largest chameleons, The "Malagasy giant chameleon" not necessarily one of the most expensive. You can find one in specialized stores for prices ranging from 150 – 300 EUR.

1. Malagasy giant chameleon, Oustalet’s chameleon, Malagasy giant chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon géant de Madagascar, Caméléon d’Oustalet (French).
3. Riesenchamäleon, Madagaskar-Riesenchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão malgaxe gigante, Camaleão do Oustalet (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón gigante de Madagascar", Camaleón de Oustalet (español).