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The Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) is native to the island of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean, and its range covers much of the island.

Both males and females of the Carpet chameleon reach a maximum length of between 17 and 25 cm.. Males are generally green with a white midline and a series of dark bands extending from behind the head to the end of the tail.. Females usually have a heavier body and are more colorful (especially when pregnant), with dark bands and white or yellowish lateral ocelli and a poorly defined orange half-lateral stripe on a brownish background. The throat and lips of both sexes are usually scratched. These chameleons can change color and intensity depending on mood and certain environmental factors..

The Carpet chameleon is strictly arboreal, and especially likes small trees and shrubs. It is usually found at an altitude of between 600 and 1200 m, usually in areas of moderate shade and high humidity, with access to direct sunlight. This species has also infiltrated the cities of Madagascar, and performs quite well in the private gardens and shrubs of the parks.

This species, like most chameleons, is strictly diurnal. Usually, they spend the first part of the day warming their bodies by adopting a very dark coloration and exposing as much surface area as possible to sunlight.. once the desired body temperature has been reached, begin to hunt prey, activity that usually lasts the rest of the daylight hours.

• Males are very territorial and adopt a series of very elaborate postures., color changes and whistles to try to scare away rival males. They also scare away females that are not in a position to reproduce..
• The Carpet chameleon is a species that generally follows the same routine every day, to the point of sleeping on the same branch every night.

The Carpet chameleon matures in a very short period of time, and is usually able to reproduce by three months of age. Males are usually very territorial and usually try to attract females to their territory to mate.. Females deposit the clutches of eggs in a depression that they dig into the ground. Typical clutch size ranges from 8 and 23 eggs, and up to three clutches can be laid in a year. Incubation requires about six months at a temperature close to 24°C .

The Carpet chameleon is almost entirely insectivorous, and prefers insects that normally reside in trees or shrubs. Among them are most flies, grasshoppers and crickets, as well as various insect larvae. It is also known that adult specimens consume very small lizards and even small newborn rodents (in captivity). This species hunts its food with the typical chameleon style of slowly crawling through the branches of trees or shrubs., using their excellent eyesight to detect insects. When you select the desired prey, the Carpet chameleon gets as close as possible to its prey and catches it by quickly spreading its tongue (which may be equal to the length of the lizard), capturing the insect on the sticky tip and then quickly retracting its tongue

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

The Carpet chameleon is a relatively popular species in the pet trade, and most of the individuals available today are bred in captivity.

Without a doubt, chameleons help control insect populations in areas where they are common.

Currently, the Carpet chameleon is found quite well in its native habitat, and even seems to benefit from some degree of habitat alteration. It has proven to be quite versatile when moving to urban areas and establishing populations there..

The Carpet chameleon, formerly known as Chamaeleo lateralis, is a beautiful species in high demand for the pet trade. Wild-caught specimens that enter the pet trade are often in poor health when they arrive at retail markets., and mortality has been very high. Captive-bred pups are easier to keep alive. These animals seem to have a relatively short lifespan even under natural conditions., and few Furcifer lateralis live more than 3 years

Terrarium "Carpet chameleon" Furcifer lateralis Watch this video on YouTube.

The Carpet chameleon is reserved and shy, so it's not the kind that hangs on your shoulder. Once they are out of their habitat, can become stressed very quickly, which can cause a wide range of problems for your overall health.

These creatures prefer to be on a branch or trunk sunbathing in their enclosure. They move quietly from branch to branch, no need for space to climb. They like to stay out of sight, hiding under branches and inside hiding places.

How chameleons spend their lives in trees, you will need a terrarium taller than wide. You'll need a space that measures at least 45 x 45 x 90 centimeters for an adult—but more is always better.

The terrarium should be lined with gravel or clay granules for optimal drainage.

Like many other cold-blooded creatures, there must be several temperatures available in the enclosure. They have to be able to regulate their body accordingly..

• Sun area: 32º – 35º
• Terrarium top: 26º – 29º
• Bottom of the terrarium: 21º – 24º

Chameleons need leafy, healthy plants within their enclosure to climb and shade..

Some common plants for chameleons are:

Weeping fig tree (Ficus Benjamina)

Manioc

Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis)

Hibiscus

Jade plant (Crassula ovata)

Before buying, you have to keep in mind that you will also be responsible for keeping your plants healthy, as well as your chameleon.

Yet Carpet chameleon loves hot and humid weather. Your enclosure must maintain humidity levels between the 50% and the 60% continuously. You have to put a hydrometer in your terrarium to control the levels.

Chameleons need lighting that mimics natural light and night cycles. They benefit considerably from double fluorescent lamps.

Yet Carpet chameleon loves all kinds of tasty insects.

Among the appropriate dietary options are:

Crickets

Mealworms

Cockroaches

Fruit flies

Beetles of beans

Juveniles should eat one serving of insects a day, as much as they can in one sitting. Normally, this supposes a total of some 12 insects a day.

Adults should eat every other day, and eat much less, approximately 6 insects per intake.

The Carpet chameleon can be a very picky animal and difficult to maintain. They are ultrasensitive to stress and the environmental environment. So, one of the main things you need to do is make sure your chameleon feels as comfortable as possible..

Before you take your Carpet chameleon at home, you have to find an exotic veterinarian in your area. You can't take a reptile to traditional veterinarians, since they do not have the necessary specialization to serve them efficiently.

These chameleons are susceptible to various diseases and problems.

These are the most common problems:

Stress

Upper respiratory infections

Metabolic bone disease

Dehydration

Egg retention

Stomatitis

Edema

Gout

If you notice any peculiar behavior or physical abnormalities, do not hesitate to take him to the veterinarian.

Reproduction of the "Carpet chameleon" Furcifer lateralis (Chameleon Carpet) with EGGS🥚😱 Watch this video on YouTube.

If you have no experience, you may want to avoid breeding a Carpet chameleon until you've had a few. Since chameleons are so difficult to care for, their breeding can carry even more risks.

But if you are familiar with the species, can try to breed.

A good recommendation is to wait for the female to lay her first eggs before mating.. After a few weeks, you can reintroduce the female with the male. The mating of a Carpet chameleon can last up to an hour, so when it docks, be patient and don't bother.

Sperm retention is common, which means that one breeding session can fertilize several subsequent clutches. After the females put their first clutch between the 8 and 12 months, remain gravid throughout their lives.

They can give birth up to 30 offspring at the same time after a gestation of 4 to 6 months.

The price of a Carpet chameleon may vary depending on several factors. But, the average cost ranges between 100 and 500 EUR. Sometimes, you can get lucky and find a person who wants to give their chameleon to a good home for free.

Keep in mind that you also need plenty of supplies to get started.. Don't skip the basics, as these are fragile creatures that need proper care.

For installation, including enclosures, the substrate, decoration, vegetation and diet, you can spend between 300 and 800 EUR.

Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis) Care Watch this video on YouTube.	Furcifer lateralis Watch this video on YouTube.

1. Carpet chameleon, White-lined chameleon, Jewelled Chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon à bandes latérale, Caméléon-joyau (French).
3. Teppichchamäleon (German).
4. Camaleão do tapete, Camaleão de linha branca (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de alfombra", Camaleón de líneas blancas (español).

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The Von Höhnel's chameleon (Trioceros hoehnelii) found mainly in Kenya, but is represented by a wide range of local variations. The form found on Mount Elgon, in Uganda, is called Trioceros hoehnelii «altaeelgonis«. Whether there are subspecies within this species is disputed.. But, regardless of official status, the breeder and caretaker community has adopted the term "altaeelgonis» for varieties from Uganda.

The Von Höhnel's chameleon has a very pronounced helmet, which is much more marked in males than in females. Also noteworthy is a small nasal process, which is also higher in males. There are a large number of local and location variations. Especially the helmet and the nasal process are quite different. The species has a coarsely spiny dorsal crest that extends the entire length of the body and tapers towards the end of the tail.. The throat and ventral crest are formed by large spiny scales.. Both sides of the body usually have 2 greatly enlarged plate-like scale rows. Scale and body coloration are highly variable, consisting mainly of shades of brown and green with partially light transverse bands.. There are reddish or brown animals, as well as a well-known color form with a yellow head and green body.

Male hemipenis pouches are clearly developed by the time they reach sexual maturity. Females show a much more homogeneous scaling, secondary sexual characteristics are less pronounced in them. Males grow to a maximum length of 25 centimeters, females reach a maximum length of 20 centimeters. The life expectancy is of 2 to 4 years.

The Von Höhnel's chameleon is a high-altitude species that ascends to more than 3.000 m on Mount Elgon. They have developed the ability to regulate their body temperature through sunlight to take into account low ambient temperatures.

The Von Höhnel's chameleon shows very interesting defensive behavior in the wild. The greatest danger for this species of chameleon is the snakes that live in the trees, as the green mamba. If the chameleon sees a snake, immediately turns deep black, he rolls up his body and drops to the ground, where the snake does not usually follow. Next, the animal remains motionless on the ground until the danger has passed.

State of conservation ⓘ
Minor Concern ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

This species has a wide distribution and seems to have the ability to adapt to a degradation of its natural habitat., since it also occurs in agricultural and semi-urban areas. It has therefore been classified as a "species of least concern" by the UICN.How is it being captured for the wildlife trade?,The species has been included in Appendix II of CITES to limit its effects.

"The Ugandan Variation of the Trioceros hoehnelii rarely seen, since Africa's exports come from Kenya, having different varieties of color. There are several populations at different heights, each with a different color scheme.

Care is very similar to Montane side-striped chameleon (Trioceros ellioti). Thrives in a well planted terrarium. They have been kept in groups from one male to multiple females, but the females can have two litters a year and, therefore, are almost always at some stage of pregnancy and must be separated. So, despite reports that they are not aggressive, the saying is still valid: One chameleon per cage and not to worry.

They seem to be enjoying their morning sunbath. Taking into account the drastic drop in nighttime temperature in your home environment, they are experts in absorbing all the sun's rays they can. And the decrease in night temperature is important for health. Special care must be taken with the young and the heat.

Hydration is through a standard chameleon protocol of around three hours of night misting in the early morning with 15 minutes of fogging in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon.

Breeding is not difficult. The gestation is 4 to 6 months. Young females can produce 6 offspring while a mature female can produce 20. They can have two litters of pups a year and become receptive again 40-50 days after delivery. The young are sexually mature after one year..

the bigger, best!. Minimum (45 x 45 x 90 cm.).
Full or hybrid mesh (combination of mesh and glass or panel).
UVB source (inside or outside).
natural light source (inside or outside).
Heat source (exterior).
Nebulizer at night.
Manual fogging in the morning and at night.
full mesh.
Small fans when using a hybrid cage and/or the air is stagnant.
live plants (not fake)
natural branches (no fake vines, no strings, or bleached wood).
No substrate or bioactives

In captivity, animals eat crickets, domestic crickets, all kinds of flying insects and small cockroaches. It also, get vitamins and minerals (pollinating insects). Animals can cover their water needs by lapping up the sprayed water.

The Helmeted Chameleon is viviparous in the egg., and there is also fertilization by storage; can get pregnant again right away. In courtship, the male approaches the female, nodding and flattening to one side. When the female is ready to mate, he remains seated and mating occurs, this process can be repeated for several days. Gravid females repel males willing to mate.. If the stress is too great for a pregnant female, must be separated. During pregnancy, females have a greater need to drink and feed. After a gestation period of 150 to 180 days, females give birth between 4 and 22 pups. Before this, the female becomes restless and egg laying takes place in the early morning hours, preferably on thick bark or rough branches. The young are released from the egg case and are immediately independent.. Sexual maturity is reached around 8 months. But, should not be mated before one year.

The price of a "Von Höhnel's chameleon" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 50 – 150 EUR.

MOUNTAIN CHAMELEONS 🦎 Trioceros hoehnelii ⛰ Care, information... Watch this video on YouTube.	George the Trioceros hoehnelii Chameleon Watch this video on YouTube.

1. Von Höhnel's chameleon, Helmeted chameleon, High-casqued chameleon, Kenyan high-casqued chameleon (English).
2. Caméléon à casque élevé (French).
3. Helmchamäleon (German).
4. Chamaeleo hoehnelii (Portuguese).
5. "Camaleón de casco" (español).

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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.

TRIOCEROS JACKSONII XANTHOLOPHUS - Jackson's Chameleon Watch this video on YouTube.	A Chameleon Comes Over to Visit | Trioceros jacksonii | Color Video Watch this video on YouTube.

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).

Content

The Chameleons belong to reptiles (crawlers) and they look like lizards: Have an elongated body, four legs and a long tail.

The smallest species only measure three and a half centimeters, the largest reach a meter.

Attention is drawn to the crest of the back and the protrusion in the form of a head helmet.

Some even have small horns in their nose..

His eyes are unmistakable: they are big, protrude from the head like small balls and can move independently in different directions. With them, some species can see clearly up to a kilometer away.

As the top layer of scaly skin is hard, can't grow. So, chameleons have to shed their skin regularly. To make it easier to shed your old skin, animals are often rubbed against branches or stones.

The Chameleons are perfectly adapted to living in trees.

They can grip well even in windy conditions because their hands and feet have been transformed into real tweezers.:

The toes and fingers are fused two by two and three by three.

The bunch with all three toes or fingers points inward, the two points outward.

The tail also serves to hold: can wrap the branches and additionally secure the animal.

That is why it is also especially stable and cannot break and grow back as in other lizards..

Males and females are distinguished by the heel spur: it is a process on the back of the leg that only males have.

One of Madagascar's best-known chameleons, for example, is the Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis).

Males come to measure between 40 and 52 centimeters, the females up 30 centimeters.

Depending on the area of origin, have very different colors.

Males are green to turquoise in color and have light stripes, sometimes red, on the sides of the body. Females are usually more discreet.

Although the Panther chameleon originally found only in Madagascar, it was also introduced by man to the islands of Mauritius and Reunion, located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

The Chameleons they are only found in the so-called Old World, that is to say, in Africa, Southern Europe and South and Southwest Asia.

Chameleons are arboreal: they stay mainly in the branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes also in the low weeds.

Species that live in regions where there are few plants are adapted to living in the soil.

There are some 70 chameleon species. On the island of Madagascar, off the coast of southeast Africa, lives a particularly large number of different species.

In a terrarium, chameleons live four to five years. It is not known how many years they live in the wild.

The Chameleons they feed mainly on insects.

His favorite food is grasshoppers, but also other insects and small lizards.

in the terrarium, feed them with insects, meal worms, caterpillars and earthworms. Larger chameleons even eat young mice.

Wild chameleons get water by licking leaf spray in the morning.

One of the most common chameleons in terrariums is the Chameleon of Yemen. It comes from a high valley (until 2.000 m) from Yemen, in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, where it lives in shrubs and trees.

The Chameleon from Yemen come to measure some 60 centimeters, females only a little more than 40 centimeters. But, animals kept in terrariums remain smaller.

The Panther chameleon it is also usually held in terrariums. Comes from the tropical island of Madagascar, where there are dry seasons every year. Thus, this species tolerates better than others fluctuations in temperature and humidity in the terrarium.

But like the Chameleons they are quite demanding solitaires, they are not animals suitable for pampering. It's best to keep them alone.

Males don't get along with each other at all, rather you can put two females together in a very large terrarium.

The Chameleons need a lot of space. The terrarium must be one meter long, one meter wide, at least 50 centimeters deep and, above all, high altitude, as chameleons like to climb.

The enclosure should be provided with many branches and plants. Normal sand is suitable as soil.

The Chameleons need heat: the temperature must be 25 at 32° C, and at night of 15 at 18° C. A special lamp in the terrarium provides the necessary heat.

Water should be sprayed into the terrarium once a day to keep the humidity high enough.

The Chameleons they should only be fed every two or four days. Receive crickets, flies, grasshoppers and occasional mealworms. Before feeding them, insects are sprinkled with a mixture of vitamins and minerals.

To drink, chameleons lick plant water or give it to them on a shallow plate.

The Chameleons they are solitary animals and live in trees because there they can camouflage themselves especially well. But, predators, such as snakes or birds of prey, they cannot be chased away by the play of colors. And chameleons can't run away quickly either.. Avoid attacks by camouflaging themselves: with its spasmodic gait, imitate leaves that move back and forth in the wind. This makes animals appear much clumsier than they are.: Chameleons make excellent climbers. They roll up their long prehensile tail, that is normally coiled into your body, around the branches; this gives them additional support.

With your climbing toes, cling to branches like tweezers. But, these lizards fall off the tree from time to time, but they do it on purpose: if an enemy gets too close, the dead are made and dropped. No harm is done in the process: inflate their huge lungs and thus cushion the fall, as if they had tied a thick pillow.

The Chameleons they are also quarrelsome loners in the mating season. This occurs when several males fight fiercely for a female.; but males and females also quarrel with each other, sometimes even during mating.

The females of chameleon put between 30 and 40 eggs. They have a soft, apergaminated shell and bury themselves in the hot earth.

After a few months – this varies by species and habitat- the young hatch.

They are immediately independent and hunt small insects. Some species of chameleons give birth to live young: here the eggs develop in the womb of the female of the chameleon.

To prevent too many from living Chameleons in the same area, the young quickly go out on their own and search for their own territory.

The young do not yet have a color as defined as that of their parents, but when they turn one they are already adults and can have their own offspring.

Chameleons usually sit quietly on a branch and be on the lookout for their prey.. If an insect gets close enough, catches him in an instant with his long tongue.

It is thickened like a club at the end and has two leaf-shaped lobes with which the prey is grasped..

This so-called tongue shot is so fast that it is almost invisible..

When the Chameleons males are "in love", are more colorful. Try to impress the ladies with this colorful show. In general, change color depending on your mood, and that in a few minutes. It's as if animals talk to each other in this way..

If they are afraid, for example during a fight over a female, many species change to black. This points to the rival: My opponent feels inferior and prefers not to fight. If, on the other hand, lizards are eager to attack, turn red. This then means something like: "Get lost or you'll get it!!». It also, animals change their skin tone based on temperature and time of day.

In the morning, adopt darker shades to warm up, because dark colors absorb more light and skin, Therefore, absorbs more heat. After a long, hot day, animals are rinsed to cool off.

For a long time it was a mystery how the Chameleons change color so quickly. Scientists discovered it just a few months ago: Tiny blocks of glass in the skin of lizards are responsible for the chromatic frenzy. When light hits these blocks, reflect it in color.

The fact that the color changes is due to the fact that the distances between the crystals change according to the mood of the chameleon. Yes a Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis), is relaxed, for example, the blocks are close together and glow blue. When the animal is excited, separate and glow red.