Cuban False Chameleon Care Guide

LIFE SPAN

3-6 years 

AVERAGE SIZE

6-8 inches

NORMAL BEHAVIOR & INTERACTION

Cuban False Chameleons are generally inactive, shy and docile lizards that can be easily handled. Never keep two adult males together, since they will invariably fight.

CAGE TEMPERATURE

Cool Side: 76° F

Basking Temps: 90-95°F

HUMIDITY

70-80% humidity levels

FEEDING

Cuban False Chameleons are insectivores, which means they eat insects. Offering a wide variety of prey items such as gut loaded crickets, dubia roaches and wax worms is essential for a complete diet. Cuban False Chameleons also benefit from eating snails one to two times a week as this would make up a large portion of their diet in the wild.

SUPPLEMENTS

Dust food with calcium and vitamin supplements. As a rule, a growing juvenile’s food should be dusted more often than adult food.

WATER

A large bowl of fresh chlorine-free water must always be available. Cuban False Chameleons don’t seem to recognize standing water as water, so the water source must be moving. Most will drink their water from water droplets on leaves. A daily misting or two with chlorine free water will also be appreciated. Drinking sources can also be obtained by a dripper.

ENCLOSURE SIZE

The Cuban False Chameleon is an arboreal species that requires a vertical space opposed to a horizontal. A screen habitat is ideal for your Cuban False Chameleon to allow proper ventilation. A minimum of a 29 gallon tank/enclosure is necessary for one or two lizards. 

SUBSTRATE

We recommend a loose coconut fiber, sphagnum moss or forest floor mulch substrate. 

BRANCHES & PLANTS

Cuban False Chameleons must be provided with plenty of climbing branches, and they prefer small twig-like perches and vines to hide on. Provide enough branches to offer sleeping spots, basking spots and perches. Live plants can help increase the humidity in your chameleon enclosure and also offer cover for hiding. 

UVB LIGHT

Cuban False Chameleons MUST be exposed to UVB lighting 8-12 hours a day. This exposure is CRITICAL in allowing the animal to synthesize vitamin D3 and absorb calcium.

DAY/NIGHT CYCLES & HEATING

All reptiles must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure. Cuban False Chameleons need 8-12 hours of daytime and 8-12 hours of nighttime.

HABITAT MAINTENANCE

Daily maintenance should consist of spot cleaning by removing soiled substrate, cleaning water bowl thoroughly and wiping glass clean. The entire tank should be cleaned thoroughly at least once every month.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

• Glass or screen terrarium (min 29 Gal)
• Large dome & appropriately sized heat light
• Fluorescent UVB Bulb & housing
• Temperature/humidity gauge
• Coco fiber, sphagnum moss or forest floor mulch bedding
• Multiple live or artificial plants, small branches, wood perches & vines (reptile-safe)
• Water dripper
• Live insects for food
• Calcium & vitamin supplements
• Water dechlorinate drops

Vet Approved

Our Care Guides are designed to assist in general knowledge and requirements for the care of your new family member. We strongly encourage further research and consultation with your veterinarian on the complete and proper care of any new pet.

For more information visit petsuppliesplus.com, cdc.gov/healthypets or contact your veterinarian.

Always wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning its habitat, and remember that any pet can scratch, bite or transmit disease to humans.

For pregnant women, persons with compromised immune systems, or if you have children under the age of 5, we strongly recommend contacting your physician prior to purchasing or caring for a new pet.

Please see the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/healthypets for more information.