Carpet Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

Carpet Chameleon Furcifer lateralis
Name	Carpet Chameleon
Name Lat.	Furcifer lateralis
Family	Chameleons
Family lat.	Chamaeleonidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Madagascar
Habitat	Humid savanna
Diet	Insects
Humidity	60-90 %
Behavior	Aggressive
Keeping	Individual
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Humid terrarium
Life Span	3-5 years
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EU Annex B
Metric Units
Size	20-28 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Temperature Local	33-35 °C
Housing Size	80 x 50 x 80 cm
US Units
Size	8"-11"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Temperature Local	91-95 °F
Housing Size	30" x 20" x 30"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal carpet chameleons are widespread in Madagascar, except in the north at altitudes from 120 m to 2,000 m. They live in shrubs and treetops of different habitats such as wet savannas and dry forests as well as in gardens and cultivated land.

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals:

One animal

4KRL x 2,5KRL x 4KRL (L x W x H)

Head-torso length (KRL) is measured on the largest animal. For pair keeping, increase the floor space by 20%. A terrarium of e.g. L 80 x W 50 x H 80 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You need a well ventilated terrarium, structured with branched climbing branches as well as robust (also artificial) plants as a screen, structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a substrate of sand-peat mixture or terrarium humus (15 cm deep) and a small water container or better a dripper. A larger part of the substrate should always be kept slightly moist. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better

Temp. day: 25-28 °C

Temp. night: 20-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 60-90 %

Lighting duration must be 10-14 hrs depending on the season. They need a high light intensity. Special lamps with high UV-A and UV-B content are ideal, because daily UV irradiation is essential.

Diet

The food supply consists of live insects, such as crickets, smaller grasshoppers, cockroaches and crickets. Often the changeover to commercially available ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles is successful. It may be necessary to offer the food with tweezers for habituation. Wax moths should only be fed rarely and in small amounts to adults because of their high fat content. It is important to add minerals and vitamins regularly (dusting the food). Since water is almost only absorbed in drop form from leaves or furnishings, a dropper is recommended; alternatively, they can be watered daily from a pipette

A varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

The male has a thickened tail root with a clearly visible hemipenis pouch.

The female buries her eggs (up to 20 pieces) in the substrate, which must accordingly consist of a substrate suitable for burrowing. The incubation period is 180-200 days at a temperature of 25-28 °C. Small insects such as fruit flies and micro crickets are suitable as initial food for the young

The life expectancy can be 3-5 years.

Species protection

The animal population must be reported to the competent authority in writing immediately after the start of keeping. Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.

Protection of species: WA Appendix II; EU Appendix B. The proof of purchase is the required proof of origin for the animal. Please keep it safe!

Important

All commercially available animals are offspring, which are offered in many color variations

They need 33-35 °C warm sunny places (e.g. climbing branches). For the resting phase, the lighting duration is reduced by 2-3 hours and the temperature is lowered by 4-6 °C for approx. two months

With fruit and honey water as food for the feeders, their quality can be upgraded.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Christian Sänger; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag; BMELV Deutschland (1997): Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF