Montane Side-striped Chameleon (Trioceros ellioti)

Montane Side-striped Chameleon Trioceros ellioti
Name	Montane Side-striped Chameleon
Name Lat.	Trioceros ellioti
Family	Chameleons
Family lat.	Chamaeleonidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Eastern Africa
Habitat	Forest edges, savanna
Diet	Insects
Humidity	60-70 % / 85-95 %
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Individual, pair
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Ovoviviparous
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Life Span	2-4 years
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EU Annex B
Metric Units
Size	15-22 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Temperature Local	30-35 °C
Housing Size	50 x 50 x 80 cm
US Units
Size	6"-9"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Temperature Local	86-95 °F
Housing Size	20" x 20" x 30"

Distribution and habitat

The diurnal Elliot's chameleon lives on forest edges and in bush and shrub savannahs in East Africa around Lake Victoria. There they live at altitudes of 600 to 3,000 m and as cultural successors also in agricultural areas and gardens.

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%. Ideal is a terrarium of e.g. L 50 x W 50 x H 80 cm for 1 animal, 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 plants with dense foliage (hiding and shade places), structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a substrate of soil-peat mixture and a small water container or a drip trough. A large portion of the substrate should always be kept slightly moist. At least once a day, preferably in the evening, the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), a rain or mist system is ideal. At night the humidity should be above 90%.

Temp. day: 25-28 °C

Temp. night: 15-18 °C

Temp. local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 60-70

The lighting duration must be 10-14 hrs. depending on the season. They need high light intensity and daily UV irradiation as well as sunny places with radiant heat.

Diet

The food supply consists of live insects, such as crickets, smaller grasshoppers, cockroaches and crickets. Sometimes the switch to commercial ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles, which must be offered with tweezers, is successful. Wax moths should be fed infrequently and in very small amounts because of their large fat content. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins (dusting the food) is important. 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 regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

The slightly smaller male has a thicker tail root with a clearly visible hemipenis pouch and is more colorful. The female incubates her eggs (2-14 pieces) in the abdominal cavity (ovoviviparous). After 100-160 days of gestation, she randomly staples the young, which are surrounded by a sticky cover, into the branches. Fruit flies and micro crickets are suitable as initial food.

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

It is important to lower the temperature at night.

Outdoor keeping in summer, in an aviary suitable for the species, is beneficial for the well-being of the animals due to the temperatures prevailing in Central Europe. For the resting phase, the lighting duration is reduced by 2-3 hours for approx. two months and the daytime temperature is lowered by 6-8 °C as well as the air humidity is reduced

With fruit and honey water as food for the feeding animals, 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: petdata; Image: petdata

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

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF