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| | Chameleons (Latin- Chamaeleonidae) is a family of lizards, adapted to tree life and capable of changing the body color.
Majority of kinds possess body length of 25-35 cm, big chameleons body length can reach up to 50-60 cm and the small — 3-5 cm. Chameleon’s legs are long and uniquely adapted to climbing. Fingers grow in two opposite directions from each other and look like “claws”, which can tightly clasp tree branches. Long tenacious tail is also used for climbing.
Chameleons have unusual organs of vision. Eyelids of chameleons are joined and constantly cover the eyes, but have an aperture for pupil. Movements of left and right eyes can be done without coordination, which plays significant role while catching the insects.
Body color changes due to redistribution of pigments of skin under the influence of light, temperature, fear of an animal and mood etc.
During hunting, chameleons, as a rule, chameleons sit on the tree branches for longer periods. Body of animal thus remains motionless and eyes constantly move (but sometimes, chameleons slowly creep towards the prey). Insects are caught by tongue, dumping process of which lasts about 1/20 of a second.
Its eyes rotate different sides and it has a long tongue and eats exclusively insects. Till today, superstitious aboriginals consider that chameleons are souls of dead people.
Despite external calmness, chameleon, as a rule, is always on guard and it is distinguished by almost hare timidity and cowardice. Probably, this has affected its most known quality –mimicry, when small animal rather easily changes the color according to surrounding background and varying conditions.
Chameleon – pride and a taboo of one of the most amazing places on Earth –Madagascar Islands.
Times existed when terrible rumors circulated in this regard. For example, Frenchmen have sent chameleons to guard its plantations. Unfortunate pilferers and moles waited death because rantutre’s evil spirit stayed in chameleon and local residents could do nothing to disturb it. When motionless, with the appearance of sickly little body of chameleon, its predatory tongue, which shoots-out up to 30 cm within 4 hundredth of a second, always hunted the local residents. Islanders considered , that some unprecedented trick, almost devil treachery is hidden in this amazing capability. However, it is not considered reprehensible to take an example from chameleon here.
“Be judicious: imitate a chameleon which looks front with one eye and back with another”.
One more moment exists, which is related to chameleons. Drinks, capable of arousing love, deep sleep and make a person helpless are called chameleons in folklore. Sorcerers prepared such medicines in ancient times.
To maintain a chameleon in house, it is necessary to create conditions, in which it felt comfortable as in nature. And first of all, it is necessary to get the terrarium equipped with an ultra-violet lamp and temperature regulator. For different kinds, similar conditions are required for domestication, however temperature modes and humidity may differ.
In nature, fodder insects possess all the necessary vitamins. But the insects, grown artificially and which can be procured in pet-shops, often do not possess useful substances in sufficient quantities. Hence, it is very important to provide shortage vitamins to chameleons.
For confirmation, that your chameleon is getting enough vitamins for healthy life, it is necessary to add special extra nutrition for reptiles in the food. It can be Wardley, Repti series (ReptiCal & ReptiLife in ratio 2:1), LM (current Wardley). It is convenient to roll-in the insects in vitamin powder before feeding and then feed the chameleons. Liquid vitamins, for example ReptiSol, are to be given accurately as over dosage is easily possible! Therefore, beginner terrariumists should simply use dry extra nutrition powders. It is especially important to give calcium in sufficient quantity to young and newborn chameleons. As a rule, they very quickly attain mature sizes, therefore, during their growth it is necessary to provide calcium otherwise deficiency can turn into rickets for reptile. It is very difficult to overdose calcium during this period, hence, do not regret in giving vitamins to a growing chameleon.
Crickets are main food for chameleons’ in house conditions. These insects possess best composition of useful substances, minerals and etc for chameleon. Usually, chameleons with pleasure feast on flies, locusts, zoo-phobas (huge flour worm), flour worm, grasshoppers, may-bugs and dragonflies. Some kinds of chameleons, such as Yemen chameleon, get used to food and may boycott main diet food intake at any moment. Hence, it is necessary to diversify food and though occasionally, give locust or even newborn mouse to chameleons.
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