Brown leaf chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris)

Short answers

Brown leaf chameleon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

45×45×45 cm bioactive rainforest enclosure (floor area matters more than height).

Brown leaf chameleon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–26 °C (cool rainforest floor climate), at night 15–20 °C.

Brown leaf chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Low UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 1, UV index 1–2; a shaded forest-floor species).

Brown leaf chameleon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: ~3–4 years.

Brown leaf chameleon: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–26 °C (cool rainforest floor climate)

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

Low UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 1, UV index 1–2; a shaded forest-floor species)

Enclosure

Minimum size

45×45×45 cm bioactive rainforest enclosure (floor area matters more than height)

Substrate

Damp woodland substrate with fallen leaves and moss; springtails and isopods (bioactive)

Feeding

Food

Small insects: small crickets or house crickets, fruit flies, springtails, firebrats, small roaches

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

~8–10 cm with the tail (one of the larger leaf chameleon species)

Life expectancy

~3–4 years

Origin

Eastern Madagascar, humid rainforest to ~1,200 m (near the ground and in low bushes)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B; export is subject to quotas, proof of origin required

Brumation

No winter rest; a slightly cooler, drier seasonal spell is possible

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – this is the least stressful option. A pair (one male, one female) works only in a sufficiently large, densely structured enclosure with many hiding places so the animals can avoid each other; never keep males together. In this species males court conspicuously (nodding, rocking); to be safe keep only one male per enclosure. There are reports of Brookesia kept together in trios, but permanent contact can cause stress.

Notes

It camouflages itself as fallen leaves and can vibrate when threatened. Sensitive to dryness (closed eyes, lethargy) and to heat. A bioactive rainforest floor terrarium is ideal; pair only animals of the same origin.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Betsch's leaf chameleon (Brookesia betschi) – Expert
• Brygoo's leaf chameleon (Brookesia brygooi) – Expert
• Decary's leaf chameleon (Brookesia decaryi) – Intermediate
• Ebenau's leaf chameleon (Brookesia ebenaui) – Expert
• Armoured leaf chameleon (Brookesia perarmata) – Expert
• Griveaud's leaf chameleon (Brookesia griveaudi) – Expert
• Karche's leaf chameleon (Brookesia karchei) – Expert
• Minute leaf chameleon (Brookesia minima) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Brown leaf chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (45×45×45 cm bioactive rainforest enclosure (floor area matters more than height)), substrate (Damp woodland substrate with fallen leaves and moss; springtails and isopods (bioactive)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.