Cuban false chameleon (Chamaeleolis chamaeleonides)

Short answers

Cuban false chameleon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×45×90 cm (a tall planted enclosure) for one animal.

Cuban false chameleon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Cuban false chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 1–2, a shade dweller, UV index 2–3).

Cuban false chameleon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 6–10 years in captivity.

Cuban false chameleon: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C

Humidity

70–90 % (daily average ~80 %, up to 100 % at night)

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 1–2, a shade dweller, UV index 2–3)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×90 cm (a tall planted enclosure) for one animal

Substrate

Damp tropical or bioactive substrate (coco humus and soil, drainage, sphagnum, leaf litter)

Feeding

Food

A specialist: mainly land snails (molluscivorous); crickets, roaches and black soldier fly larvae to supplement

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles ~daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

SVL ~15–18 cm, total length including the prehensile tail ~28–33 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 6–10 years in captivity

Origin

Cuba (endemic), the forests of western and central Cuba; arboreal, diurnal and very slow

Protection status

Not listed under CITES (as far as research shows); a Cuban endemic – wild collection and export are heavily restricted, prefer EU captive-bred animals; as a non-native species there is no German registration duty

Brumation

None (tropical); at most a slight seasonal drop in temperature or light to stimulate breeding

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Not social – only one animal per enclosure; NEVER keep males together (territorial behaviour and stress)

Notes

A snail specialist – a cricket-only diet leads to deficiencies; high humidity plus good ventilation are needed (a risk of mould). Taxonomy: Chamaeleolis is today a subclade of Anolis (often listed as Anolis barbatus/chamaeleonides). Common mistakes: too dry, too few climbing branches, and the wrong UVB placement.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Cuban false chameleon (Chamaeleolis chamaeleonides) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Aguero's false chameleon (Chamaeleolis agueroi) – Intermediate
• Bearded false chameleon (Chamaeleolis barbatus) – Intermediate
• Guamuhaya false chameleon (Chamaeleolis guamuhaya) – Expert
• Western bearded anole (Chamaeleolis porcus) – Intermediate
• Ghost anole (Anolis lemurinus) – Intermediate
• Ahl's anole (Anolis ahli) – Intermediate
• Aliniger anole (Anolis aliniger) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Allogus anole (Anolis allogus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cuban false chameleon (Chamaeleolis chamaeleonides) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×90 cm (a tall planted enclosure) for one animal), substrate (Damp tropical or bioactive substrate (coco humus and soil, drainage, sphagnum, leaf litter)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.