Elliot's chameleon (Trioceros ellioti)
Chameleons · Difficulty: Intermediate
Key facts and care guidance for Elliot's chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) (origin: The East African highlands (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda; 1,200–1,800 m)). Adult size around 13–18 cm. Life expectancy ~3–5 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Elliot's chameleon: How big does the enclosure need to be?
45×45×80 cm, well ventilated.
Elliot's chameleon: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 22–28 °C, basking spot 28–30 °C (slight), at night 13–18 °C.
Elliot's chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Recommended.
Elliot's chameleon: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: ~3–5 years.
Elliot's chameleon: Is it suitable for beginners?
Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 22–28 °C
- Night temperature
- 13–18 °C
- Basking spot
- 28–30 °C (slight)
- Humidity
- 40–60 % by day, 75–100 % at night
- UVB
- Recommended
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- 45×45×80 cm, well ventilated
- Substrate
- Forest floor or coco humus, moss
Feeding
- Food
- Small crickets, flies, house crickets (small prey preferred)
- Feeding interval
- adults 2–3×/week
Key facts
- Adult size
- 13–18 cm
- Life expectancy
- ~3–5 years
- Origin
- The East African highlands (Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda; 1,200–1,800 m)
- Protection status
- CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B — registration required
- Brumation
- no real rest period; cool nights all year round
- Cohabitation
- Keep them singly. Chameleons are pronounced loners, and even the mere sight of another of their kind means constant stress — you can see it in dark colouring, refusal to feed and weakened defences. Males fight in earnest, and females are harassed by males. So screen neighbouring enclosures from each other as well. For breeding, introduce the female briefly, stay with them and separate them again afterwards.
Notes
A small, live-bearing highland species; cool and humid at night, drier by day with air movement. It prefers strikingly small feeder animals.
Do you keep this species?
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Related species
- Affinis chameleon (Trioceros affinis) – Expert
- Bale two-horned chameleon (Trioceros balebicornutus) – Expert
- Usambara three-horned chameleon (Trioceros deremensis) – Intermediate to expert
- Fea's chameleon (Trioceros feae) – Expert
- Goetze's chameleon (Trioceros goetzei) – Expert
- Harenna chameleon (Trioceros harennae) – Expert
- Von Höhnel's chameleon (Trioceros hoehnelii) – Intermediate
- Hornless chameleon (Trioceros incornutus) – Expert
What you need to start
To keep Elliot's chameleon (Trioceros ellioti) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (45×45×80 cm, well ventilated), substrate (Forest floor or coco humus, moss), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 9 October 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trioceros_ellioti, https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Trioceros&species=ellioti
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).