Guamuhaya false chameleon (Chamaeleolis guamuhaya)

Short answers

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

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

Guamuhaya false chameleon: What temperature does it need?

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

Guamuhaya false chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Guamuhaya false chameleon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 6–10 years in captivity (an estimate).

Guamuhaya 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 %)

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, drainage, sphagnum, leaf litter

Feeding

Food

A specialist: primarily land snails (molluscivorous); crickets and roaches to supplement

Feeding interval

adults 2×/week, juveniles every other day

Key facts

Adult size

Large, SVL up to ~18 cm; total length including the prehensile tail ~30 cm+

Life expectancy

approx. 6–10 years in captivity (an estimate)

Origin

Cuba – the Guamuhaya massif / Sierra del Escambray (central Cuba), endemic; also the "Escambray bearded anole"

Protection status

IUCN: Endangered; a Cuban endemic with a small range – wild collection and export are heavily regulated, so only captive-bred animals with proof of origin. Not listed under CITES

Brumation

None (tropical)

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Not social – only one animal per enclosure; NEVER keep males together

Notes

The Chamaeleolis clade (today a subclade of Anolis, listed as Anolis guamuhaya). A snail specialist like A. chamaeleonides – the care is carried over from there. Rare in captivity, with little published keeper data; of conservation relevance.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Aguero's false chameleon (Chamaeleolis agueroi) – Intermediate
• Bearded false chameleon (Chamaeleolis barbatus) – Intermediate
• Cuban false chameleon (Chamaeleolis chamaeleonides) – 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 Guamuhaya false chameleon (Chamaeleolis guamuhaya) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×90 cm (a tall planted enclosure) for one animal), substrate (Damp tropical or bioactive substrate, 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.