Short-horned chameleon (Calumma brevicorne)

Short answers

Short-horned chameleon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×60×100 cm for one adult animal (Chameleon Academy: at least 90×45×90 cm; a 'forest edge' setup).

Short-horned chameleon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–25 °C, basking spot 27–28 °C (moderate), at night 15–20 °C (summer ~20 °C, dry season/winter ~15 °C).

Short-horned chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3 at the basking spot, max. ~6).

Short-horned chameleon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 3–5 years (captive data uncertain).

Short-horned chameleon: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–25 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C (summer ~20 °C, dry season/winter ~15 °C)

Basking spot

27–28 °C (moderate)

Humidity

40–60 % during the day, 80–100 % at night

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3 at the basking spot, max. ~6)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×60×100 cm for one adult animal (Chameleon Academy: at least 90×45×90 cm; a 'forest edge' setup)

Substrate

Forest floor or humus, leaf litter; dense mid-level planting as a retreat plus an open sunny area; a sand-soil mix for egg-laying

Feeding

Food

Insects: crickets, locusts, roaches, flying insects; calcium at every feed, a multivitamin (A and D3) every two weeks

Feeding interval

adults 3–4 feeder insects every other day, juveniles daily (ad libitum)

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 20–28 cm total length (medium-sized; males with larger occipital lobes)

Life expectancy

approx. 3–5 years (captive data uncertain)

Origin

Eastern Madagascar, mid-altitude humid forest ~810–1,000 m (forest edges and disturbed areas)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B – specially protected: proof of origin plus registration required; usually wild-caught

Brumation

No brumation; recreate a pronounced rainy and dry season – cooler in the dry season (nights ~15 °C) and with less misting

Cohabitation

Keep them singly ("one chameleon per cage"). Territorial and solitary; put them together only briefly for mating. NEVER keep males together

Notes

An active montane forest species to be kept cool; with characteristic raisable occipital lobes. A common mistake: too warm. It needs a temperature gradient and seasonal cycles. The final size and lifespan are not exact in the sources.

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Related species

• Amber Mountain chameleon (Calumma ambreense) – Expert
• Andringitra chameleon (Calumma andringitraense) – Expert
• Side-striped chameleon (Calumma gastrotaenia) – Intermediate
• Amber Mountain chameleon (Calumma amber) – Intermediate to expert
• Boettger's chameleon (Calumma boettgeri) – Intermediate
• Capuron's chameleon (Calumma capuroni) – Expert
• Forked chameleon (Calumma furcifer) – Expert
• Glaw's chameleon (Calumma glawi) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Short-horned chameleon (Calumma brevicorne) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×60×100 cm for one adult animal (Chameleon Academy: at least 90×45×90 cm; a 'forest edge' setup)), substrate (Forest floor or humus, leaf litter; dense mid-level planting as a retreat plus an open sunny area; a sand-soil mix for egg-laying), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.