Thiel's leaf chameleon (Brookesia thieli)

Short answers

Thiel's leaf chameleon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

40×40×40 cm.

Thiel's leaf chameleon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 19–25 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 15–19 °C.

Thiel's leaf chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Thiel's leaf chameleon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 3–5 years.

Thiel's leaf chameleon: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

19–25 °C

Night temperature

15–19 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

80–95 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

40×40×40 cm

Substrate

Coco humus, a thick layer of leaf litter, moss, fine twigs

Feeding

Food

Fruit flies, springtails

Feeding interval

daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

5–7 cm total length

Life expectancy

3–5 years

Origin

Eastern Madagascar – rainforest

Protection status

CITES II

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – this is the least stressful option. A pair (one male, one female) works in a large, densely planted enclosure with many hiding places. Group: an experienced breeder achieved the best breeding results with two to three males and four females; this requires a lot of space, structure and observation and is left to experts, because males threaten each other.

Notes

A tiny rainforest leaf chameleon with a spiny dorsal crest. A permanently damp leaf layer with a live springtail culture is the simplest solution for both food and climate.

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 Thiel's leaf chameleon (Brookesia thieli) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (40×40×40 cm), substrate (Coco humus, a thick layer of leaf litter, moss, fine twigs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.