Unarmed leaf chameleon (Brookesia exarmata)

Short answers

Unarmed leaf chameleon: How big does the enclosure need to be?

40×40×40 cm for a pair — floor area matters, not height.

Unarmed leaf chameleon: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C, basking spot No basking spot — these species avoid direct sun, at night 16–19 °C.

Unarmed leaf chameleon: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Weak UVB is enough (UVB 2.0–5.0), a ground-dweller living in shade.

Unarmed leaf chameleon: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 3–5 years.

Unarmed leaf chameleon: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C

Night temperature

16–19 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot — these species avoid direct sun

Humidity

75–95 %, mist daily

UVB

Weak UVB is enough (UVB 2.0–5.0), a ground-dweller living in shade

Enclosure

Minimum size

40×40×40 cm for a pair — floor area matters, not height

Substrate

A deep layer of leaf litter on damp forest floor, plus moss and low twigs

Feeding

Food

Small insects such as fruit flies, firebrats and micro crickets, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

6–8 cm

Life expectancy

3–5 years

Origin

Tsingy de Bemaraha, Madagascar

Protection status

CITES II — proof of origin required

Brumation

No winter rest

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – this is the least stressful option. A pair (one male, one female) works only in a sufficiently large, densely structured enclosure with many hiding places so the animals can avoid each other; never keep males together. No husbandry reports on the compatibility of this species exist; the information comes from the genus. There are reports of Brookesia kept together in trios, but permanent contact can cause stress.

Notes

Closely related to B. perarmata, but without the strong spines.

Do you keep this species?

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Look for Unarmed leaf chameleon (Brookesia exarmata) in the marketplace →

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 Unarmed leaf chameleon (Brookesia exarmata) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (40×40×40 cm for a pair — floor area matters, not height), substrate (A deep layer of leaf litter on damp forest floor, plus moss and low 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.