How to Study Veiled Chameleons

The veiled chameleon is one of the most beautifully colored and personable reptiles on the planet. Since the animal is hardy and prolific, studying the veiled chameleon gives you an opportunity to get slightly more intimate knowledge of this lizard species.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Find a good sample by looking for veiled chameleons that were born and bred in captivity. These animals should have straight limbs, a straight back and a correctly aligned jaw. Veiled chameleon specimens that have crooked or kinked parts are generally imported and usually arrive dehydrated and even diseased from the travel, making them poor specimens to study.
2. Provide your veiled chameleon with an adequate aquarium and "furnishings" since placing the animal in an unsuitable environment will produce uncharacteristic behavior. A one cubic meter tank filled with basking and climbing branches is a good start. Grapevine wreaths from craft stores are another good option. Provide your chameleon with plenty of vegetable matter as food.
3. Take measurements of the important parts of the chameleon's body so you can study the anatomical changes it goes through. Leg, body, tail and casque (the helmet-like piece on top of the veiled chameleon's head) are all important measurements. Digital photos of the chameleon's coloration (taken while the animal is resting on the same colored background) will help you study its color changes.
4. Breed the veiled chameleon by identifying one chameleon as a male if it has a small spur that rises from the top of its rear feet. Study some females and identify sexual maturity by looking for light blue colors on the animal's body and casque. Place the two animals together to study their breeding. If the female turns black and displays aggressive behavior, she should be taken out of the aquarium since she's not ready to mate.