The Cuban False Chameleon is relatively easy to care for.
Their personalities are calm, easy-going, and shy. Stress can easily affect them and they may need time to bond with their owners.
Once trust and connection are established, the handling becomes easier.
You may be interested in this pet if you are willing to allow them the space that they require, which includes less handling times and more freedom to roam.
These lizards are not difficult to breed. You may find some at your local reptile pet shop.
For information on the breeder's license and reputable reputation, along with state-specific requirements, speak to a licensed and reputable breeder.
Table of Content
Facts about Cuban False Chameleon
What it Looks Like
The Origin
Here's How to Keep Your Chameleons Healthy
Behavioral Characteristics
The Reproduction
What enclosure should I use for Cuban False Chameleons?
Substrate
Light and Temperature
Feeding and Diet
Supplementing with Calcium and Vitamins
Hydration
Feeding; Babies to Adults
Breeding
Bioactive
Non-Bioactive
A Cuban False Chameleon: How Do You Handle It?
How Should a Cuban Chameleon Enclosure Be Decorated?
Do Cuban False Chameleons Shed?
Is it possible for Cuban False Chameleons to live together?
Conclusion
FAQ
Facts about Cuban False Chameleon
What it Looks Like
Cuban False Chameleons are a great choice if you are looking for an exotic pet that is easy to care for. In the Caribbean, they are among the most unique-looking lizards.
There is a huge bony casque at the end of their skull, which makes them look like aliens instead of animals. Additionally, they have a row of very flexible barbell-like scales under their chins, and along the edges of their dewlaps.
The Origin
These animals used to belong to a genus with five recognized species before becoming the Cuban False Chameleons that we know today -
Chamaeleolis Agueroi,
Chamaeleolis Barbatus,
Chamaeleolis Chamaeleonides,
Chamaeleolis Guamuhaya, and
Chamaeleolis Porcus.
Cuba is home to all of these subspecies.
Although the entire group was previously classified under the Anolis genus, Chamaeleolis is now considered a subclade of Anolis. Chamaeleolis Chameleonides, with the largest population, is found throughout Cuba.
Among their natural habitats are broadleaf forests and closed canopy areas, though they have also been found in coffee and fruit plantations and in urban areas.
Here's How to Keep Your Chameleons Healthy
The Cuban False Chameleons are actually reptiles, named for the fact that they are closely related to anoles and have chameleon-like behavior. They move slowly and move their eyes independently.
They also have long tongues, just like real chameleons. The fact that they feed primarily on insects and snails makes them unique. Cuba is the only place where they are found, as suggested by their name.
Despite being obvious as a large lizard, with a size measuring more than 7 inches from the snout to the vent for males, and less than 7 inches for females, most lizards reside on perches with small diameters.
Their bodies are lateralized, with short tails and short limbs. Because of these features of their bodies, they can move easily along narrow twigs.
Behavioral Characteristics
The Cuban False Chameleon is observed as a lounge lizard. A study found that these animals were inactive 63% of the time in the field. Typically, they perch on large twigs. To avoid predation, they usually rely on their cryptic hue.
Additionally, their concealment capability includes a swaying and rocking walk, which makes them appear like a twig that is blowing in the wind. In order to escape their potential harassers, Cuban False Chameleons leap to other perches when they are seriously threatened.
False chameleons from Cuba don't bite quickly. Usually we see them doing an open-mouth display with their tongues sticking out. However, if you ignore their warning, they may bite a finger hard.
It is recommended to place your hand under your pet's body, sliding the hand beneath its feet. You will notice the lizard naturally transferring from its perch to your hand if you do this under it, as it is the blind side of your lizard.
These lizards are fascinating in general. They are larger than the typical members of the Anolis family, but they are much calmer and less intimidating than the more famous knight anole. Although they may have some distinct requirements, most enthusiasts find them easy to maintain.
There may be some medical issues with this species. Swollen eyes can be treated with antibiotic drops, but some will not respond to them.
Keeping Cuban False Chameleons safe from hungry crickets and keeping them hydrated is among the most important considerations when caring for them.
The Reproduction
Cuban False Chameleons rarely exhibit much sexual dimorphism compared to other species of anoles. Females have a larger head than males. If you look at their features, you can tell their sex.
A pair of enlarged scales is usually found below the vent of the Cuban False Chameleon male. Scales can also be found on hatchlings, though they can be difficult to see on smaller lizards.
What enclosure should I use for Cuban False Chameleons?
In addition to being 6 to 7 inches long, Cuban false chameleons can have a tail length of as much as double that, so they need an appropriately sized home!
A Cuban False Chameleon's cage depends on your preference as the keeper. The aquarium should have a screen lid installed and be a 29-gallon long aquarium.
In addition, all-screen cages can also be used, measuring approximately 231/2 inches in length, 151/2 inches in width, and 231/2 inches in height.
Your cages should have drains that allow excess water to drain freely. However, you might want to add a few tree branches, which are typically between 112 and 213 inches in diameter, to your cage.
You will be able to give your pets a place to rest on these branches. In order to provide vertical and horizontal perches throughout the entire enclosure, the branches can be strategically placed at various angles.
Males and females should be kept visually and physically separate. They usually fight when housed together. They display to each other constantly when they see another lizard across the room, resulting in unnecessary stress and poor health.
Prepare some gray plastic trash bags and tape them to one side of the cage to assist with the setup. It will serve as a visual barrier that can get wet and only needs to be replaced occasionally.
Glass terrariums or custom-built glass enclosures are recommended because of the Cuban false chameleon’s high humidity requirements.
Cages or screened enclosures can have a difficult time meeting the humidity needs for these lizards depending on your climate.
Substrate
Additionally, substrates can be added to the enclosure. Sphagnum moss can provide this moisture. It is a great choice since it can increase the overall humidity inside the cage.
Moss should cover the entire cage floor at a depth of 21/3 inches. Additionally, this setup will make it easy to collect their waste and throw it away.
Live and artificial plants can also be added to the enclosure, as they offer a measure of protection and security to these shy lizards. Living plants can help increase humidity, but plant containers should also be checked regularly for lizard eggs.
One of the primary benefits of using artificial plants is that they are easily sanitized and cleaned. Plastic plants are the best option for artificial plants.
Light and Temperature
As with other lizards, Cuban False Chameleons require ultraviolet light to survive. Preventing metabolic bone disease will be easier with this method.
Many keepers recommend the use of fluorescent black light bulbs, which are attached about 4 inches above the cage. Provide your pets with a photoperiod of 8 to 9 hours every day in addition to this installation.
A 50-watt spotlight in the cage also provides a place for basking. Temperatures inside the cage should range from 70 degrees Fahrenheit (cool end) to 90 degrees Fahrenheit directly under the basking light.
Feeding and Diet
Cuban false chameleons eat snails as well as a variety of insects in the wild.
In their mouths, false chameleons use their stiff jaw muscles and blunt teeth to crack open and eat entire snails (shells included).
Here are a few great feeder insects for Cuban false chameleons:
Dubia roaches
Crickets
Mealworms
Silkworms
Repashy Grub Pie
Grasshoppers
Caterpillars and
Wax worms
Cuban False Chameleons are known to feed heavily on snails. This should be considered accordingly in captivity. This also means the need to find an excellent source of live land snails that have not yet been exposed to substances such as pesticides.
In many locations, snails are considered pests, and thus, usually available at pet stores.
Feeding should be done twice a week. The lizards typically eat the snails whole, breaking the shells and spitting them out as they chew.
It is possible to crush the shell of a snail before feeding it to your lizard if it is too large. In addition to snails, you can feed them 7 to 10 crickets a week.
You can gut-load the crickets with greens, such as collard, kale, turnip, and mustard greens, in order to infuse nutrients over their food. You can also feed them a commercial cricket diet.
Crickets are covered in Vitamin D3 and Calcium, which are essential for reproduction.
Supplementing with Calcium and Vitamins
Calcium and vitamin supplements should be applied to your Cuban false chameleon's feeder insects.
Hydration
In Cuban False Chameleon care, proper hydration is crucial. Laziness and sunken eyes can be signs of dehydration. Though they sometimes drink from a water bowl, they still prefer drinking from a slow-dripping source of water that is aimed at a horizontal surface.
Perches or broadleaf plants can be used for this purpose. With a drip system, the flow rate can be controlled by a valve. The lizards adjust to this system quickly and move readily to this source.
Make sure the enclosure has a drainage system. As a result, the substrate will not remain saturated. Keepers recommend keeping a 5-gallon bucket under the cage's drain hole, or perhaps using a tilted screen cage so excess water will drain into the bucket.
You can also use a large plastic cup or a half-gallon plastic milk bottle with a hole punched in the bottom of it while preparing a drip system. In order to prevent the development of bacteria, make sure to clean your water delivery system every week using a disinfectant.
Humidity is an important factor in the setup. If your climate is dry, misting the cage is also advisable. In humid climates, having a damp substrate is crucial.
Feeding; Babies to Adults
Cuban false chameleons under three months of age need to be fed daily. Offering dusted insects or canned snails with a forceps can be used to hand feed them.
False chameleons can be fed in this way 3 to 4 times a week when they are juveniles.
Besides hand feeding your Cuban false chameleons, you should also provide them with a dish containing feeder insects to ensure they have nutrition throughout the day and night. For example, they could always have 2-3 dubia roaches and a mealworm in their feeding dish.
The supper of an adult over one year does not require additional nutrients in a feeding dish.
When false chameleons stop accepting food, it means meal time has ended. They tend not to overeat.
Breeding
Cuban False Chameleons, although they are members of the Anolis family, need nothing to stimulate their breeding process. You simply need to ensure that you have paired up the male and female Cuban False Chameleons and that the females are healthy.
Providing the cage is large enough, they can breed even with one male and several females. Ideally, lizards need an aquarium that has a volume of 29 gallons. It's recommended to have a tank that's fifty gallons large enough for three to four lizards.
If you plan on housing multiple Cuban False Chameleons together, make sure there is only one male. Multiple males can fight if they are kept in the same cage. Females may also act aggressively, especially during egg-laying.
Each month of the year sees copulation and egg-laying. Even though Cuban False Chameleons never show any signs of pregnancy, there are subtle signs, such as when the females sit on the bottom of the cage, that can serve as a clue.
Usually, the female lays her eggs in sphagnum substrate, around three-quarters of an inch below the surface. About every 30 days, a single egg is laid.
If you want your females to produce eggs without being depleted of calcium, supplement them with calcium. Vitamin D3 and calcium should be applied to their crickets.
Despite having very short snouts, big eyes, and round heads, the hatchlings are very cute. Typically, they are less than 2 inches long and weigh about 2.5 to 3 grams. Children should be enclosed in a 2-gallon glass aquarium.
Bioactive
Pros
Because of the "cleanup crew" of bugs, very little cleaning is required.
If the cleanup crew is efficient, you may never smell any poo.
It is possible to create a truly stunning and beautiful display with live plants.
It is possible to mimic their natural environment realistically.
Humidity is contributed by live plants.
Plants maintain water droplets longer, which your animal may drink from.
Cons
Plants often require specific care depending on their species.
While you learn, you can lose a lot of plants (aka money).
In order to maintain the soil, you will need bacteria, isopods, springtails, and any other bugs.
In order to maintain the plant life you desire, you will need to mix or purchase the proper soil.
If your plants become infected with disease or fungus, you cannot spray them. You will have to remove them all and start again.
It is generally more expensive.
Non-Bioactive
Pros
A soil's only requirement is that it holds moisture.
When you use fake plants, you won't have to worry about them getting enough water, light, and drainage.
Plant diseases won't wipe out your expensive plants.
In general, it is easier to get started and put together.
There is no need to quarantine fake plants.
It is generally more affordable.
Cons
You will need to manually clean up waste and refresh the substrate.
Fake plants can be beautiful but will never be the same as real plants.
Fake plants will need to be cleaned and maintained.
Fake plants do not help contribute to humidity.
Water dries off from fake plants fairly quickly and doesn’t make a reliable source of drinking water droplets.
It can be hard to find fake plants that look realistic or that are suitable for humid animal environments.
A Cuban False Chameleon: How Do You Handle It?
Bearded anoles, or false chameleons, are easy to handle! False chameleons from Cuba are relatively docile and can be handled without fear of being bitten or escaping!
The best way to socialize your child is to spend a few minutes at a time multiple times a day.
You should pick up your Cuban false chameleon slowly by sliding your open hand underneath the lizard's belly and allowing it to rest on top of your palm.
Remove it from its enclosure slowly, and stay aware of your surroundings to avoid being surprised if it jumps.
Every keeper looks forward to being able to handle their false chameleon, however, like with many reptiles, less is more when it comes to handling them.
Taking care of your Cuban false chameleon a few times a week, for a few minutes, is healthy and stress-free!
How Should a Cuban Chameleon Enclosure Be Decorated?
Ensure that the enclosure of your false chameleon is filled with plants (live or artificial), branches, vines, and substrate. Plants, leaves, branches, and vines make up their natural habitat. The jungle looks like a tangled mess.
Cuban false chameleons feel safe and secure because of the tangle of plants that cover them. We should strive to replicate their natural habitat to the best of our abilities.
For a Cuban false chameleon, enclosure height and the ability to be off the ground are essential. False chameleons are arboreal lizards that live in trees and need branches, leaves, and places to perch.
Plants with large stems and thick, heavy leaves are ideal for a Cuban false chameleon's enclosure. Plants (ficus, snake plants, crotons, etc)
Different types of driftwood or artificial branches can be used to supply branches.
Be aware of the high humidity required in a false chameleon enclosure and its potential effects on softwoods. Aquarium-safe driftwood is ideal (potential for mold and rot).
Do Cuban False Chameleons Shed?
As they grow, false chameleons shed their skin periodically. The Cuban false chameleon sheds in a few hours, causing it to eat its own shed skin.
The shed skin can provide benefits to your false chameleon since it is normal and perfectly fine.
If humidity levels are too low, Cuban false chameleons are susceptible to stuck shed, particularly around their eyes and toes.
Is it possible for Cuban False Chameleons to live together?
Cuban false chameleons can live together as a pair of males and females, a group of females, or a trio of male/female/female.
Never house more than one Cuban false chameleon at a time! Separate enclosures should not even allow men to see each other!
Just being able to see another male will cause great stress to BOTH of the false chameleons.
You must increase the size of the enclosure when keeping multiple Cuban false chameleons together.
False chameleons need their own "personal space" and a place to "get away". Stress and deterioration of health will result from overcrowding.
A pair of Cuban false chameleons can be housed in an enclosure measuring 36" x 18" x 36", and an enclosure measuring 48" x 18" x 36" can accommodate a trio.
Conclusion
This article has shown that Cuban False Chameleons make great pets! Chameleons make better pets than true chameleons for many people!
Check out the article "Are Chameleons Good Pets for Beginners?" if you like Cuban false chameleons but are not sure about true chameleons..”
FAQ
Are Cuban False Chameleons Good Pets?
The Cuban false chameleon makes an excellent pet! False chameleons are hardy, docile and have good tempers, so they do not require extremely large enclosures like an iguana or monitor.
Since false chameleons don't bite or lose their tails like many lizards and geckos, they aren't likely to be aggressive or aggressive at all.
However, there are some unique requirements that must be met in order to keep them healthy and long-lived.
Can you handle a Cuban false chameleon?
Once your Cuban false chameleon gets used to you, it should be easy to handle. However, it's important to socialize them from an early age so that they become accustomed to it. The best way to pick them up is to slide your hand under their body and feet.
What temperature does a Cuban false chameleon need?
Temperatures between 73°F and 78°F during the day, and 70°F and 71°F at night, are ideal. Your Cuban false chameleon requires a basking spot with a temperature of 90°F, as well as an ambient temperature in the high 70s.
What size tank do Cuban false chameleons need?
Two lizards can live in a 29-gallon aquarium, while three to four can live in a 50-gallon tank. When housing multiple Cuban false chameleons, only keep one male; males will fight if housed together.
How long do Cuban false chameleons live?
Ten years, approximately.
What can I feed my Cuban false chameleon?
It is recommended that you feed one live snail twice a week. You can spit out the shell after your Cuban False Chameleon eats the snail. To make it easier for the lizard, you can crush the shell beforehand. You can supplement their snail diet with 2-3 appropriately sized insects every day or two.
Can Cuban false chameleons drop their tail?
The caudal autotomy of false Chameleon anoles also prevents them from dropping their tails.
How often should you feed a Cuban false chameleon?
Even after you have tong/hand-fed your young baby, they should have food available 24/7. Three months to a year: Offer food every three days, but keep the food dish in the enclosure at all times. If you feed on Monday, feed again on Friday, and so on.
Why is my Cuban false chameleon not eating?
A change in appetite may be caused by a change in humidity. Make sure the Humidity and Water page is accurate. If a lizard spends a lot of time on the ground in its enclosure, sometimes it is trying to stay in an area that is more humid.
Where to Get Cuban False Chameleons
You can usually find them in pet stores that specialize in lizards. It is however best to seek out recommended and dependable breeders since they can provide you with information regarding the care and maintenance of these animals.
