People who don’t have the space to provide a free-range situation, or who have cats, dogs or housemates that would make free ranging impossible, may need to provide a cage for their chameleons. I always suggest they buy or build the largest cage they can. It will likely have to be custom built, as there really aren’t any suitable ones on the market that I think would make proper enclosures for Meller’s chameleons as is. 

 

Some people modify large bird cages or similar habitats, but the best option if you can’t have a free-ranging set-up is to provide your chameleon with the largest, most open cage you can. It should be at least 6 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide and deep. Its walls should be made of quarter-inch mesh rather than standard cage screening, as T. melleri often get their claws stuck in the screening, and if the mesh is too tight and they fall, their claws could be pulled out. Quarter-inch mesh allows them to climb without injury. 

 

With a shelving unit such as I use, you can also cover the back and sides of it with plastic, if desired. This helps create a humid zone within the unit and also decreases the chance of water spraying on your walls. Quarter-inch mesh could be used rather than solid plastic sheeting, too, to maintain a semi-enclosed area and provide some additional climbing areas for the chameleons, as well.

 

Are there risks with keeping free-range chameleons? Of course there are. No matter how large and wonderful their free-range space may be, your chameleons will sometimes decide to go for a walk beyond it, and with wandering there is risk. They could be injured by other pets, such as dogs and cats, or by small children. They could come into contact with a variety of objects, from cleaning supplies to electrical outlets, which could cause injury or illness. They might even find their way out of an open door or window. 

 

The best way to prevent these issues is to have a chameleon-safe room dedicated to your Meller’s chameleons that can be closed off from the rest of your home, so that any wandering on the chameleons’ part is confined to that room. These are large chameleons that need a great deal of space, and they like to move around their territory. They are calmer, happier and less stressed when not confined. In my experience, they do better in pairs or groups (though know that multiple males may fight), and having them in a free-range set up as described is optimal to allow this interaction. It helps ease the stress of acclimation for new arrivals, too.

 

Light and Heat

 

Whether your Meller’s chameleon is in a free-range setup or in a large enclosure, UVB light is a must. Exposure to UVB from either direct sunlight or a proper UVB light allows the chameleon to properly metabolize calcium in its system to keep its bones strong. There are a variety of quality UVB lights of different strengths available in pet stores and other places that sell reptile supplies. Commonly used bulbs include ReptiSun and ReptiGlo 5.0 bulbs, though in a large and/or heavily planted free-range setup it can be beneficial to use bulbs with a higher UVB output. Twelve hours on and 12 hours off is the usual light cycle, though this can be adjusted to mimic seasonal daylight hours.

 

It is also important to offer a heat gradient, so your chameleon can find its own comfort level by basking at different levels within its habitat. My T. melleri generally prefer cooler temperatures of 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but most will appreciate a warm basking spot maintained at 92 to 94 degrees. A 75- to 100-watt incandescent bulb is usually sufficient for this; place it outside the cage or out of reach above a perch in a free-range setup, to avoid burns. Turn off all lights at night, when cooler temperatures are beneficial.

 

My Meller’s Story

 

The day I told my husband we were bringing home a Meller’s chameleon, we did bring one home. It was a male, and he was thin and displaying a dark, stressed coloration. I knew he wasn’t in great shape but I was both naive and optimistic. I built a large cage for him; not having any experience with free-ranging animals, I went with what I knew.
Unfortunately, the day after we brought him home, he began showing signs of an upper respiratory infection and would not eat or drink. Sadly, he lasted only a few weeks with us, despite trips to the vet and antibiotics.

 

Despite this loss, our love of T. melleri did not die. I did more research, learned about the benefits of free-range setups, and set out to create such an environment. Once it was ready, we brought home another pair of Meller’s chameleons, and a few months later, we got a couple more. We continued adding to our colony, and eventually we had a group of 14 beautiful T. melleri. 

 

We now had two free-range setups: one that was used as a quarantine area for new arrivals, and an expanded, room-sized living area for our existing chameleons. We even had a free-range nursery area for a couple small juveniles that we acquired.
Over the next couple years, we watched our gentle giants blossom. They were a friendly and inquisitive group. They welcomed visitors, as they knew we would offer them treats to show their long tongues in action. A couple of our Meller’s were even calm to the point that we could bring them to educational events where we introduced the public to chameleons. 

 

Eventually, a couple of the females began to lay eggs. They were infertile, but we believed that we might soon be among the lucky few to get viable Meller’s chameleon eggs, resulting in some captive-bred babies. 
Then one morning the unthinkable happened. A seemingly healthy chameleon died suddenly, without warning. It was one that we had for a couple years, long past the 90-day curse that is sometimes unfortunately associated with Meller’s chameleons.

 

A couple weeks later, it happened again, and the next three months became a nightmare. Even with vet visits, tests, and various medications, our chameleons kept dying. Eventually, we lost them all. 
After this tragedy, we didn’t know if we should try again. We were scared, but our love of T. melleri won out. We eventually brought home another pair and, slowly, we added a few more. We now have five healthy, well-acclimated Meller’s chameleons. 

 

 

I continue to gain knowledge about keeping these wonderful chameleons happy and healthy, and I help others do likewise. A species as remarkable and challenging as Trioceros melleri deserves nothing less!  

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Karen Venaas and her husband Jeremy work with several other chameleon species in addition to Meller’s, including veiled, panther, Oustalet’s and Jackson’s chameleons. They participate in many educational events to educate new and potential chameleon owners. Follow the adventures of The Chameleon Farm at facebook.com/thechameleonfarm.