Trioceros melleri

Meller's chameleon

Author: Petr Nečas 

Climate Reference Locality Weather Forecast

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Profile

Origin: Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi (E Africa), climate reference locality: Lushoto Tanzania
Average total length: Males 24in (60cm), Females 24in (60cm)
Longevity in captivity: Up to 14 years, Average 3-5 years
Longevity in the wild: Up to 12 years
Temperature at daytime: 23-32°C (73-90°F) depending on season
Temperature basking spot: 26-30°C (79-86°F)
Temperature at night: 20-22°C (68-72°F) max., ideally under 18°C (64°F)
Humidity at daytime: Below 50% 
Humidity at night: 100%, Fog 
Food: Insects only, No vegetables, No fruits
Special notes:  Do not cohabit, while pretending tolerance for month, they can turn to beasts killing each other; Do not overheat; Provide deep night drop and fog (they are falsely considered heavy drinkers); Despite capable of eating small birds, they ignore locusts and feed predominantly on small pollinators.

Indoor Housing

Size: The bigger, the better! Minimum 120 x 60 x 120 cm (48 x 24 x 48 in)
Cage Type: Full mesh or hybrid 
Light: UVB source (inside or outside), Daylight source (Window or LED) (inside or outside)
Hydration: Fogger at night, hand misting morning and evening 
Ventilation: Full mesh, small fans when using a hybrid, cage and/or air is stagnant 
Interior: Live plants (no fake), natural branches (no fake vines, no ropes, no bleached wood), no substrate or bioactive

Care

UVB light source: T5 HO 8-12 hours a day; 5-12% according to cage height
Visible light: Full spectrum or natural light 12 hours per day 
Basking spot: 27-30°C (81-86°F), 1 hour max 2 times a day
Temperature at daytime: Low 21-23°C (70-73°F)
Temperature at night: Max 20-22°C (68-72°F), Ideally below 18°C (64°F)
Humidity at daytime: Below 50%
Humidity at night: 100%, fog 
Hydration: Fogger at night, Hand misting, Dripper 
Food type: Crickets, Soldier Flies, Roaches, No vegetables, No fruits
Food volume: Juveniles no limit, Adults max 1 cricket daily
Supplementation - Each meal: Plain Calcium, Bee Pollen 
Supplementation - Once in two weeks: Calcium with D3, Multivitamin 
Cleaning: Clean up poop and food, remnants, sanitize hands