Let the Chameleons See Each Other

Myth

 Private keepers of chameleons often perpetuate the myth that chameleons cannot be cohabitated and that they should not see each other. While cohabitation in small enclosures is not advisable for multiple reasons, the belief that distant eye contact causes stress is false and belongs to outdated husbandry myths.

Reality

Communication over distance is natural, positive, and recommended.
 I have observed thousands of panther chameleons in the wild, and they consistently have multiple individuals within close or greater distances to see each other. They communicate over distance, maintaining some separation except during mating season when females may allow males to guard them for a few days or ride on their backs, as seen in Brookesia species, where males are significantly smaller than females.

Consequences of Solitude and Jsolation 

In contrast, keeping animals in isolation without any social interaction over distance leads to unnatural behaviors. This often results in:

• Shyness: Animals unaccustomed to contact with their species may hide or flee when encountering others, potentially applying this behavior to humans.

• Apathy: Chameleons may become lethargic and passive, often misinterpreted as a positive state, but this is actually a negative consequence of lacking communication stimuli. While not fully applicable, isolation can have detrimental effects on the human psyche: solitary confinement is one of the harshest forms of torture, leading to breakdowns after weeks or months. Although chameleons do not possess complex brain functions like humans, this illustrates the potential consequences for their mental state.

• Loss of bright colors: Chameleons have little incentive to display their colors without the context of intraspecific communication, leading to complaints about color loss, which can be driven by solitude, along with factors like age, season, disease, and mood.

• Aggression: Males raised in isolation may display aggression towards females, often mistaking them for other males, leading to fights or injuries.

• Behavioral deviations: These can include unusual behaviors such as attempts to escape their enclosure or changes in feeding behavior.

Вest Practice

The best practice is to allow chameleons to see members of the opposite or same sex from a safe distance, typically at least 2 meters (6 feet) apart. This setup is natural and stimulates their inherent behaviors. However, this approach is ineffective if the cages are positioned too closely together, which can be stressful. Implementing a non-transparent barrier to minimize direct visual contact is advisable.