Myth 55: “Chameleons do not brumate”
Of course they do.
The problem is that in captivity, many keepers maintain chameleons indoors year-round under constant conditions, failing to simulate their natural rhythms.
Chameleons In The Wild
Chameleons inhabit a wide range of environments and climates. From the perspective of climatic stability, their habitats can be roughly divided into two types:
1. Stable Year-Round Climate
This applies to a minority of species, mainly some equatorial montane chameleons like Trioceros hoehnelii and T. jacksonii, and to some lowland Malagasy species from the north. Certain populations of Furcifer pardalis also fit this category, though only partially — rainfall differences are still substantial, and high-altitude populations experience even greater variation.
2. Climate with Significant Seasonal Variation
Chameleons from Mediterranean climates (e.g., Chamaeleo chamaeleon around the Mediterranean Sea, and South African populations of Chamaeleo cf. dilepis and all Bradypodion species) endure cold winters that force them into lethargy for several months. They may dig into soil or hide in dense vegetation or leaf litter. This also applies to Chamaeleo calyptratus, which — contrary to popular belief — does not live in hot, humid environments but in high mountains with cold, dry winters where temperatures can drop to freezing.
Some equatorial lowland African species like Chamaeleo dilepis, ruspolii, gracilis, laevigatus, and Rhampholeon kerstenii, or species from dry central and southeastern Madagascar like Furcifer angeli, antimena, labordi, and Brookesia brygooi or perarmata, face extreme dry and hot conditions in the sry season. These species either hide in soil or leaf litter or adopt a unique, self-sacrificing strategy: they hatch, grow, mate, reproduce, lay eggs quickly, and die — ensuring population survival through eggs that wait in the soil for the next rainy season to hatch and restart the cycle.
Some circum-equatorial species confined to higher altitudes — like Calumma parsonii, certain Trioceros, and Kinyongia — face such cold periods that they remain in lethargy for months. The largest chameleons of all (Parsons') may stay inactive for half the year, meaning they spend roughly 75% of their lives asleep (50% at night, and 25%points out of the remaining 50% due to cold weather).
Inactivity as Survival Strategy
The vast majority of chameleon species must remain inactive for weeks or months to survive harsh environmental conditions — or even sacrifice their individual lives to ensure the survival of their offspring. This is a strong selective pressure that often kills them in the wild or shortens their lifespan and causes discomfort.
However, after millions of years under such conditions, this rhythm has become an integral part of their biology. Some physiological processes are tuned to and dependent on it. Females use these periods to rest and prepare for the next clutch of eggs. Males cannot produce high-quality sperm without resting at lower temperatures. Some species won't reproduce at all without a period of cold rest.
And that brings us to:
Brumation
Brumation
Brumation is a state of dormancy in cold-blooded animals during cold periods. It's similar to hibernation but specific to reptiles. Metabolism slows, activity drops, and the animal rests to conserve energy.
Aestivation
Aestivation is a similar state of dormancy, but triggered by extreme heat or drought rather than cold. It's a survival strategy during hot, dry seasons.
Implications for Captivity
In the coldest months, Chamaeleo calyptratus does brumate. They dig themselves to soil or leaf litter. The absence of natural cycles — including brumation — in captivity leads to exhaustion. Constant warm conditions simulating perpetual summer are a major reason for their short lifespans in captivity.
For other species, the lack of a cold period causes females to lay multiple clutches and die of exhaustion. Males may become infertile or lose interest in mating. Keepers often report that males stop eating and lose color in autumn — they're trying to brumate, triggered by shorter daylight, but the conditions are too warm. This leads to exhaustion, starvation, and dehydration.
Therefore, simulating seasonal variations similar to the wild is essential for chameleon wellbeing.
Addressing the Contradiction
A thoughtful reader might ask: "If natural conditions are so harsh that chameleons often die, why simulate them?"
Great question — and there's no contradiction.
The key lies in how we interpret "simulation."
Naturalistic chameleon husbandry means imitating vital (life-supporting) environmental factors while eliminating lethal ones.
In short: we must simulate resting conditions meaningfully — not in their full harmful extent.
Temperatures should be low, but not fatally cold. Dry seasons should be present, but not long or severe enough to cause death by desiccation. The goal is to trigger their physiological need for rest, restore their strength, and reset hormonal cycles to prepare for reproduction.