Housing

The best way to house a Yemen Chameleon is in a full mesh vivarium such as a flexarium. These provide the chameleon with both the space, height and ventilation required.

You can use a conventional vivarium, but would need to add a lot more vents to it and chameleons like to be up high, so a vertically orientated enclosure is a must.

Substrate is best avoided as chameleons will get it stuck to their tongues whilst feeding.

Branches vines and a good amount of plant cover are a must. These must be small enough for the chameleon to grip, and allow access to the floor.

Temperature

A vertically orientated temperature gradient works best for Yemens with the basking spot at the top of the enclosure being around 32-34C. If your chameleon wants to cool down it can then move lower down the cage.

Lighting

Full spectrum UV lighting is a must and is best provided by either a mercury vapour bulb, or a 10.0 strength UV tube.

Humidity

Chameleons like humidity and Yemens should be sprayed thoroughly every day, preferably twice.

They will also not drink from a bowl and so spraying also provides water droplets which they lick from the leaves.

Feeding

Yemen chameleons will eat any appropriately sized insects. Crickets and locusts are usually the staple, but they will eat many other insects.

All insects must be dusted with calcium daily and vitamins once or twice a week.

Buying Tips

Look for a chameleon which is alert and moves well with a tail which is either alert or curled not drooped. Avoid sunken eyes and baggy skin.

Varieties

Some patternmorphs such as piebald are now emerging in Yemen chameleons.