How to Care for Pygmy Leaf Chameleon Hatchlings?

How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? Pygmy chameleons unlike other larger breeds of chameleons can be kept within the same cage at all times even if their mate is with them. Courtship between a male and a female pygmy leaf is as simple; as the male nodding its head at the female pygmy. How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? Usually female chameleons don’t display a different coloration or shade; but its natural color will be rather visible as it gets closer to giving birth.  You may not need a laying bin; but the enclosure must contain a few inches of substrate or organic soil at the floor of the cage. How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? Some of the substrate should be a bit wet or moist because this is where chameleons usually lay their eggs.

Basic Needs of Pygmy Leaf Chameleon

How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? You have to always make sure that the humidity inside the enclosure is just set at a right temperature; you don’t want to dehydrate your pygmy leaf because it can be a factor in getting a Metabolic Bone Disease. Sometimes it can be very humid or too cold inside because the temperature outside depending on the geographical location also vary, to make sure that the humidity level is just right; you can use some form of ventilation by providing a small fan; similar to a computer fan inside the CPU so that the air can properly circulate around the cage.

However; keep in mind that the fan must not be too powerful otherwise it could mess up with the thermal gradient. How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? Proper ventilation will provide a good airflow around the enclosure which will help in reducing fungal growth; and making sure that the enclosure will not overheat especially during summer or hot days. A good airflow will also benefit the growth of live plants inside the terrarium.

Captive Environment

How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? Lighting is needed because even if pygmy leaf chameleons; or chameleons in general doesn’t like to be exposed to the sun too much they still need like most of us Vitamin D; which we can get from the sun’s rays. You might also need a basking bulb for your pygmy leaf. This bulb acts as a heat gradient; that will allow your cold – blooded chameleon to be able to regulate its body temperature. You pygmy leaf chameleon then can assess if it needs to move to warmer or cooler areas inside the enclosure.

How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? Gut loading of food is a kind of process where you increase the nutritional value of the insects; that you feed to your pygmy leaf chameleon. The concept is very simple; since we all live in an ecosystem, we all benefit from one another in various ways. A great example is the eagle, eagles eat snakes; while snakes eat rodents or chickens, chickens feed on worms, and worms feed in various sources. It is same with chameleons in the wild; their insect preys also feed on many different nutrition sources within that ecosystem, which makes balance nutrition.

However, in captivity; it’s just impossible to create that kind of natural cycle, so in order to replicate that you as the owner should properly gut load the food that you feed your chameleons. You need to also properly feed the insects or the prey a special diet or good nutrition; so that in the end your chameleon will benefit from that very balanced and proper nutrition. In order for you to gut load the food of your pygmy leaf chameleon; you should supplement it with a multivitamin powder with calcium. The calcium should be higher than phosphorus, because high phosphorus inhibits calcium absorption. The supplements should also be low in oxalates.

Communal Housing

How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? When it comes to building or purchasing an enclosure for your chameleon is that the size or space should at least be 5 gallons for each pygmy leaf. Of course you need to adjust accordingly if you plan on keeping lots of chameleons in an enclosure. For pygmy leaf chameleons; experts recommend that you purchase a glass cage like an aquarium simply; because it can easily be planted with branches, and you can also landscaped its bottom part to make it look like a forest floor.

Pygmy leaf chameleons or chameleons in general can co – exist with each other and they can be housed communally; although male chameleons should not be housed together unless the cage is huge enough. Keep in mind though that your chameleon collections should not feel stressed out by the presence of its other occupants. You should also make sure that there are lots of hiding places, lots of branches and lots of plants inside.

Make Them Feel Safe

How to care for pygmy leaf chameleon hatchlings? We all know that chameleons love to hide their true colors, or identity. In the wild it is a defense mechanism so that they can’t be eaten by predators; but in captivity especially if they’re around their own kind; it’s more of a unique ability, and a form of stimulation.

In line with this, you should be able to provide lots of branches; and plants or leaves as well as hiding places or areas for your pygmy leaf chameleons because that will enable them to practice their natural ability, make them feel comfortable in their new home; and will also make them feel close to their natural habitat even in captivity. Try adding green or brown leaves because it will make your chameleon feel safe; and if they feel secure you can most likely see them out of their hiding places, and be able to observe them.