Cuban False Chameleon Care Sheet

Cuban False Chameleon Care Sheet

Anolis barbartus
Category
Lizard
Average Size
10 - 13 inches long
Average Lifespan
7 - 10 years
Diet Type
Insectivore

Diet & Nutrition

Cuban False Chameleons are insectivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and cockroach nymphs. In the wild their diet consists primarily of snails. We recommend feeding 2 snails per week. Do not collect snails from outside. Wild collected snails may have internal parasites.

Feeding Schedule

Feed babies and juveniles once daily. Adults can eat daily, although some keepers feed every other day. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.

Housing & Habitat

Cuban False Chameleons are native to the tropical climate of Cuba where they inhabit broadleaf forests. The environment should be kept warm and humid. Provide plenty of foliage for hiding along with various branches for climbing. Cuban False Chameleons may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Cuban False Chameleons should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same enclosure. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed if housed together.

Enclosure Size

An adult must have a minimum cage size of 36" Long x 18" Deep x 16" High.

Bigger is better.

Substrate

Due to humidity requirements an absorbent substrate is desired. Peat moss, sphagnum moss, or coconut fiber are preferred.

Temperature & Lighting

Temperature

A Cuban False Chameleon's basking spot should be 90-95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F.

Lighting

Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.

Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.

Humidity & Watering

Humidity

Mist until the cage and decorations form water droplets and begin to drip. The misting allows the Cuban False Chameleons to drink from water droplets as well as raise the humidity in the enclosure. Cuban False Chameleons require a daytime humidity between 60% - 70%.

Watering

Always provide a bowl of fresh drinking as well as at least a twice a day misting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do Cuban False Chameleons eat?

Cuban False Chameleons are insectivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and cockroach nymphs. In the wild their diet consists primarily of snails. We recommend feeding 2 snails per week. Do not collect snails from outside. Wild collected snails may have internal parasites.

What size enclosure does a Cuban False Chameleon need?

Cuban False Chameleons are native to the tropical climate of Cuba where they inhabit broadleaf forests. The environment should be kept warm and humid. Provide plenty of foliage for hiding along with various branches for climbing. Cuban False Chameleons may be kept alone or in pairs. If housed together Cuban False Chameleons should be of similar size to avoid injury. Never house two males together in the same enclosure. Two females generally get along well. A male and female will likely breed ...

What temperature and lighting does a Cuban False Chameleon need?

A Cuban False Chameleon's basking spot should be 90-95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F. Since this is a diurnal species, it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: Mist until the cage and decorations form water droplets and begin to drip. The misting allows the Cuban False Chamel...