Would you want to forestall your chameleon from being lonely? Possibly you’ve been considering that getting a second chameleon, or shopping for two on the identical time, is a good suggestion so your unique pet has a companion. In case your intentions are to enhance the lifetime of your chameleon, then you might be shocked to know that chameleons don’t get lonely in the best way that individuals, and even canine, do.
The reality is, you need to by no means, ever, home two or extra chameleons collectively. It’s comprehensible that your intuition is to imagine your pet can be sad all by itself within the terrarium, however chameleons have demonstrated over and over that they a lot want residing alone. In truth, captive chameleons stay longer when stored separate.
Right here’s why you need to by no means hold chameleons in pairs.
Fights are doubtless
Chances are you’ll not see fights immediately, on the primary day you place two chameleons collectively. They could spend the primary day getting their bearings and watching you to see in the event you’re going to eat them. However as soon as they regulate considerably to the setting and notice there’s one other chameleon inhabiting the identical area, and that neither of them can go anyplace, a struggle over dominance is sure to occur.
Your chameleons don’t care in regards to the competitor. One or each chameleons could also be critically injured, and the shedding chameleon might die. What which means is that by housing two chameleons collectively, you might find yourself with two chameleons with extraordinarily quick lifespans. And it doesn’t matter what intercourse they’re. All chameleons will struggle for dominance.
Fights usually are not more likely to be a one-time factor, both. Your pets are trapped collectively. In a pure habitat, a chameleon that loses a struggle will go away the realm. This isn’t a risk for lizards in a terrarium.
Lack of preventing doesn’t imply optimum situations
It’s potential that you could be hold two chameleons collectively and never see preventing. They could even stay collectively for fairly some time. Nonetheless, simply since you aren’t seeing apparent indicators of aggression doesn’t imply that each lizards are doing effectively and in good well being.
In nature, chameleons are territorial, and they’ll declare their territory throughout the terrarium. In fact, with the restricted area, basking spots, and ingesting areas obtainable, which means that one chameleon goes to dominate sources of meals, water, and heat. Not solely does this imply poor well being for the loser, the facility wrestle stresses each chameleons, being stored in a restricted area. Even the dominant feels the fixed stress of defending its territory.
However in the event you actually wish to break the principles…
There may be an exception to the no teams of chameleons rule. If in case you have the flexibility to offer a big sufficient habitat, you could possibly hold a number of chameleons collectively. The area have to be massive sufficient, nevertheless, that every animal has its personal territory with its personal water sources, basking spot, and climbing perches. Realistically, this may increasingly imply dedicating an entire room to your chameleons, and the danger for territory battles, harm, and stress, remains to be current.
Try our different article on learn how to decide which chameleon is best for you.