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BION News Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

Carpet chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

Furcifer lateralis keeping and breeding at BION Terrarium Center: more information in the context of our Chameleon species project

Carpet Chameleon, or Jeweled Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis), is one of numerous Madagascar endemic species. It inhabits large territories of the island, excepting the North and Northwestern regions, and can be found at a variety of elevations, from sea-level to 2,000 meters above sea level.

Furcifer lateralis is extremely adaptable and is not muchaffected by human habitation the way that many other species are. It prefers humid forests, but can also be found in dryer areas, and around human modified landscapes. Though it is considered a forest edge species that is associated with herbaceous vegetation and shrubby grasslands, it has also been recorded inside forest and in altered habitats.

Carpet Chameleonscan reach a maximum length of 17-20 cm, including tail. The males are usually larger, they have green coloration with bright pattern, including bands of white, yellow and orange.Females are smaller and have a wider range of colours. Both sexes have striped throats and lips. As most of Chameleon species, individuals change their colour depending on physiologicand enviromental factors.

Animals are diurnal, insectivorous, rather active and sociable.

Furcifer lateralis has a large estimated distribution of more than 130,000km². This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. Catching is restricted to an export quota of 2,000 specimens a year, and there is no distinction made between the subspecies.

We have already got 5 males and 10 females in our adult breeding group, and there are more than 120 juveniles in our laboratory at the moment (September 2015).

The typical enclosure conditions

Enclosure: we keep adult animals separately at the well ventilated cages 60x60x60 cm made from metallic   wire all year round, and place them in couples only for mating.

Substrate: paper sheets, or nothing at all.

Decoration: tree branches, live plants. Feeding dish should be fixed nearby the middle of terrarium height. Water bowl is not needed.

Illumination: full spectrum lamp is necessary for all age individuals. Day length is usually 12 hours, and only 10 hours in winter season.

Temperature and heating: temperature should be about 22-24º C at night and 25-28º C (not more) during daytime, without spot lamps.

Humidity: 50-60% for adults (spraying with warm water 1-2 times a day).

Diet: adult individuals receive different insects (crickets, cockroaches, locusts etc.)  2-3 times per week (5-6 feeding objects for each chameleon). We use meal-warms too – 4 larvae once a week.

Mineral supplements: we give Calcium powder with feed once per 10 days for our adult group, and we use vitamins once a week.

Hibernation: winter season is delicate, we just settle shorter light day (10 hours  lighting).

Veterinary

Juveniles in general demonstrate good survival and growth. However, exceeding humidity for adults can lead to stomatitis and dermatitis. 

USEFUL SOURCES

1..Frank Glaw - Miguel Vences. 2007: Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Vences & Glaw Verlag GbR 3rd Edition. 496 pp. Germany

2..Petr Necas. 2004: Chameleons: Nature`s hidden jewels. Edition Chimaira. 380 pp. Frankfurt am Main 

3.. http://www.chameleonnews.com/06MayStanford.html

4.. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Furcifer-Lateralis-Community/400282743371004

 5.. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/42696174/0

 6.. http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Furcifer&species=lateralis

7.. map https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42696174/42695999

Full versions, including the breeding technologies, are available with RHF (responsible Herpetoculture Foundation) Membership  or in a form of manuals

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