Have you ever thought of keeping two or more veiled chameleons together? Well, the thought might have crossed your mind several times, but you’re here for a reason. You still don’t know for sure!
Cohabitation can either be wonderful or go absolutely wrong. For veiled chameleons, there’s a chance two or multiple of these creatures will fight for resources and also showcase dominance.
It’s like survival of the fittest – these veiled chameleons will fight for the topmost spot and it can get really ugly.
Keeping more than one veiled chameleon in a cage/tank or any space is not advisable in general. Given the temperament of veiled chameleons, it is best to keep these reptiles in separate tanks/cages.
You might want to know more about keeping multiple veiled chameleons together. If you can’t keep more than one – how will you get more chameleons?
Well, there are people who want two chameleons to mate and produce more veiled chameleons. Well, you will find out how it works in this article. Dive right in!
Is it Okay to Keep Multiple Veiled Chameleons Together?
You must have heard about the concept of cohabitation. It is when two or more veiled chameleons share the same space.
Human beings think that everyone needs a mate because we are social beings. We feel that having another person in our life CAN complete us.
It doesn’t always work like that in the animal kingdom. Yes, some animals like to live in packs, but then, there are some like veiled chameleons that showcase bad behavior when another mate enters their space.
Veiled chameleons can be found in the wild, and they are seen with their own kind. There’s a specific social interaction in the wild. However, being in the wild and sharing the same space in a tank or a cage is not the same thing.
In the wild, the veiled chameleons can get away from each other (physically). They cannot do this in a cage!
What if you had to live with your spouse in a locked-up room? Forget about the romance – there will be fights every single day.
Communicating with a partner or friend isn’t needed 24×7. Everyone needs their space, and the same goes for veiled chameleons, more than humans.
You can’t be locked up in the same room for years. Lest soon you will realize harmonious living is a myth.
Keeping multiple veiled chameleons together is a bad idea. You have to give space to your chameleon.
They see their own kind as a competitor. Fighting for resources and trying to be dominant at all times – you will see many worse behavioral signs.
Everyone has their own reasons for keeping veiled chameleons together in the same cage. What’s yours?
If you’re still persistent in trying to keep more than one veiled chameleon in a cage, then, there are solutions that come with certain precautions so that one chameleon doesn’t hurt the other tank mate.
Jump to the next section to find out why people prefer keeping veiled chameleons together and how they can go about it.
Reasons for Keeping Veiled Chameleons Together in the Same Cage
There are people who keep veiled chameleons together for a number of reasons. Here are some of the reasons:
1.) Collection of Veiled Chameleons and just for the look of them
When you put lots of veiled chameleons in a cage, it feels like you’re in a jungle. A part of the jungle comes into your home. It looks exotic, right?
You are doing this for your own entertainment, but you are forgetting about the emotions of the veiled chameleon.
Is it healthy for your chameleon? They might be under stress when you put lots of veiled chameleons together.
If you really wish to create the experience, consider getting separate cages, and don’t put all of the veiled chameleons in one space. Bring a bigger tank home and add extra hiding corners.
2.) Veiled Chameleons get lonely
As human beings, we’re pack animals. We are used to living in groups and communities. Dogs live like that and so do fishes and birds.
There are all kinds of pets like dogs, parrots, and fish that like the idea of community living. Veiled chameleons like being alone.
They are happy as long as they have their own space and food. These creatures don’t even show signs that they need someone in the same cage.
So, if your idea of keeping at least two in the same cage is to eliminate loneliness, then you can be at peace. Your chameleon prefers being alone!
3.) Mating Purposes
Phew! This one’s tricky for sure. Some people get veiled chameleons to produce more of these.
You can do this, but allow two veiled chameleons to stay together for a day or two and not more. The female veiled chameleon may get anxious or irritated with the male chameleon.
They don’t have a romantic soul like us. Ideally, get two cages and keep them together for a day or two. If there are some nasty fights, put them in separate cages. You wouldn’t want them to get hurt, right?
Keeping Baby Chameleons Together
Keeping baby veiled chameleons is possible, but only till they are 3 months of age. Once these veiled chameleons grow older, they get aggressive with their mates.
There will be biting, gaping, and blood-shed. Don’t start thinking that aggressive behavior started when they grew older – it was there when they were babies.
Notice baby veiled chameleons climbing and crawling over other baby chameleons? That’s not a playdate. That’s a wild instinct to assert dominance.
Raise the babies in separate cages or keep them together till 3 months of age. Breeders usually raise these in groups, but it is not the best condition for them. You will find bite marks, nipped tails, scars, and scratches all over the body.
Chameleon Politics: What’s it all about?
Chameleons love the idea of establishing hierarchies. They will also fight for resources if and when needed. It basically means that your veiled chameleon will fight with its own kind to get the finest perching branch and who gets to eat first.
There will be posturing, biting, gaping, and a lot of stress. How would it feel if someone pushed you in a bedroom with a bully who doesn’t let you do what you want to? They would get the best space to sleep, the finest food, and they might even encroach your space when they want to.
Stress can lower down the immunity system of a veiled chameleon. Diseases are more common in stressed veiled chameleons.
This doesn’t mean that the dominant chameleon stays happy and healthy though. They spend too much energy on handling their dominant position.
Do you think being dominant and bad is easy? It takes a lot of effort and puts a lot of pressure on a chameleon to do so.
As human beings, we benefit from social interaction, but veiled chameleons do not benefit from the community.
They don’t even hunt in groups to increase the chance of getting food for the day. Veiled chameleons don’t tolerate cohabitation.
If it gives stress to your chameleon, it is best to back off and let other veiled chameleons their own space.
Breeding Chameleons: How does it work?
In case you’ve decided to get veiled chameleons for breeding, there are some ways to go about it.
When a female veiled chameleon gets sexually mature, they are ready to mate. She will allow the male veiled chameleon to enter her territory but don’t keep them together for more than 2 hours.
There will be color changes in her skin. She will give other signals to the male veiled chameleon that she’s ready to mate.
If she is not willing to mate, she will make it clear to the chameleon with other signs. This is the time when she can fight a male veiled chameleon.
Don’t think of the male chameleon as a foolish creature, they enter the enclosure and check if they’re welcome or not.
Once the mating is done, you need to bring the male veiled chameleon back to its original cage.
How to Figure Out Your Veiled Chameleon’s Emotions Inside a Crowded Cage?
When you place other veiled chameleons in the cage, lookout for a change in color of the skin. Veiled chameleons change colors when they are feeling something.
If your veiled chameleon is with other veiled chameleons, notice the change in color and figure out what they are feeling.
1.) Relaxation – Light blue or green means your veiled chameleon is in a neutral or normal state.
2.) Fear – When a veiled chameleon is stressed, its color will change into dark green. Black coloration is also a sign of illness. Keep the other veiled chameleons in another cage if this happens.
3.) Excitement/Stimulation – Light green or bright green means the veiled chameleon is too excited. This could also be the color when they interact with a mate.
4.) Mating – When a female veiled chameleon is ready to mate, she will have gold stripes with green or blue background. In case she is pregnant, she will turn dark green with blue and yellow spots. Brown or white means she is not exactly in the mood.
5.) Aggression – Old veiled chameleons get very aggressive at times. There will be brown, yellow, and dark green spots and stripes. The veiled chameleon might hiss too.
6.) Depression – Brown discoloration means your veiled chameleon is sad or depressed. This could be due to a new tank mate or a sudden change in their habitat.
7.) Sleep – The color will be brighter than usual while they are sleeping.
If you see any color changes, it means your veiled chameleon is either stressed, depressed, sleepy, ready to mate, angry, or relaxed.
How can you make Cohabitation work for Chameleons?
Veiled chameleons can be found together in the wild, but they still have the option of moving away from each other. There are instances where veiled chameleons have lived peacefully with their own kind.
Cohabitation CAN work, but it is not desirable. Here are some instances where it works.
1.) Siblings – When baby veiled chameleons grow in a space where there is an abundance of resources, they grow older peacefully. Don’t try to put a new chameleon into the cage as the gang will attack the newcomer. Control the situation by keeping a close watch on your veiled chameleon.
2.) Is there a Group Benefit? – When you introduce a new veiled chameleon to the cage, you are basically introducing conflict, competition, and stress.
In case there is a group benefit and your veiled chameleon is tolerant of others, then it will certainly work. Once again, this is not ideal and you would need to monitor closely.
3.) Freedom of Escape – With freedom of escape, cohabitation of veiled chameleons is possible. The reason why veiled chameleons don’t like being with other chameleons is because of the small space. The cage is a confined space, so the veiled agitated chameleon can’t escape into a bush.
How about a green-house setup? The veiled chameleons will have the option of escaping. There will no longer be any politics or dominance posturing.
With these techniques, you might be able to make cohabitation possible. But don’t force it if your veiled chameleon does not want to live with his own kind in the same tank.
Let them have their own space, or build a green-house setup for all the veiled chameleons. This way, they will have their space and will escape when needed.
Have more queries? Check out the FAQs as we’ve answered all the questions.
FAQs
Can you keep two Veiled Chameleons together?
Veiled chameleons have a territorial nature. Keeping more than one veiled chameleon is not recommended. Male and female pairs will also fight with each other.
Can a male and Female Veiled Chameleons live together?
It is not the ideal situation. Veiled chameleons should be kept in separate cages. Keeping the male and female veiled chameleons together would be a big risk. It’s not worth the trouble!
Do Female Veiled Chameleons lay eggs?
Female veiled chameleons lay eggs during the breeding season. However, female veiled chameleons lay infertile eggs even if there is no breeding.
What to know before buying a Veiled Chameleon?
Veiled chameleons are not exactly social animals. They don’t handle tank mates, so make sure you give them plenty of space and proper food.
Concluding Thoughts
We hope you’ve found the answers to your questions. A veiled chameleon is a solitary creature.
Sure, they can be out in the wild and interact with their kind, but keeping them with other veiled chameleons in the same cage/tank is not advisable.
Consider getting separate cages and providing foods they like.
Two veiled chameleons cannot live together, so keeping multiple veiled chameleons in the same cage would be a big mistake.
Keeping siblings might still work under some scenarios, but introducing unrelated veiled chameleons into a pack in a tank will never work.
