How long do Pygmy Chameleons live?
Pygmy chameleons live about 2-5 years in captivity and stay tiny at 2-4 inches (5-10 cm), typically under 15 grams.
What do Pygmy Chameleons eat?
Feed micro-prey: flightless fruit flies, springtails, and pinhead crickets, gut-loaded and dusted with calcium plus a D3 multivitamin every 1-2 weeks. Offer food every day or two in small amounts. They will not eat large insects and need live prey that fits their minute mouths.
Pygmy Chameleon enclosure setup
A small planted terrarium (12x12x18 inches / 30x30x45 cm) with leaf litter, moss and low branches suits a few. Keep 70-78°F (21-26°C) days with a night drop to 65-70°F (18-21°C) — never hot. Humidity must be high at 70-100% with frequent gentle misting and good ventilation to avoid mold. Use only low, shaded light; bright UVB stresses them (a 2-5% T5 briefly, or none).
Common mistakes with Pygmy Chameleons
Critical errors: temperatures too high (they are cool-floor specialists), humidity too low (rapid dehydration), too much light/UVB (stress), and handling (fragile, easily killed by stress).
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Heat above 80°F (27°C) — cool-floor species overheat and die.
- Humidity below 70% — they dehydrate within days.
- Bright light or strong UVB — chronic stress.
- Handling — too fragile for it.