Raising Chameleons In Outdoor Reptile Enclosures?

Chameleons are one of the most popular types of reptillian pets on the planet, and there are more than 200 chameleon types you could choose to keep in an enclosure (which is technically called a reptarium). However, can you raise chameleons in outdoor reptile enclosures? Most chameleon-keepers and hobbyists house their chameleons within small, indoor enclosures that give owners total control over the habitat.

The food, the heat, and the other aspects that make up taking care of your chameleon.

Outdoor reptile enclosures are possible, but setting one up can take a lot more work than simply maintaining a smaller environment worth a few feet. An outdoor enclosure is something that you’ll see where the owner has the benefit of space. If you control the conditions in the right ways, you can happily keep chameleons in an outdoor reptile enclosure.

Here’s more about keeping chameleons in outdoor reptile enclosures, including what you have to do to make sure the conditions are spot on.

Can I Raise Chameleons In An Outdoor Reptile Enclosure?

The short answer to this question is yes: you can raise chameleons in an outdoor reptile enclosure.

However, the longer answer is a little more complicated than that.

Chameleons can benefit from an outdoor enclosure, however, it can be more difficult for the chameleon owner to control conditions on the inside of a larger enclosure.

A chameleon might have to travel further for access to food, for example, or heat might be more difficult to control outside than inside. But for the experienced (or courageous!) chameleon-keeper, this isn’t an impossible goal.

If you want to raise chameleons in an outdoor reptile enclosure, you have to make sure that you get all the aspects of the cage right: including ensuring that the enclosure seals!

Why Outdoor Enclosures Are Less Common…

An outdoor reptile enclosure is more common for centers and zoos, generally, and there’s reason for this: most people start with one or two chameleons. Whereas outdoor enclosures are built to house several (often territorial) chameleons that will need their own individual space within this enclosure.

Outdoor enclosures are also potentially expensive, and usually have to be custom-built.

An outdoor reptarium can also take more work to maintain, including the need to make sure there are safe (and clean) water sources. As well as enough space to avoid male chameleons fighting over their territory.

Why Outdoor Enclosures Can Still Work…

Outdoor enclosures can still work if you are a chameleon-keeper with time, and sufficient budget. With care, outdoor reptile enclosures are perfectly safe and healthy for your chameleons.

If you want to keep your chameleons in an outdoor enclosure, make sure that it seals properly, and keep basic safety-and-security in mind. Make sure that no other outside animals can access or gain entry to your enclosure.

Once that’s been done, chameleon owners should start taking care of the same things they would have to think about within a smaller enclosure. But in this case, considering it on a larger scale than they normally would.

Include the right plants, and make sure that chameleons have enough space to roam around if you intend on keeping several in the same enclosure.

Temperature Control

Temperature control is one of the first challenges that a chameleon owner might encounter when keeping their chameleons in a larger enclosure. Heat is more dispersed in a larger environment, where you can have easier control over heat in a smaller enclosure.

Install several thermometers throughout the cage, and monitor consistently: these days, you can even hook your thermometers up to an app so you can monitor it remotely.

Foliage and More

Owners can have a lot of fun kitting out their chameleon enclosure with foliage and plants. However, eventually you’ll run out of space (and often creativity) when you’re doing it in a smaller enclosure

Larger enclosures can be more complicated to manage and initially set up, but have the benefit of more freedom and creativity… For the owner!

Have fun with it and do some research on what’s naturally found within their habitat. Create a comfortable, aesthetic chameleon enclosure and you’ll automatically have happier chameleons. As a chameleon owner, an outdoor enclosure can also be where you have some of your fun.

Open and Hidden Areas

An effective chameleon enclosure has plenty of open and hidden areas, where your chameleons can bask, relax, or spend most of their day. In a larger enclosure, it just means that you have some more to think about. It can also mean that you have more freedom to play around with their enclosure and it’s specifics.

Imagine the habitat that your chameleon would have in nature, and approximate this as closest as you can within a larger enclosure.

Enough Space… Or Too Much?

An effective chameleon enclosure should have enough space for your chameleons to roam around in, without giving them so much space that they don’t have access to their food and water. In a larger chameleon cage where keeping several, you have to make sure that you’re not overpopulating. Each chameleon will need sufficient space, or you’re looking at territorial fights and a lot of potential damage.

Giving each chameleon their own “area” within the enclosure can avoid the common territorial, fighting behavior that most reptiles engage in around males.

Chameleons and Trees or Perches

Chameleons don’t just need trees, but can also benefit from having several sticks or twigs to perch on. Tree-dwelling chameleons will often choose a tree that they prefer – and it’s recommended that you choose several appropriate trees if you’re going to house several chameleons in the same enclosure.

Always remember that chameleons, like most reptiles, are heavily territorial.

For the best care, give each chameleon their “own” tree, perch, and appropriate amount of space.

Conclusion: Constant Vigilance

Chameleon-keeping is an epic journey that could fit over the pages of several books – and it’s a journey that’s never done, which is part of why it can be so enjoyable. Larger enclosures, and general chameleon care, means that you have to keep monitoring their conditions – and where necessary, make adjustments for better care.

Want to know more about how to care for your chameleon? Read through some of our posts to find expert chameleon care tips, including their habits and feeding tips.