Panther Chameleon

Furcifer pardalis

The most spectacular chameleon — males shift between electric blue and fire-red patterns. Gorgeous, but delicate: airflow, drip water, and zero cage mates.

14–20 in5–7 years

Habitat

Enclosure

18×18×36 in tall minimum · mesh cage

Temperature

Basking 90–95°F · ambient 72–80°F

Humidity / Water

50–70%, misted several times daily

Heating & lighting

A tall, well-ventilated mesh cage — not glass. Basking 90–95°F with ambient 72–80°F via a low-wattage bulb; UVB tube year-round. Mist 2–3× daily so they can drink from leaves.

Diet

Feed these

Crickets
Dubia roaches
Silkworms and hornworms
Superworms as treats

Never feed

Standing water bowls (they don't recognize them — dehydration is the top killer)
Overheating above 90°F
Handling more than necessary
Vitamin A deficiency (use a quality supplement)

Feed daily to every other day, gut-loaded and dusted. They drink from droplets — a drip system or misting several times a day is non-negotiable.

Cohabitation

Can live with

No one — house this species alone.

Never house with

Other panther chameleons — serious fighting Any other species

Strictly one per enclosure — they're fiercely territorial, and stress alone can kill them. Out of sight of other chameleons, including through windows or mirrors.