Meller’s Chameleon (Trioceros melleri) Care Sheet
Meller’s Chameleon (Trioceros melleri) is one of the largest chameleon species in Africa and one of the most impressive chameleons maintained in captivity. Adults are powerfully built, with a distinctive occipital lobe at the rear of the head, a relatively small rostral horn and striking green, yellow, black and cream colouration.
Native to south-eastern Africa, Meller’s Chameleons inhabit warm but generally moderate woodland and savanna environments with pronounced seasonal rainfall. Their husbandry differs considerably from that of smaller, more commonly kept species.
Their large adult size means they require:
- Exceptionally spacious accommodation
- Extensive horizontal as well as vertical climbing space
- Strong branches capable of supporting a heavy adult
- Dense visual cover
- Excellent ventilation
- Large quantities of drinking water
- Appropriate UVB
- Bright visible lighting
- A varied live-invertebrate diet
- Careful temperature management
Despite their size, Meller’s Chameleons should not be kept excessively hot.
They are particularly vulnerable to:
- Chronic dehydration
- Overheating
- Poor ventilation
- Inadequate space
- Stress
- Parasites in wild-origin animals
Historically, many Meller’s Chameleons entering the European hobby were wild-caught. Acclimating imported adults can be difficult, and documented captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred whenever available.
This species is best considered:
advanced chameleon husbandry requiring considerably more space than most commonly kept chameleons.
Quick facts
Scientific name: Trioceros melleri
Common names: Meller’s Chameleon, Giant One-Horned Chameleon
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Native distribution: South-eastern Africa
Lifestyle: Arboreal
Activity: Diurnal
Adult size: Commonly approximately 45–60 cm (18–24 in) total length; exceptionally large individuals may approach or exceed 60 cm (24 in)
Adult weight: Large adults may exceed 500 g
Diet: Primarily live invertebrates
Day ambient temperature: Approximately 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Basking temperature: Approximately 27–30°C (81–86°F)
Cool area: Approximately 20–23°C (68–73°F)
Night temperature: Approximately 16–20°C (61–68°F)
Day humidity: Approximately 50–70%
Night humidity: Approximately 75–95% with good ventilation
UVB: Essential
Suggested basking UVI: Approximately 2–3
Adult enclosure: Approximately 4 × 2 × 4 ft (120 × 60 × 120 cm) should be regarded as a practical minimum starting point for one adult, with 5–6 ft long × 2–3 ft deep × 4–6 ft high accommodation strongly preferred
Housing: Individual housing is safest for most keepers
Reproduction: Egg-laying
Handling: Minimal
Experience level: Advanced
Taxonomy
The accepted scientific name is:
Trioceros melleri
Older literature may list the species as:
Chamaeleo melleri**.**
It belongs to:
Family: Chamaeleonidae
Genus: Trioceros
Natural distribution
Meller’s Chameleons are native to south-eastern Africa.
Their natural range includes parts of:
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Tanzania
They are also recorded from neighbouring areas within the wider region.
Natural habitat
Meller’s Chameleons are associated primarily with:
- Woodland
- Moist savanna
- Bushland
- Forest edge
- Large trees
- Cultivated areas containing suitable mature vegetation
They are not primarily inhabitants of extremely hot, dry open savanna.
Seasonal environment
Much of their range experiences pronounced:
- Wet seasons
- Dry seasons
These influence:
- Humidity
- Food availability
- Reproductive activity
- Vegetation density
Arboreal lifestyle
Meller’s Chameleons are strongly:
arboreal.
Their substantial body mass means enclosure structure must be much stronger than that required for smaller chameleons.
Adult size
This is among the largest mainland African chameleons.
Adults commonly reach approximately:
45–60 cm (18–24 in)
total length.
Body build
Adults are:
- Deep-bodied
- Heavy
- Strong-limbed
- Powerful climbers
Adult weight
Large adults may weigh:
500 g or more.
Weight varies considerably according to:
- Sex
- Body condition
- Age
- Reproductive status
Appearance
Meller’s Chameleons have:
- A small rostral horn
- Large occipital lobes
- High casque
- Deep body
- Strong limbs
- Long prehensile tail
Occipital lobes
The enlarged flap-like structures behind the head are among the species’ most distinctive features.
Rostral horn
Both sexes may possess the characteristic small:
rostral process.
Colouration
Colouration may include:
- Green
- Yellow
- Cream
- Black
- Brown
Stress colouration
Strong black and contrasting patterns may appear during:
- Stress
- Social interactions
- Defensive displays
Colour alone should never be used as the sole measure of health or mood.
Sexing
Meller’s Chameleons can be difficult to sex visually.
Unlike some chameleons, they lack an obvious simple external characteristic that reliably distinguishes every adult male from every female.
Why accurate sexing matters
A female believed to be male may still develop eggs and require:
appropriate nesting provision.
Behaviour
Meller’s Chameleons are often comparatively deliberate and calm when undisturbed.
However, they can become significantly stressed by:
- Repeated handling
- Inadequate enclosure size
- Other chameleons
- Busy surroundings
- Poor visual cover
Handling
Handling should remain:
minimal and purposeful.
Large does not mean robust
Their impressive size can give the false impression that they tolerate frequent handling better than smaller chameleons.
They remain:
stress-sensitive arboreal reptiles.
Voluntary movement
Whenever possible, encourage the animal to:
walk onto a large branch or keeper’s arm voluntarily.
Never pull from a branch
Meller’s Chameleons have an exceptionally powerful grip.
Never pull an animal away from a branch while its feet are gripping.
This can injure:
- Toes
- Feet
- Limbs
Defensive behaviour
A threatened animal may:
- Flatten its body
- Gap
- Hiss
- Lunge
- Bite
Bite potential
A large Meller’s Chameleon can deliver a:
painful bite.
Enclosure philosophy
Think:
indoor tree rather than ordinary chameleon cage.
Space is one of the defining husbandry requirements of this species.
Minimum adult enclosure
For a single adult, approximately:
4 × 2 × 4 ft (120 × 60 × 120 cm)
should be regarded as a practical minimum starting point rather than an ideal enclosure.
Preferred adult accommodation
Where possible, provide approximately:
5–6 ft long × 2–3 ft deep × 4–6 ft high
or larger.
That is approximately:
150–180 × 60–90 × 120–180 cm.
Why length matters
Meller’s Chameleons require substantial:
horizontal movement.
A very tall but narrow enclosure is inadequate for a large adult.
Large custom enclosure
Suitable accommodation may include:
- Large custom mesh enclosure
- Hybrid enclosure
- Indoor planted aviary-style enclosure
- Dedicated free-range indoor tree system
Free-range systems
A free-range setup can work well for experienced keepers but must still provide controlled:
- Heat
- UVB
- Hydration
- Drainage
- Safety
Escape-proofing
Ensure the animal cannot reach:
- Electrical cables
- Toxic plants
- Open windows
- Other pets
- Unsafe heat sources
Branches
Branches must be:
strong enough to support the animal’s full weight.
Branch diameter
Provide a wide variety of branch diameters, including substantial branches that adult feet can grip comfortably.
Branch network
Create multiple routes between:
- Basking area
- UVB exposure
- Feeding locations
- Drinking areas
- Dense cover
Branch security
Every major branch should be securely anchored.
A falling branch can seriously injure a large chameleon.
Foliage
Provide abundant vegetation.
Visual cover
The animal should be able to:
completely hide from view.
Live plants
Suitable robust plants may include:
- Schefflera
- Ficus
- Hibiscus
- Pothos trained through branches
- Other non-toxic plants capable of supporting humid conditions
Plant safety
Plants must be:
- Non-toxic
- Pesticide-free
- Thoroughly washed
Ventilation
Excellent ventilation is essential.
Large enclosure advantage
A large enclosure makes it easier to provide:
- Airflow
- Thermal gradients
- Humidity gradients
- UV gradients
Drainage
Meller’s Chameleons require substantial hydration, meaning drainage must be planned before the enclosure is built.
Standing water
Do not allow large quantities of water to accumulate on the enclosure floor.
Temperature
Meller’s Chameleons should not be maintained as extremely hot tropical reptiles.
Day ambient temperature
Maintain most of the enclosure around:
22–26°C (72–79°F).
Basking temperature
Provide a basking area around:
27–30°C (81–86°F).
Avoid excessive heat
Routine basking temperatures of:
32–35°C+ (90–95°F+)
are unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Cool area
Provide substantial areas around:
20–23°C (68–73°F).
Why a gradient matters
A large chameleon takes longer to:
- Heat
- Cool
than a small chameleon.
It must therefore be able to move freely between thermal zones.
Night temperature
Allow nighttime temperatures to fall toward approximately:
16–20°C (61–68°F).
Night cooling
A noticeable nighttime temperature reduction is beneficial.
Heatwaves
Prolonged warm weather can present a serious husbandry challenge.
Heatwave planning
During hot conditions:
- Reduce or switch off basking heat
- Increase room ventilation
- Use a cooler room
- Use air conditioning where necessary
- Closely monitor enclosure temperatures
Signs of overheating
Possible signs include:
- Persistent gaping
- Restlessness
- Moving to unusually low or shaded areas
- Reduced appetite
- Weakness
Heating
Use:
overhead heat only.
Heat mats
Heat mats are inappropriate as the primary heat source for an arboreal chameleon.
Basking lamp
A broad halogen flood is preferable to a very concentrated spot lamp.
Broad basking area
Because Meller’s Chameleons are large-bodied, the basking zone should warm a substantial portion of the animal rather than creating one extremely hot point.
Burns
Ensure the animal cannot physically contact:
- Heat bulbs
- Ceramic heaters
- Hot fixtures
Thermostat
Use appropriate safety control.
Temperature monitoring
Measure:
- Basking branch
- Upper ambient temperature
- Shaded zone
- Lower enclosure
- Night minimum
UVB
UVB is essential.
Suggested UVI
Provide approximately:
UVI 2–3
at the principal exposed basking position.
UV gradient
Provide:
- UVI around 1–2 in partially shaded areas
- Below 1 through dense vegetation
- Near-zero UV retreats
What this means in practice
For an enclosure of this size, use an appropriately sized:
linear T5 UVB system.
Coverage
A small compact UVB lamp is unlikely to provide appropriate coverage across a large Meller’s enclosure.
Lamp output
The correct lamp depends on:
- Reflector
- Mesh
- Distance
- Fixture
- Enclosure height
Mesh effect
Screening can substantially reduce UV reaching the animal.
UV meter
A UV meter is particularly useful with large enclosures because it allows the keeper to establish:
the actual UVI at each major perch.
Shade
Do not expose the entire enclosure to the same UV intensity.
Visible-spectrum lighting
Provide strong daylight-spectrum illumination.
Large enclosure lighting
Large enclosures may require more than one visible-light fixture to avoid:
dark, poorly illuminated areas.
Photoperiod
Approximately:
11–13 hours
of daylight is appropriate depending on season.
Night lighting
Provide:
complete darkness.
Humidity
Meller’s Chameleons require good hydration but should not live in constantly saturated conditions.
Day humidity
Maintain approximately:
50–70%.
Night humidity
Humidity can rise toward:
75–95%
as temperatures fall.
Humidity cycling
A natural cycle is preferable to maintaining:
one fixed humidity percentage.
Daytime drying
Branches and foliage should partially dry between hydration sessions.
Ventilation
High humidity must always be accompanied by:
excellent airflow.
Misting
Meller’s Chameleons benefit from:
long, substantial misting sessions.
Why longer misting matters
Some chameleons do not immediately begin drinking when misting starts.
A brief spray may wet the enclosure without providing enough time for the animal to:
drink properly.
Morning misting
Provide a substantial morning hydration opportunity.
Evening misting
An evening session can support:
- Hydration
- Natural nighttime humidity increase
Dripper
A slow dripper is particularly useful for this species.
Drinking duration
Large adults may drink for:
extended periods.
Water demand
Do not underestimate how much water a large Meller’s Chameleon may consume.
Water bowl
Do not rely on a standing water bowl as the primary drinking source.
Drinking behaviour
Chameleons normally drink:
moving droplets from leaves and branches.
Fogging
Cool nighttime fogging can be used where:
- Temperatures are appropriate
- Airflow remains strong
Avoid warm stagnant fog
Do not run heavy fogging in a warm, poorly ventilated enclosure.
Hydration monitoring
Monitor:
- Eye fullness
- Urates
- Weight
- Appetite
- Activity
Urates
Healthy urates should usually be predominantly:
white.
Persistent orange urates
Dark yellow or orange urates may indicate:
inadequate hydration.
Diet
Meller’s Chameleons are primarily:
insectivorous.
Natural diet
Wild prey includes:
- Large grasshoppers
- Crickets
- Beetles
- Caterpillars
- Flies
- Moths
- Other arthropods
Captive staple feeders
Offer:
- Locusts
- Crickets
- Appropriate roaches
- Silkworms
- Black soldier fly larvae
Additional variety
Useful feeders include:
- Moths
- Flies
- Hornworms
- Appropriate stick insects
- Other safe cultured invertebrates
Large feeders
The species can take relatively large prey, but:
large prey should not mean oversized prey.
Dietary variety
Avoid relying solely on:
- Crickets
- Locusts
Adult feeding
Healthy adults generally do not require feeding every day.
Approximately:
3–4 feeding days weekly
is a useful starting point.
Adjust individually
Feeding should be adjusted according to:
- Body condition
- Age
- Activity
- Sex
- Reproductive status
Juveniles
Growing juveniles should be offered appropriately sized prey:
daily or almost daily.
Gut loading
Conventional feeders should be:
properly gut loaded.
Calcium
Dust prey appropriately with:
plain calcium.
Multivitamin
Use an appropriate reptile multivitamin periodically.
Vitamin D3
Where effective UVB is available, supplemental D3 should be used:
conservatively.
Over-supplementation
Avoid excessive:
- Calcium
- D3
- Multivitamin
supplementation.
Body condition
Large size should not be confused with obesity.
Healthy adults should remain:
- Well muscled
- Relatively lean
- Strongly gripping
Weight monitoring
Regular weighing is highly useful.
Social housing
Meller’s Chameleons have sometimes been maintained in large communal environments.
This should not be interpreted to mean that:
ordinary cohabitation is safe.
Safest approach
For most keepers:
individual housing is recommended.
Why
Chameleons may experience social stress without obvious physical fighting.
Subtle stress
Signs can include:
- Avoidance
- Persistent colour changes
- Reduced feeding
- Remaining in poor thermal positions
- Weight loss
Visual barriers
Neighbouring animals should be provided with:
- Dense vegetation
- Visual barriers
where necessary.
Group housing
Any attempt at group housing requires:
- Extremely large accommodation
- Multiple basking sites
- Multiple feeding areas
- Extensive visual barriers
- Close behavioural monitoring
- Immediate ability to separate animals
This is an:
advanced management technique, not standard husbandry.
Reproduction
Meller’s Chameleons are:
oviparous — egg-laying.
Sexing difficulty and females
Because sexing can be difficult, any mature animal of uncertain sex should be managed with the possibility that it may be:
female.
Female reproductive condition
Females should have access to suitable nesting conditions when reproductive activity is possible.
Gravid female
Signs may include:
- Increasing body mass
- Abdominal enlargement
- Reduced appetite
- Restlessness
- Ground exploration
- Digging
Nesting provision
A female requires a particularly substantial laying area because of her:
large body size.
Laying container
Provide at least approximately:
18–24 in (45–60 cm)
of suitable nesting substrate where possible.
Nesting area dimensions
The laying area must also be wide enough for the female to:
- Enter fully
- Turn around
- Dig a substantial tunnel
Nesting substrate
A suitable mixture can include:
- Organic topsoil
- Sand
Moisture
The substrate should be moist enough to:
hold a deep tunnel without collapsing.
Privacy
A nesting female should receive:
maximum privacy.
Disturbance
Repeated disturbance may result in:
- Nest abandonment
- Delayed laying
- Increased risk of egg retention
Clutch size
Meller’s Chameleons can produce:
large clutches.
Approximately:
30–60 eggs
may occur, with individual variation.
Reproductive demand
Producing a large clutch places enormous demands on:
- Calcium
- Energy
- Hydration
Post-laying care
After laying:
- Rehydrate thoroughly
- Offer appropriate nutritious prey
- Maintain suitable calcium provision
- Minimise disturbance
- Monitor weight and recovery
Egg handling
If eggs are removed:
- Maintain orientation
- Avoid unnecessary rotation
- Handle gently
Incubation medium
Suitable media include:
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
maintained moist but not saturated.
Incubation temperature
A moderate incubation temperature around:
22–24°C (72–75°F)
is a useful general starting range.
Avoid excessive incubation heat
Do not attempt to accelerate development with high temperatures.
Incubation duration
Incubation is lengthy and may take approximately:
9–12 months or longer
depending upon temperature and clutch.
Hatchlings
Meller’s Chameleon hatchlings are comparatively large but remain delicate.
Hatchling housing
Provide:
- Fine branches
- Dense foliage
- Excellent ventilation
- Reliable hydration
- Appropriate UVB
Hatchling temperature
Maintain daytime temperatures around:
21–24°C (70–75°F).
Hatchling basking area
Provide approximately:
25–27°C (77–81°F).
Hatchling night temperature
Allow temperatures to fall toward approximately:
16–19°C (61–66°F).
Hatchling UVB
Provide approximately:
UVI 1–2
at exposed upper branches.
Hatchling humidity
Maintain:
- Moderate daytime humidity
- Higher nighttime humidity
- Excellent ventilation
Hatchling diet
Offer:
- Small crickets
- Appropriate roach nymphs
- Flies
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Other suitably sized cultured insects
Hatchling feeding
Offer food:
daily.
Hatchling supplementation
Supplement lightly and appropriately.
Quarantine
All newly acquired Meller’s Chameleons should undergo strict quarantine.
At least:
90 days
is recommended.
Longer quarantine may be appropriate for wild-origin animals.
Wild-caught history
Historically, many Meller’s Chameleons in captivity originated as:
wild-caught adults.
Imported adult problems
Wild-caught adults may arrive with:
- Severe dehydration
- Heavy parasite burdens
- Shipping stress
- Injuries
- Poor body condition
- Respiratory disease
Acclimation
Newly imported animals require:
- Quiet surroundings
- Excellent hydration
- Appropriate temperatures
- Minimal handling
- Veterinary assessment
Captive-bred preference
Documented:
captive-bred Meller’s Chameleons should be strongly preferred.
Veterinary screening
Wild-origin animals should ideally receive:
- Physical examination
- Accurate body weight
- Faecal parasite testing
Parasites
Possible parasites include:
- Nematodes
- Protozoa
- Other gastrointestinal parasites
Do not treat blindly
Parasite treatment should be based on:
- Diagnosis
- Parasite burden
- Animal condition
- Accurate weight
- Veterinary guidance
Common health concerns
Potential problems include:
- Dehydration
- Overheating
- Metabolic bone disease
- Parasites
- Respiratory disease
- Eye problems
- Burns
- Foot injuries
- Nutritional imbalance
- Reproductive complications
Dehydration
Possible signs include:
- Sunken eyes
- Dry or orange urates
- Lethargy
- Reduced feeding
- Weight loss
Metabolic bone disease
Possible signs include:
- Weak grip
- Tremors
- Bent limbs
- Soft jaw
- Fractures
MBD prevention
Provide:
- Appropriate UVB
- Correct calcium
- Properly gut-loaded prey
- Suitable temperatures
Respiratory disease
Risk factors include:
- Poor ventilation
- Constant wetness
- Incorrect temperatures
- Warm stagnant humidity
Respiratory signs
Watch for:
- Wheezing
- Clicking
- Nasal discharge
- Excess mucus
- Abnormal open-mouth breathing
Eye health
Healthy eyes should remain:
- Full
- Open
- Mobile
during daylight.
Daytime eye closure
Persistent daytime eye closure is:
a significant warning sign.
Foot health
Large adults place considerable load on their feet.
Poor branch selection can contribute to:
- Pressure injuries
- Abrasions
- Swelling
- Infection
Branch variety matters
Avoid forcing the animal to spend all day gripping:
one uniform branch diameter.
Falls
Falls can cause significant injuries because of the animal’s body mass.
Secure every major climbing structure.
Reproductive complications
Females may suffer:
- Calcium depletion
- Egg retention
- Dystocia
Possible dystocia
Seek veterinary help for:
- Repeated unsuccessful digging
- Persistent straining
- Severe weakness
- Continued abdominal enlargement
- Prolonged anorexia
Veterinary red flags
Seek veterinary assessment for:
- Persistent anorexia
- Significant weight loss
- Severe dehydration
- Weak grip
- Tremors
- Daytime eye closure
- Abnormal breathing
- Swollen feet
- Serious falls
- Suspected reproductive problems
Cleaning
Remove promptly:
- Faeces
- Dead prey
- Rotting vegetation
- Mould
Large faecal output
Large adults produce considerably more waste than small chameleons.
The enclosure must be designed for:
practical routine cleaning.
Drainage maintenance
Inspect drainage regularly for:
- Blockages
- Standing water
- Odour
Seasonal husbandry
Natural seasonal cycles can be reflected through modest changes in:
- Misting
- Humidity
- Photoperiod
- Feeding
Wet season
During wetter periods:
- Increase hydration opportunities
- Increase nighttime humidity
- Maintain strong ventilation
Dry season
During drier periods:
- Allow more daytime drying
- Reduce misting moderately
- Continue reliable drinking opportunities
Dry season does not mean dehydration
Never deliberately deprive the animal of drinking water.
Brumation
Meller’s Chameleons do not undergo conventional:
temperate brumation.
Conservation
Threats may include:
- Habitat conversion
- Deforestation
- Agricultural development
- Wild collection
CITES
Meller’s Chameleon is regulated under:
CITES Appendix II.
International trade
International movement may require:
- CITES documentation
- Export permits
- Import documentation
- National wildlife documentation
Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain
Rules governing international movement differ between jurisdictions.
Check current requirements before:
- Import
- Export
- Commercial transport
- Sale across borders
Provenance
Retain:
- Scientific name
- Breeder or supplier details
- Hatch date where known
- Parentage
- Country/locality information where known
- CITES documentation
- Import/export records
Never release captive animals
Never release captive Meller’s Chameleons into the wild.
Common husbandry mistakes
Common mistakes include:
- Underestimating adult size
- Using a standard small chameleon enclosure
- Providing height but insufficient horizontal space
- Using weak or unstable branches
- Keeping the enclosure too hot
- Providing an excessively hot basking spot
- Failing to provide nighttime cooling
- Failing to prepare for summer heat
- Providing inadequate hydration
- Using misting sessions too short for the animal to drink
- Poor drainage
- Poor ventilation
- Maintaining warm stagnant humidity
- Providing inadequate UVB
- Providing UVB over too small an area
- Providing no shaded retreat
- Feeding only one feeder species
- Overfeeding adults
- Over-supplementing
- Assuming large size means the animal enjoys handling
- Routine cohabitation
- Failing to provide nesting substrate to an animal of uncertain sex
- Using a laying container that is too small
- Failing to quarantine wild-origin animals
- Treating parasites without diagnosis
- Purchasing undocumented wild-caught animals
Responsible ownership
Before obtaining a Meller’s Chameleon, ensure you can provide:
- Legally documented provenance
- A genuinely large adult enclosure
- At least approximately 4 × 2 × 4 ft (120 × 60 × 120 cm), with considerably larger accommodation strongly preferred
- Extensive horizontal and vertical climbing space
- Heavy-duty secure branches
- Dense vegetation
- Excellent ventilation
- Effective high-capacity drainage
- Day temperatures around 22–26°C (72–79°F)
- Basking around 27–30°C (81–86°F)
- Cooler areas around 20–23°C (68–73°F)
- Night temperatures around 16–20°C (61–68°F)
- Appropriate humidity cycling
- Long misting sessions
- A dripper or equivalent additional hydration
- Appropriate UVB
- UVI around 2–3 at the principal exposed basking position
- Bright visible lighting
- Extensive shaded retreats
- A varied live-invertebrate diet
- Proper gut loading
- Appropriate supplementation
- Individual housing
- Substantial nesting provision where sex is female or uncertain
- Quarantine facilities
- Access to a reptile-experienced veterinarian
Summary
Meller’s Chameleon (Trioceros melleri) is one of Africa’s largest chameleons and requires substantially more space than the majority of species maintained in captivity.
Adults commonly reach approximately:
45–60 cm (18–24 in)
total length and can become extremely heavy-bodied.
Approximately:
4 × 2 × 4 ft (120 × 60 × 120 cm)
should be regarded as a practical minimum starting point for an adult rather than an ideal enclosure.
Accommodation approximately:
5–6 ft long × 2–3 ft deep × 4–6 ft high
or larger is strongly preferred.
Maintain daytime temperatures around:
22–26°C (72–79°F)
with basking around:
27–30°C (81–86°F)
and cooler shaded areas around:
20–23°C (68–73°F).
Allow nighttime temperatures to fall toward approximately:
16–20°C (61–68°F).
Maintain approximately:
50–70% daytime humidity
with nighttime humidity rising toward approximately:
75–95%
while maintaining excellent ventilation.
Provide UVB producing approximately:
UVI 2–3
at the principal exposed basking area.
Hydration is especially important. Large adults may drink substantial quantities and benefit from:
- Long misting sessions
- Large wet leaf surfaces
- Drippers
- Cool nighttime humidity
Feed a varied diet of:
- Locusts
- Crickets
- Roaches
- Silkworms
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Flies
- Moths
- Other appropriate cultured invertebrates
with proper gut loading and sensible supplementation.
Individual housing is the safest general approach.
Females are egg-laying and require exceptionally substantial nesting provision. Because external sexing can be difficult, mature animals of uncertain sex should be managed with this possibility in mind.
Meller’s Chameleon is regulated under:
CITES Appendix II.
The central principles of successful husbandry are:
space, strong enclosure structure, moderate temperatures, excellent hydration, ventilation, appropriate UVB and minimal stress.
For a keeper able to provide genuinely large accommodation and careful environmental management, Trioceros melleri is one of the most remarkable chameleons that can be maintained in captivity.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
Always check current legislation governing the acquisition, collection, import, transport, keeping, breeding or sale of reptiles in your jurisdiction.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: September 2026