Chameleon Growth Rate Chart: How Fast Do Chameleons Grow?

How do you figure out that you’re taking the best care of your chameleon? If we’re not wrong, by tracking the growth, right? But the problem pops up when you actually got no idea about their growth rate. So, how fast do chameleons grow?

Well, right after their birth, chameleons can grow 1″ – 2″ every single month. From the hatchling stage, they keep growing till the age of 9 to 12 months. But after that, you won’t see any major changes in their size or weight. By the way, the overall growth pattern depends mostly on the species.

We bet you haven’t got a clear picture of a chameleon‘s growth yet. After all, it’s not a growth chart. Don’t worry; we’re about to get you that too.

Growth Chart of Chameleons

Like the ‘taking care’ part of the chameleon, their growth can be tricky too. After all, there are tons of things that can influence their growth. But what influences it the most is the type of their own species.

So, if you’re asking for one growth chart that goes for all of them, then we’re sorry, but getting you that is impossible. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get you individual growth charts for each one of the species that can ease up your growth tracking.

Veiled Chameleon Growth Chart

As beginners’ chameleons, veiled chameleons are probably the most popular color shifters out there. But still, lots of the chameleon owners don’t even know how to keep track of their growth. Well, we guess this growth chart might come in handy in this regard.

AgeWeight (Ounce)Length (Inches)
Hatchling<1/10 of an oz.3 – 4
4 weeks.2 – .34 – 6
2 months.7 – 1.255 – 7
3 months1.5 – 2.58 – 12
4 months2.75 – 3.2510 – 14
6 months4.5 – 612 – 18
9 months6 – 6.7514 – 20
1 year6.75 – 918 – 24

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Panther Chameleon Growth Chart

If you’re asking for a species you can count under the title of ‘most expensive’, then with closed eyes, we’d take the name of panther chameleons. Probably that’s why breeders consider them as their first choice for breeding.

But not only the breeders, regular owners too should be aware of the reptile’s growth pace if they want to see it healthy in the upcoming days. Let’s just make it a bit easier with a growth chart.

AgeWeight (Ounces)Length (Inches)
Hatchling<1/10 of an ounce2 – 4
4 weeks.1 – .32 – 5
2 months.4 – .754 – 6
3 months.8 – 1.255 – 8
4 months1.5 – 2.256 – 10
6 months2.75 – 48 – 14
9 months3.25 – 68 – 16
1 year3.5 – 6.510 – 18

Jackson’s Chameleon Growth Chart

When it comes to the most unique looking chameleons, it’s kind of tough to beat the Jackson’s chameleons. With those horns and impressive colorations, they can leave behind almost any other species in the race for an appealing look.

But like the other color shifters, ensuring their growth too is challenging. This is where you’re going to need for tracking down the growth pops up. Well, a growth chart at that time can be really helpful, we bet. But before you jump into the chart, know this – the Jackson’s doesn’t grow as big as the other species. So, don’t expect it to be gigantic.

AgeWeight (Ounces)Length (Inches)
Hatchling<1/10 of an ounce2 – 4
4 weeks<1/10 of an ounce2 – 5
2 months.1 – .2 3 – 6 
3 months.1 – .33 – 7 
4 months.2 – .44 – 8
6 months.4 – .75 – 10
9 months.6 – 16 – 12
1 year.8 – 1.256 – 15

What Can Make Your Chameleon Stop Growing?

Yes, it’s true that some of the lizards out there can keep growing forever. But we really can’t put the chameleons on that list. This means one day, they simply stop growing and stick to a certain size for the rest of their life.

But is there anything that makes a chameleon stop growing all of a sudden? Well, there are a bunch of reasons that put a pause and sometimes a full stop on the growth of these color shifters.

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Temperature

These reptiles have very specific temperature requirements in order to grow and develop properly. The heat, or the absence of it, can affect your pet’s hunger, which means the food intake will go down with it. For obvious reasons, that’ll mess with the growth.

So, if you’re really into keeping the temperature on point, you better keep track of that regularly. Don’t worry; you don’t need any sophisticated tech piece as having a digital thermometer will be enough to do that.

Food

A high-quality food, in addition to a regular feeding schedule, is essential to the health and growth of these reptiles. FYI, they don’t come up with any major dietary preferences and will consume almost any prey that they’re able to capture. But when the food you’re giving them is missing essential nutrients, there’s a high chance that they’ll slow down on the growth part.

Age

After a certain age, mostly 1 year, the chameleons stop growing. So, let’s just call it more of a natural cause. This is something you just can do nothing about. But still, you should keep the diet and temperature on point as, without them, they can’t stay healthy for too long.

Food That Can Help Your Chameleon to Grow

Omnivorous – this is probably the perfect title that goes for the chameleons when it comes to their diet. This is not just a matter of desire when it comes to food; chameleons actually, in their natural habitats, need to consume a variety of foods, especially insects. Otherwise, there’s a chance of them missing out on the required nutrients that they need for their survival and growth.

Unlike adults, juvenile chameleons consume food much more often and should thus have access to it at all times. Once your chameleon reaches adulthood, the frequency of feedings can be decreased to once per day.

But what kind of food can exactly assist in the growth of a chameleon? Well, yes and they are –

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Staple Insects

It is essential to have nutritious insects for feeding your chameleon on a regular basis. You might be coming up with some names in your mind, but not all of them can keep up with your reptile’s need for nutrition, which can lead to its better growth. For the best results, you can try some of the most nutritious insects for your chameleon to eat, including Crickets, Hornworms, Dubia Roaches, and Reptiworms.

Fatty Insects

When it comes to the diet you provide for your chameleons, one of the most important things that you should pay close attention to is the amount of fat in the food. After all, an excessive amount there will do nothing but make your reptile sick, and we bet you don’t want that.

So, it’s better to be choosy about insects that are acceptable for occasional feedings. The best names we can suggest you here are of Superwoms, Mealworms, and Waxworms.

Can A Cage Stop A Chameleon From Growing?

There are a few facts that can stop a chameleon’s growth, and the last time we checked, a small cage wasn’t one of them. So, if you’re worried about putting your chameleon in a smaller cage, then we bet that’s not going to mess with your chameleon’s growth directly.

But does it mean, in a passive way, a chameleon’s cage influences its growth? Well, even if you are providing your reptile with a balanced meal and if the cage they are confined to is too tiny, it is still possible that they will experience feelings of tension and anxiety.

Because of the stress, they may not attain their full development potential and may also have a shorter lifetime as a result of the condition. So, the best thing to do here is to give your chameleon a specious cage to live along with giving it proper meals.

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What is the Best Ways to Maximize Your Chameleon’s Growth?

Though there isn’t much you can do to stimulate your chameleon’s growth, there are still a bunch of things that you go for to maximize its growth. You’re probably thinking it’s the food that you should take care of in this manner. Temperature, humidity, and UVB – these are the prime element that helps in the growth of the reptile, after food, of course.

The first thing you’ll have to take here is that its habitat is on point, where the reptile will feel comfortable. Once you’re done with that, make sure the temperature within the reptile’s enclosure is sticking to a number between 72° and 80° F. But that’s only during the daytime. When the sun is down, you better not let the temperature go down below 50° F.

The next thing you’ll have to put your eyes on is relative humidity. Keep it at a level of 50% at least. Most of the chameleon owners spray the tank twice daily to get this done. Also, keep in mind that you need to arrange some horizontal support for the reptile. And yes, it needs to be placed under the basking spot.

By the way, you already know how the chameleon’s tropical habitat necessitates exposure to the sun’s UVB rays. But you might not be able to pull something like that off always. If you don’t have access to natural sunlight, you’ll need to ensure this yourself using a particular UVB bulb that’s on for 12 hours every day.

Missing out on that part surely will lead your chameleon to calcium deficiency. This means, sooner or later, it might have to deal with leading to a metabolic bone disease which can, later on, cause irreversible deformities.

Before You Go……

After going through the last segment, you’re probably wondering whether you should invest in a heat lamp only to keep the temperature on point or go for something better. Well, in our next blog, we’ve unboxed all the facts on that. All you have to do is just click at Do Chameleons Need Heat Lamps?

Muntaseer Rahman

About Author

Hello, I’m Muntaseer Rahman, the owner of AcuarioPets.com. I’m passionate about aquarium pets like shrimps, snails, crabs, and crayfish. I’ve created this website to share my expertise and help you provide better care for these amazing pets.

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