How big do Oustalet's Chameleons get?

Including the tail, they can reach a total length of up to 68.5 cm, making them one of the largest chameleon species in the world. Males tend to grow larger, while females typically stay around 40 cm.

Are they suitable for beginners?

Oustalet's Chameleons are generally considered suited to keepers with some experience rather than complete beginners. It's a good idea to have some background in chameleon care before bringing one home.

How long do they live?

In captivity, they can live up to about 15 years. Be prepared for a long-term commitment when considering one as a pet.

Can I keep more than one together?

Chameleons are strongly territorial, so housing them individually is standard practice. Keeping multiple together in one enclosure often causes stress or fighting, so each chameleon should have its own space.

How can I tell males and females apart?

Color is the easiest way to distinguish them. Males have a subdued brown-and-gray coloration, while females are green-toned with white spots along their sides.

Oustalet's Chameleon

Oustalet's Chameleon is one of the largest chameleon species in the world, found throughout Madagascar. Including its tail, total length can reach up to 68.5 cm, giving it an imposing presence unlike smaller chameleon species. Males wear a subdued camouflage of browns and grays, while females display green tones accented with white spots along their sides, a striking difference between the sexes that makes them fascinating to observe. Solitary by nature, they don't do well housed with other chameleons, but their slow, deliberate movement through branches has a quiet charm all its own. Considered a species suited to keepers with some experience, they need a spacious enclosure and consistent environmental care.

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Oustalet's Chameleon key facts

Care level: Intermediate
Lifespan: Up to 15 years in captivity
Size: Up to 68.5cm; females to about 40cm
Diet: Crickets, dubia roaches and other insects, occasionally small lizards and mammals
Temperature & Humidity: Indoors, create a hot spot with an incandescent dome lamp and mount reptile UVB fluorescent tubes on top. Provide both a sunlit area and permanent shade so the animal can thermoregulate for itself. A cool-mist humidifier on a timer is recommended against dehydration.
Enclosure: Give one adult a screen enclosure at least 120 cm tall by 90 cm wide and 90 cm deep. Ficus stands up best to the weight and abuse of a chameleon among live plants. Avoid substrates that can catch on the tongue; paper towel is the safe choice. For a gravid female, place a 30-gallon bin of fresh potting soil in the enclosure as a laying site.
Diet & Feeding: It eats mainly insects, including flies and roaches, which is why Madagascans welcome it around villages. In captivity use crickets and dubia roaches as the staple, gut-loaded and dusted with calcium. Large individuals will also take small lizards and mammals.
Temperament: Intraspecific aggression is milder than in many chameleons, but like almost all chameleons it should be kept singly. Males never tolerate each other, and gravid females never tolerate company.
Notes: Listed on CITES Appendix II as Chamaeleonidae spp. since 4 February 1977. Appendix II means no Japanese registration certificate is needed, but an export permit from the range state is, and Madagascar works to an export quota of about 2,000 animals a year. The IUCN Red List assesses it as Least Concern.

TraitsChameleonReptileMadagascarLarge speciesCITES II

About Oustalet's Chameleon

Oustalet's Chameleon, one of the world's largest chameleon species from Madagascar, grows up to 68.5 cm with striking male-female color differences. An intermediate-level reptile suited to spacious, well-managed enclosures.

7 things to know before welcoming a Oustalet's Chameleon

1Needs a Large Enclosure
As one of the largest chameleon species in the world, reaching up to 68.5 cm including the tail, Oustalet's Chameleons quickly outgrow starter cages. Plan for a tall, spacious enclosure from the beginning to accommodate their eventual size.
2Males and Females Differ in Size
Males grow considerably larger than females, sometimes reaching the species' maximum length of 68.5 cm, while females typically stay around 40 cm. Check the sex at purchase so you can plan enclosure space accordingly.
3Best Kept Alone
Chameleons are highly territorial, and housing multiple individuals together often leads to stress or fighting. Oustalet's Chameleons are no exception, so each animal should have its own enclosure.
4Color Reveals the Sex
Males wear a subdued camouflage of browns and grays that helps them blend into their surroundings, while females show green tones with white spots along their sides. This color difference makes it easy to tell males and females apart before you buy.
5A Decade-Plus Commitment
In captivity, Oustalet's Chameleons can live up to 15 years, meaning they ask for a long-term commitment compared to many other reptiles. Be prepared to maintain their care and enclosure for years to come.
6Handle Them Sparingly
Chameleons tend to be skittish, and frequent handling can easily stress them out. It's best to enjoy watching them and only handle them gently when truly necessary.
7Give Them Room to Climb
Highly arboreal, Oustalet's Chameleons prefer moving through branches and foliage rather than staying on the ground. Fill the enclosure with sturdy branches and plants so they can move naturally in three dimensions.

Frequently asked questions about Oustalet's Chameleon

Q.How big do Oustalet's Chameleons get?: A.Including the tail, they can reach a total length of up to 68.5 cm, making them one of the largest chameleon species in the world. Males tend to grow larger, while females typically stay around 40 cm.
Q.Are they suitable for beginners?: A.Oustalet's Chameleons are generally considered suited to keepers with some experience rather than complete beginners. It's a good idea to have some background in chameleon care before bringing one home.
Q.How long do they live?: A.In captivity, they can live up to about 15 years. Be prepared for a long-term commitment when considering one as a pet.
Q.Can I keep more than one together?: A.Chameleons are strongly territorial, so housing them individually is standard practice. Keeping multiple together in one enclosure often causes stress or fighting, so each chameleon should have its own space.
Q.How can I tell males and females apart?: A.Color is the easiest way to distinguish them. Males have a subdued brown-and-gray coloration, while females are green-toned with white spots along their sides.