Never Transport a Chameleon in a Bag
Despite numerous warnings, many amateurs, as well as professional commercial breeders, traders, and exporters of wildlife, continue a common practice traditionally used for snakes, which is also applied to lizards and even chameleons. Specifically, they transport these animals in thick cotton bags that are closed with a string at the top. This method of transport is absolutely unethical and detrimental, with so many drawbacks that it should be declared illegal.
The dangers are as follows:
1. Chameleons tend to stretch their bodies in cotton bags. Because they can find a firm grip with their nails on the cotton, they often end up cornered in the bag, causing significant damage to the tIp of their mouths as they attempt to push their heads against the corner. The result is an irreparable wound, which serves as a gateway for infection. In the best-case scenario, this leads to the animal enduring a few months of life in a pitiful state, opening the door to infections, mouth rot, desiccation, and other severe issues.
2. Chameleons detest any contact of their bodies with external objects. In the wild, nothing touches them unless they are preyed upon or, in cases, when a male makes contact with a female during copulation. The confinement in a bag subjects them to unwanted touch and pressure, causing immense stress that can lead to anything from discomfort to sudden death.
3. Often, chameleons are given water before transportation. If they vomit in the cotton bags, or if they defecate due to stress or weakness, or have excessive water in their intestines, the bags become moist. This moisture renders the bags impenetrable to air, and the limited or nonexistent air exchange can lead to hypoxia and death of the animal.
4. The seams of the bags are usually turned inside, and while the chameleon attempts to stretch its body and legs to free itself from the distressing and unnatural state of confinement, some of the threads may come loose. This can lead to the chameleon's legs becoming entangled, resulting in deep, hard-to-heal injuries similar to deep cuts, or even necrosis of extremities due to strangulation. If they push against a loop of string, they can become strangled, resembling a hanging situation.
5. Cotton, by definition, is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture within its structure. This property contributes to water loss in the animal through simple respiration, vomiting, or defecation, resulting in dehydration. Additionally, it can exacerbate the lack of air exchange described above.
The practice of transporting chameleons in cotton bags should be avoided and made illegal.
Fortunately, it can be easily replaced with safer alternatives.
The Optimal Transport Option for Chameleons
The best option by far for transporting a chameleon is a moderately sized, dark, cold plastic box equipped with several small ventilation openings and one branch that meets the following specifications:
Plastic Box Size:
Length: Should be 1.5 times the combined head and body length of the animal.
Height and Width: Should be three times the height of the chameleon at mid-body (the highest point).
The chameleon should be able to sleep during transportation, which means it does not require a large space. Since the tail will naturally be curled up, the space should only be sufficient to prevent contact between the chameleon's body and any surrounding objects.
Ventilation Openings:
Placement: Openings should be located on opposite sides of the box.
Total Area: Should approximately equal 30% of the area of the chameleon's head as seen from the side, excls
Darkness:
The absence of light is one of the three factors that induce reflexive sleep in chameleons, so the box should be dark to promote sleep during transportation.
Cool Temperature:
The temperature inside the transport box should be kept low, ideally matching the natural nighttime conditions of the chameleon's habitat. This contributes to inducing reflexive sleep.
Branch:
The box should include a thin, fixed (non-movable) branch for the chameleon to grasp. This branch should be positioned diagonally, with both ends placed approximately one inch above the bottom of the box. This provides the third factor that encourages reflexive sleep.
Material of the Box:
The optimal material for the transport box is smooth plastic. The small ventilation openings will help retain moisture from the chameleon's exhalations, preventing desiccation. Plastic is preferable to materials such as paper or cardboard, which are hygroscopic and can either desiccate the animal or become moist and unstable.