If you’re not familiar with reptiles, you might not know the differences or similarities between chameleons and iguanas. These two animals are actually quite different when you compare them side by side.
I was just like you, curious about the difference and similarities between chameleons and iguanas. After doing a lot of research online, here is what I’ve found.
Chameleons are different from iguanas in several ways, mainly their size, diet, and behavior. Despite that, they also possess some similarities since they are reptiles after all.
In this article, I will be going in-depth into the difference and similarities between chameleons and iguanas. If you are comparing both to see which you should get as a pet, you are in the right place.
Behaviors of Chameleons Vs Iguanas
Both chameleons and iguanas have pretty similar behaviors and personalities. However, they do have some slight differences if you observe them long enough.
Similarities In Behaviors
Some of the most obvious similarities in behavior when comparing chameleons with iguanas are that they are both territorial and solitary animals.
Both these animals do not like it when there’s another living thing near them or in and around their area even if it’s their own kind.
In fact, they love being alone, undisturbed. In many cases, chameleons and iguanas are not very friendly towards humans.
However, each chameleon and iguana has its own personality. Some will love to interact with humans while some will hate your guts no matter what you do.
Differences In Behaviors
The first thing that you will notice when chameleons and iguanas are being territorial is that iguanas tend to be more aggressive.
If you are stepping on an area that an iguana claimed territory, it will not hesitate to chase you down and attack you. On the other hand, chameleons will either walk away or give you signs that you are in its territory.
Chameleons can be quite mean but it takes a lot for a chameleon to attack you. That being said, iguanas are more affectionate to humans when compared to chameleons.
It can be tough to get a bond with both these animals at first but if you do, iguanas will be much friendlier, more like a dog. In fact, iguanas actually like it when their owners pet them on the head.
Even when there’s an existing bond, chameleons still do not like to be handled too much as it can really stress them out.
It’s much harder to have your chameleon chill beside you while you watch TV but it’s very doable with iguanas.
Living Conditions
Since chameleons and iguanas are both reptiles and cold blooded, their living conditions are pretty similar. Most chameleons and iguanas typically live in areas where it’s warm and humid such as rainforests. So, you can imagine that they have very similar needs.
Heat
Chameleons and iguanas both need a basking area of about 100°F while having a cooler area of about 80°F during the day and around 70°F during the night.
These numbers vary slightly between these two animals but they are around the same range. Moreover, different species of these animals might also need slightly different sets of temperatures in the cage.
Make sure to research the specific animal and species before setting the temperature in the cage. Having the optimal temperature set up is crucial for the health and happiness of the animal.
Humidity
Other than having a warm enclosure, humidity is also extremely important. Without the right humidity, both the chameleons and iguanas will have issues such as shedding problems and dehydration.
Most chameleons need between 60% and 80% humidity while iguanas need about 70% to 80%.
This shouldn’t be a surprise since the majority of chameleons and iguanas share the same habitat in the wild (rainforest).
Again, if you have either one of these as pets and don’t want them to get sick, make sure to keep the humidity up to where it should be at all times.
Lighting
Both chameleons and iguanas LOVE basking under the sun. Not only do they love the sun, but they also NEED it.
These animals do not just bask under the sun for fun like humans, they actually have good reasons to do so. As you know, chameleons and iguanas are both cold-blooded animals.
This means they depend on their surroundings to regulate their body temperatures. When they get cold, they go under the sun to warm up and when they get hot, they will go under the shade to cool down.
Without having enough heat, their metabolism will slow down significantly, until a point where they no longer have the energy to move.
Both chameleons and iguanas need about 12 hours of light turned on. On top of that, they also need UVB light which is naturally produced by the sun.
UVB is used to synthesize calcium in their body so they can grow or maintain strong bones. Without having the proper UVB light, any chameleon or iguana can easily get metabolic bone disease (MBD), which can lead to death if left untreated.
The need for UVB light percentage will be slightly different for each animal and species.
Chameleon or iguana species that live in the desert will likely require a higher percentage of UVB compared to those that live in the rainforest.
So, make sure to check with your breeder or do proper research online before getting the UVB light.
Cage Size
Big cages are always preferred when housing a chameleon or iguana. Having a small enclosure can really stress these two animals out.
An adult chameleon should have a cage size of at least 4′ long x 4′ high x 3′ wide. On the other hand, adult iguanas should have 96′ long x 48′ to 72′ width x 96′ high.
This can vary depending on the size of chameleon or iguana you have. Some species of chameleons and iguanas can’t grow as big. In that case, you can use a smaller cage.
A good rule of thumb is to have 2 times the snout to vent length (SVL) of the reptile for the length, width, and height of the cage.
Let’s say your lizard is 5 inches long SVL, then ideally, you should have a cage of at least 10′ x 10′ x 10′.
Sleeping Schedule
When it comes to sleeping, both chameleons and iguanas are diurnal. This means they are awake and moving in the morning and sleeps at night.
It is important not to disturb their daylight cycle when in captivity. Doing so could give them stress which can lead to death in serious cases.
Chameleons and Iguanas typically go to sleep once the light is off and wakes up as soon as there’s light. They both sleep around 12 hours a day and stay awake for the other 12 hours.
Another similarity they have when sleeping is that they are not truly sleeping. Chameleons and iguanas are constantly looking out for predators since they are not high up in the food chain.
Even during sleep, they have their senses still remained on the whole time. For chameleons, they will rest one eye at a time while the other eye is looking out for potential danger.
Iguanas, on the other hand, is a little different, they actually close their eyes when “sleeping”. However, iguanas have a third eye on their head.
They use this third eye to detect movements from above. If they sense any suspicious movements, they will become alert.
Diet of Chameleons Vs Iguanas
Chameleons are mostly omnivores while iguanas are mostly herbivores. Let’s have a deeper look into what chameleons and iguanas eat.
Chameleons’ Food
Most of the time, chameleons prey on insects, bugs, and worms such as crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, and cockroaches just to name a few.
Occasionally, they will also eat plants such as hibiscus, pothos, and ficus. Other than that, they also enjoy some dark leafy greens such as mustard greens, romaine lettuce, kale, and many others.
That being said, adult chameleons don’t need to be fed every day. Feeding your adult chameleon 5 to 6 large adult insects, bugs or worms is enough food for them to last 2 to 3 days.
Iguanas’ Food
Foliage is what iguanas tend to feed on in most cases. Iguanas love to eat dark leafy greens such as mustard greens, bok choy, beet greens, turnip greens, and many more.
Moreover, they also really love fruits such as mango, strawberries, blueberries, and so on. Flowers such as hibiscus, orchids, and so on can also be fed to iguanas.
When feeding your iguana, it’s a good idea to mix it up so that it doesn’t get bored with eating.
You also need to portion so that your iguana’s meal is made out of at least 50% of the dark leafy greens and 30% to 40% of other vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and such.
The other 10 or 20% can include fruits. However, fruits should only be given once in a while as treats.
Size & Weight Difference Between Chameleons & Iguanas
When it comes to size, there is a HUGE difference between chameleons and iguanas.
Adult male chameleons typically grow up to 15 to 20 inches from its nose to the tail while adult male iguanas grow up to 50 to 75 inches from nose to tail.
These are just general numbers of the most common chameleons and iguanas. As you can see, iguanas are typically at least 3 times larger than chameleons.
In terms of weight, adult male chameleons weigh around 80 to 180 grams while adult male iguanas weigh around 10 to 20 pounds. The difference is absolutely massive!
Self Defense: Chameleons Vs Iguanas
Due to the massive size and weight difference between chameleons and iguanas, it is quite expected that iguanas can defend themselves much better. Despite that, these two animals much prefer to run away when faced with a predator.
Chameleons’ Self Defense
Since chameleons are so small, there is really nothing they can do in terms of being violent when faced with a predator. The only real self defense a chameleon has is camouflage.
They have a body shape just like a leaf on a branch. On top of that, they can also change colors to blend in better with the environment.
When these two are used together, it can be extremely effective when hiding from predators. The only violent thing a chameleon can do is biting but it’s not very effective at all.
Iguanas’ Self Defense
There are way more options for iguanas when it comes to self-defense and escaping from predators. Iguanas can actually run extremely fast considering their size and weight.
Furthermore, they can also drop their tails if they are ever caught. This way, iguanas leave their predator with just a tail. They will only resort to violent self-defense techniques when they are left with no choice.
Some of the most common ones are biting and tail whip. Do not underestimate them, iguanas can be quite dangerous. Even though iguanas are mostly herbivores, they have razor-sharp teeth and strong jaws that can easily tear through the skin of most living things.
Moreover, their tail whips are also very powerful. Occasionally, they might also scratch with their sharp claws. Iguanas being so huge, these can cause some devastating injuries.
Potty Training: Chameleons Vs Iguanas
It might sound weird when you hear people talk about potty training their reptiles. To some extend it is. However, some reptiles such as iguanas can be potty trained.
Iguanas are way smarter than most people think. You can even train your pet iguana to use a human toilet if you have enough patience.
Even if your iguana isn’t potty trained, it will most likely do its business in a tub of water, if you provide it in the cage. This makes the cleanup process so much easier.
On the other hand, chameleons are not very likely to be able to be potty trained, at least I’ve never heard anyone do that. Chameleons just poop wherever and whenever it wants.
That might sound like a nightmare if you are planning to get a chameleon but fret not! Chameleons generally are not messy animals and their poop isn’t that different.
In fact, chameleons’ poop is not smelly and easy to clean. That said, both chameleons and iguanas are very clean animals.
Doing Activities Together: Chameleons Vs Iguanas
If you are planning to get a pet, you might want to do some activities together with it to create some sweet memories. With many reptile pets, it can be hard to do that.
Even though chameleons and iguanas are both solitary reptiles that prefer to be alone, iguanas are much more inclined to do any sort of activities with you.
You are lucky if a chameleon climbs and chill on you. That is pretty much the only activity you can do with your chameleon – chilling.
However, with an iguana, you can do a lot more. Iguanas love walking and swimming. Once your iguana is tamed, you can actually put a leash on it and bring it out to the park for a walk, just like a dog.
Other than that, you can also let it swim in a pool if you have one. They love doing activities under the sun. That being said, do keep in mind that your iguana might poop in the pool and you’ll have to clean it up.
Even if your iguana didn’t poop, the pool still needs to be thoroughly cleaned before anyone else uses it as there are chances of salmonella infection.
Difficulty As A Pet: Chameleon Vs Iguana
Both chameleons and iguanas are relatively hard pets to take care of, they are definitely not pets for beginners. There are many things you need to get right if not your chameleon or iguana can get seriously ill.
If I had to compare, chameleons are definitely harder to care for compared to iguanas. The reason being chameleons are more fragile and sensitive to environmental change.
Even a small mess up can cause your chameleon to get sick. If you want to find out more on why chameleons are so hard to care for, check out this article.
All that being said, iguanas aren’t too far behind. Both these animals require a lot of time, attention, and effort to keep them healthy and happy.
On top of that, they are also quite expensive to keep. You must be willing to spend a decent amount of money on vet visits, food, enclosure, tools, and so on.
Conclusion
In conclusion, chameleons and iguanas are both cold-blooded reptiles, hence they do share some similarities. However, they also have distinct differences as well.
Some of the similarities include some behaviors (territorial and solitary), living conditions, and sleeping schedule.
On the other hand, some of the major differences include their diet, size, the way they defend themselves, and the activities they can do with owners.
Both chameleons and iguanas can be quite difficult to take care of, chameleon being the harder one.
If you are a beginner, opt for an easier reptile pet until you have more experience with them before you take on a chameleon or iguana.
