First year of ownership: 3.6 % mortality in reptiles, 28 % in chameleons
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
"Is this a beginner species?" The answer usually rests on forum impressions. A survey published in 2015 puts a number on it: the proportion of animals that died within a year of arriving, species group by species group. Our care guidance is gathered in the reptile care section.
Contents · 5 sections
6,689 reptiles, two questioning methods
Robinson, St. John, Griffiths and Roberts published in 2015, in PLoS ONE, an open-access study on captive reptile mortality in the home (see the study). Two hundred and sixty-five questionnaires were collected face to face at two British herpetological shows in 2013, covering 6,689 reptiles in total. The authors paired direct questioning with an additive randomised response technique, designed to bypass social desirability bias — both methods produced results with no significant difference, which strengthens confidence in what was reported.
The overall figure hides a considerable gap
- 3.6 % of snakes, chelonians and lizards died within a year of acquisition, all groups combined.
- 1.9 % in boas and pythons — the lowest rate in the study.
- 5 to 10 % for most lizards.
- 28.2 % in chameleons — more than one animal in four.
The study also notes that over 97 % of snakes, 87 % of lizards and 69 % of chelonians acquired over five years were captive-bred. The mortality measured is therefore not that of freshly wild-caught animals.
What these figures do not say
The authors are explicit about the main limit: respondents represent only a subset of British keepers, those who attend specialist shows — that is, people more involved and better informed than average. The 3.6 % is very probably a floor, not a general estimate. Three further caveats matter:
- The data are entirely self-reported and retrospective, with no veterinary verification or necropsy: no cause of death is established.
- The 28.2 % chameleon rate is not accompanied by its own sample size in the text, which makes its stability impossible to judge.
- The study says nothing about morbidity or the welfare of survivors: surviving twelve months does not mean being well kept.
Worth noting too: a correction published in 2016 added a competing-interests statement — one co-author chaired a herpetological society — without changing any figure.
The useful reading before acquiring a reptile
The veiled chameleon concentrates exactly the demands that explain this kind of gap: humidity, UVB, drip hydration, supplemented live food, visual isolation. Our article on the first-year budget for a veiled chameleon details what that level of equipment represents. Conversely, the constrictor snakes in the study need simpler, more stable parameters. And whatever the species, two steps cut the risk from arrival onwards: avoiding the classic first-terrarium mistakes and running a proper quarantine for a new arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chameleon unsuitable for a beginner?
The study makes no recommendation: it records a high rate without identifying its cause. What the figure mainly justifies is preparing the complete setup before buying rather than adjusting afterwards.
Do these figures apply outside the UK?
The survey is British and covers show visitors. Nothing licenses transposing it as such — but the ranking between species groups follows from their biological requirements.
What if an animal dies in the first few months?
A necropsy by a specialist vet is the only way to know — the study illustrates precisely what is lost by never looking for the cause. Find all our guides on the reptile hub.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Ventilated clear box for feeder insects, transport and quarantine, 19 cm (€17.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Reptiles universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.