1st Time Handling Questions

[MerCham]

Hi Everyone; we've had our ambilobe cham. for about a month now, but we've never really tried to handle him because we wanted him to feel very much at home before we tried. He's gotten pretty used to me opening his enclosure to feed him and to mist or clean the cage. But today is the big day- I want to take him out and try to hold him. I've decided to move the enclosure into my big bathroom (tiled floor) so that I can put the enclosure down on the floor so if he falls, he won't have far to go. (I'm also going to put towels down to cushion his fall if he falls.) I'm going to shut off the room so that my dog can't get in. Otherwise, what can I expect? Do I just (slowly) reach in and try to pick him up? Do chameleons run? He has never gaped at me or hissed or tried to bite, but he does still seem wary of me. I don't want to scare him, just hold him and maybe feed him his crickets out of a cup (he did that just once in his cage, but hasn't done it since.) Also, he is almost 4 months old- do chams color change at that age if he is excited? He's never shown much color other than green w/black stripes with an occasional teal patch on this cheek.

Sorry for all the questions, but I don't want to scare/drop/lose him and want to be a bit prepared. What happened the first time you tried to hold your cham?

 

[Sun]

I would let him walk onto your fingers hand deff dont grab him chams dont like that just be patient and have fun all chams are different but none like to be grabbed have good day

 

[creddjobs]

Don't force him...they also are more confortable once outside the cage.

 

[MerCham]

Thanks for the advice! I hope he doesn't mind coming out of his enclosure. I have a new "twig" that can be used in bird cages. Do you think it might help to let him get on that first and then take him out? I was thinking maybe putting my hand in near him might look like a big snake coming at him.

 

[Kibu]

I have never held mine under the age of six months because juveniles have a tendency of jumping, resulting in fatalities.

 

[MerCham]

Ah! thanks for that because I've never seen him jump either, so I'll be prepared. Sivad seems like a pretty laid-back cham, but then again, I've never tried to hold him either.

 

[Kibu]

One of my Chams did a free fall while I was carrying it to its cage post-arrival.

 

[MerCham]

Yep, Sivad actually did that when I first got him. He was hanging from the top of the cage & I opened the enclosure and he let go! Landed right into his big plant so he didn't go far but it was an eye opener. That is why I'm moving his enclosure onto the floor and will be sitting in front of it so if he falls, he should land on my lap or if he does land on the floor, it will be short drop. I'm also putting a really thick pad down on the floor under us, so if he should happen to get away, he won't land on a hard surface. Having seen the 'suicide drop' once, I don't want him to get hurt, that's for sure.

 

[Kibu]

They are arboreal species so they do fall in the trees accidentally. I do recommend u to sit down, but I don't Know if the padding is necessary, but if u r still worried, or just want to use it as an extra precaution it is a good idea. Make sure the material of the padding is not irritating.

 

[MerCham]

OK! Well, it went pretty well, all in all, for the 1st time. I did put the enclosure on the floor and he got on the top and ran around a bit! He got on our hands a bit, too. We only kept him out about 5 minutes before letting him get back inside his home. I didn't want to stress him out too much. I think I'm going to make a special place to get in when I want to take him out here for the 1st few times, so I don't have to move his enclosure everytime. I won't lift him out of it because it is a few feet off the floor and I don't want him to drop. Anyway, it went pretty well. I will post some pics in the Sivad album.

 

[Irwinthechameleon]

Take it slow leave your hand there , don't go for the back and don't touch his back. If you want to stroke him stroke his chin gently and he can't run they're pretty slow but good luck

 

[creddjobs]

Thanks for the advice! I hope he doesn't mind coming out of his enclosure. I have a new "twig" that can be used in bird cages. Do you think it might help to let him get on that first and then take him out? I was thinking maybe putting my hand in near him might look like a big snake coming at him.

I tried that with my cham and he didnt like it at all. He fired up anytime I stuck anything close to him besides my hand. He didnt fire up at my hand but would just go and hide. Be patient, and the more he trust you then he will come out willingly. Until then take it slow. He might not like you at all, just part of the game.

 

[jaredg87]

http://screameleons.com/how-to-handle-your-chameleon-properly/

These 3 videos will tell you everything you need to know on how to handle your chameleon.
There super short

Good luck hope you enjoy the love of chameleon's its the best feeling EVER!