A Chameleon bite

[chickenleg77]

Hi,

I post yesterday asking advice about my moody chameleon. I was wondering of those of you out there that have been unfortunate enough to have been bitten how bad can it be? I ask because eventually I think she may get me she has become very territorial lately. She hand feeds very well but I'm going to try and use my other hand as a bridge for her to climb on to see if she will come on to my hand that way. I would love to take her into my garden as the weather is lovely blatant the moment and being the uk it doesn't happen very often. The thick vine I use to use to tempt her out she went mental at and did everything from bite it to head but it.

Anyway back to my question how bad can the bit be are we talking bone deep or drawing a little blood!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Bernie]

I've only ever been bitten by young chameleons and their bite is quite strong. Luckily without teeth so no blood was drawn or marks were left.

I am also intrigued to hear some stories about peoples bites, and wound pictures if possible!

 

[BocaJan]

It can be pretty bad if you pull your hand away when being bitten. Those little serrated teeth act just like a serrated knife and can really do damage. I bet someone will find the picture of a lady who had to get stitches. I have been bitten pretty good, but I grit my teeth and bare it because I don't want that to happen to me. It hurts, oh yes, but I am just left with some little pin pricks. Usually, once out of their cage (their territory) they will calm down. I have some artificial trees and my kids love to hang out in them. It doesn't seem like they get territorial in them, maybe because they don't live in them.

Anyway, you can always put on leather gloves and bring her out and let her calm down. You may find that she will them calmly climb up your arm, around your shoulder and try to even climb up your head. Have another person act as a spotter in case you can't reach her if she goes to your back. You really can acclimate them fairly quickly. It is only the getting them out of the cage that is the hard part.

Have you tried to just leave her door open and see if she would come out on her own?

 

[Darc]

Just found this with a search on the forums...looks like they can do a good bit of damage.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/she-bit-crap-out-me-12332/

 

[jannb]

I've had a few bites and they are not that bad. I had one from an angry young chameleon but most were accidents when hand feeding. I also had a female bite me when a male was after her that shouldn't be (I free range all chams) and I was getting him off of her before they could mate. I have a picture of my worse bite from the angry young male panther.

 

[chickenleg77]

That's quite a nasty bite. She has never freely came out of her viv but like you said once she is out she has always been calm once out. I often leave the viv door open but she has never shown any interest in coming out I am also looking for trees to put by her viv but can find any big enough for her

 

[pssh]

Those serious bites are usually because the owner pulls their hand away or the chameleon decides to "death roll." If the chameleon is mad/scared enough, it will shake and pull it's head from side to side to rip the skin pretty badly.

They do have a very strong bite though.

 

[hallenhe]

My worst bites have been when they've accidentally gotten me when trying for food - when that happens, I let them pull my finger in and chomp down because I don't want to damage the tongue by jerking away. Bea, my female veiled, got me twice yesterday, once with several bites in rapid succession right at the knuckle. It wasn't great fun, but was no worse than a paper cut. The only bleeding wound I've received in recent years from a pet was wholly unexpected in that it came from a cichlid fish!

 

[Carlton]

I've been bitten by lots of critters (off the top of my head let's see...gulls, eagles, hawks, owls, geese, swans, sandhill cranes, herons, pine martens, dogs, cats, parrots, toucans, motmots, more songbirds than I can remember, pythons, frogs, salamanders, leaf tailed geckos, mice, rats, horses, fish, and, chams including a huge melleri) and don't find cham bites bad. The worst part is the surprise and startle. Damage is quick to heal, the bites are not huge and really don't hurt after the event is over.

If you are really worried, let her bite you. I think you won't worry as much after that.

 

[DavidBuchan]

I've been bitten by lots of critters (off the top of my head let's see...gulls, eagles, hawks, owls, geese, swans, sandhill cranes, herons, pine martens, dogs, cats, parrots, toucans, motmots, more songbirds than I can remember, pythons, frogs, salamanders, leaf tailed geckos, mice, rats, horses, fish, and, chams including a huge melleri) and don't find cham bites bad. The worst part is the surprise and startle. Damage is quick to heal, the bites are not huge and really don't hurt after the event is over.

If you are really worried, let her bite you. I think you won't worry as much after that.

Lol, actually good advice. They tend to gape, hiss, and warning lunge before a real bit attempt in my limited experience, so I've never been bitten by a cham.
You have a female Veiled? Or Panther? Either way, won't be any worse than when my last monitor bit me (he only ever nipped too, but has similar peg teeth, and made a line of tiny holes in my finger....). Don't worry too much about it, because it won't hurt too bad, and if you're scared it will make her more difficult to handle.

 

[pssh]

When my veiled was about 2 months old, I was taking pictures of him with my camera. He did not like the camera at all and began to bite it and "death roll." I didn't realize how close my hand was to him and he decided to try and take a chunk out of it too! He ripped the skin even though he was only 2 months old and a couple inches long! I can't imagine what it would be like if he attempted to do it now as a 16 inch adult! I'd probably lose a finger!