Angry Baby Panther - Need Help

[bcornellier]

I am a first time chameleon enthusiast who has recently bought a 4 months old Panther chameleon (he is now a bit over 5 months old). He is a very healthy and lively little guy, eats well, hydrates well, and seems quite curious. However, I have never been able to handle him; he's never let anyone touch him, and he would shy away or hide whenever I'd try. So I didn't insist and I left him alone, thinking that eventually he would come along and would naturally start to trust me more. However, a week ago, I did have to take him out of his house for a full clean up, and that first real handling experience has been quite a drama. He'd turn all black, puffed up, would try to bite, and ended up jumping off of his perch in order to run away. I managed to get him out gently using a towel and he quieted down. Ever since he's been back into his clean house, he's been, once again, very healthy, active, hungry, and seemingly "happy"; but he got ever more suspicious of me since that event. Back to square 1. Now my question: Anyone ever came across such a temperamental or spirited young chameleon? Any tips on how to overcome that obstacle? For I will need to handle him again soon whenever I need to clean up his house. I am quite worried this could get ever more difficult and stressful (for him as well as for me).

 

[sandrachameleon]

It is not uncommon for chameleons to not want to be handled. Id say its fairly normal, actually. These are not "play with" pets, so if you were hoping you could handle your chameleon you may have chosen the wrong animal. that aside, one does occassionally need to handle for cage cleaning, vet visits, etc. There are ways to get the chameleon less fearful and stressed. Use the search feature of this site and you should find Many similar threads with suggestions. Here are a few:
in all cases, move slowly!
Use a branch, let it walk on the branch, rather than using your hands, and then remove.
use a favourite food item to coax it out of the cage onto a branch.
Approach from below with one hand, distract with the other hand - https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-handle-chameleon-18438/
Gradually aclimatize him to your being around, by sitting at a distance (below him) and not bothering him, staying still for a long while, over days even weeks move slightly closer each time until he's used to your being there.
wear a glove, get bitten (hurts less), and gently coax out regardless.

 

[PantherVeileD]

From my experience...

Everytime I open the cage door, I would tap the cage three times so it cant make some vibration.

Before feeding your cham, try hand feeding every morning.

So I would tap the cage door three times... then open the door.. Put superworm or silkworm on my palm of my hand and slowly move it toward him. Look at his eyes to see if he is aware of the food coming toward him. See what his reaction is... If he only stares at it.. then leave the worm on a branch or I would leave the superworm on the side of the cage... Just repeat it everyday and dont worry it will take time....

Chameleon has moods... someday he will be nice and other day he could be aggressive. thats nature... Dont force them to do anything, it will come naturally..

 

[bcornellier]

Thank you guys. So far, even putting a butterworm on a branch that I would slowly move towards him doesn't work, for he gets angry when the branch is approaching. He would eventually calm down when he sees the branch won't touch him, but he still refuses to eat from it. I guess I'll have to be patient. All these tips are quite useful guys. Keep them coming. I appreciate.

 

[PantherVeileD]

Butterworm aka buttworm stinks!! It leaves this smelly scent after I touch it. Try superworms or silkworms. It's also best if the Cham is about your eye level.

 

[bcornellier]

...but the superworms I've got available locally seems quite big for a baby cham, right? What about waxworms, as a special (as in not too frequent) treat to befriend the angry young cham?

 

[Fearaffect]

If ya wanna a pet that doesnt bite, get a pet rock......99% of Chams dont wanna be held.......

 

[thealissa]

For me, I show mine one hand going towards her and she tries to go the opposite way, which is when I take my other hand and slip it in front (but under) her. She's so distracted with one hand that she doesn't notice the other one and she simply walks right into my palm.

It's not that easy with my older cham (6mo), but it works really well with the young one (3mo). My older one takes a minute or two of handling to turn back to a normal state green color, and she does like to feel like she's taller than me, hah. So, when handling, I advice you don't hold your cham low, or make it feel surrounded.

 

[joeandsoph]

Tilly hates coming out too :-( but once out she's fine and prances around like a little poser. We have a piece of cane which we use to get her out. We just place it under her feet and she quite happily walks on to it. We gently bring it out of the cage with our hand underneath and before she even notices she sitting on you hand =D it's pretty cute really.

 

[bcornellier]

For me, I show mine one hand going towards her and she tries to go the opposite way, which is when I take my other hand and slip it in front (but under) her. She's so distracted with one hand that she doesn't notice the other one and she simply walks right into my palm.

I will certainly try that. A few good suggestion from many users so far. I did know, when I got my cham, that these were not "play with" animals and that they don't like to be handle. However, I do need to establish minimal trust to get him out of the cage without too much drama once in a while. Thanks for the tips.