Best way to move chameleon in and out of cage?

[kwengkynator]

Greeting chameleon forum,

I have a question, what is the best way to move your chameleon in and out of the cage? Im talking about when cleaning the cage, when he goes out for some free roaming that kind of stuff. Usually handling my veiled cham that is not very social seems to be stressful for him. I only handle him when I clean the cage and put him back to the cage after he roams around. He goes on of the cage to roam, I let him while keeping an eye on him. Its only me in the apartment so there is no other threat. He isn't really responding great to handling.

Any suggestions? THANKS!

 

[vkuluris7]

Maybe set up a climbing tree, like they use for birds, and you could use a branch to get him out and onto the tree, keeping minimal contact. Or maybe set up a feeding on the tree to keep him occupied, and not focused on the 'threat'. My mind is thinking more creatively than scientifically on this topic though.

 

[kwengkynator]

Maybe set up a climbing tree, like they use for birds, and you could use a branch to get him out and onto the tree, keeping minimal contact. Or maybe set up a feeding on the tree to keep him occupied, and not focused on the 'threat'. My mind is thinking more creatively than scientifically on this topic though.

YES! I just got back from figuring it out! I was just there figuring out a way to put him back into his cage without the stress, and BOOM I grabbed a bend a vine and put it right infront of him and Karma, my cham climbed and I transported him with ease..

I returned here to share this method and saw your reply. If you ask me they should mention this method of transport in the starting guide. Im just glad I found a way to transport him with ease THANKS!

 

[SJRG95]

I have a small climbing down thing (actually an old rack) and i just leave their cage open and try not to look at them and within 10 minutes my chams are out of their cages, i also have a climbing habitat on my wall with a lot of leaves for them to hide so that is probably why they always leave their cages, it took me about 4 days to get them to understand that if the door is open that means that they get to run around for a little and THEY LOVE IT!

 

[werecat]

Many will try what you did and place a branch in front of them which they will climb onto and can be transported on. This has never worked with my chameleon. He just stares at the foreign branch and won't walk onto it willingly. I do still transport him by hand and while it does stress him some, I think it's important for him to have some handling from time to time. Hopefully this minimal amount of handling will make it less stressful during vet visits or when I do a visual exam.

As others have said, if you have a free range near the cage you can set up a bridge between that and the cage and allow the cham to come out on its own. I do this regularly and even "trained" my cham to come out on command when I point to it. I have that in quotes because I don't believe you can ever really fully train a chameleon to do anything consistently. Still, seems to work most of the time. I think he thinks I'm pointing at food.

 

[kwengkynator]

Many will try what you did and place a branch in front of them which they will climb onto and can be transported on. This has never worked with my chameleon. He just stares at the foreign branch and won't walk onto it willingly. I do still transport him by hand and while it does stress him some, I think it's important for him to have some handling from time to time. Hopefully this minimal amount of handling will make it less stressful during vet visits or when I do a visual exam.

As others have said, if you have a free range near the cage you can set up a bridge between that and the cage and allow the cham to come out on its own. I do this regularly and even "trained" my cham to come out on command when I point to it. I have that in quotes because I don't believe you can ever really fully train a chameleon to do anything consistently. Still, seems to work most of the time. I think he thinks I'm pointing at food.

Thats pretty cool! I never grab her by hand during shes in her cage. But when shes out she is perfectly okay with me grabbing her.

 

[laurie]

I know it is just how you are saying it, but you don't really "grab her" do you? She needs to be allowed to walk on your hand when she is ready. I have a quad who may never walk on my hand. She will eat from by hand, but that is as far as it goes.

 

[kwengkynator]

By grabbing I meant, letting her walk to my hand and lifting my hand up once there is around 3 legs on it. Then I move her around.

Thats my procedure. Sorry about the confusion. I would never just grab her out of the blue

 

[brendan0923]

I know it is just how you are saying it, but you don't really "grab her" do you? She needs to be allowed to walk on your hand when she is ready. I have a quad who may never walk on my hand. She will eat from by hand, but that is as far as it goes.

It's ok, I feel your pain. My chameleon just thinks my hand is food and will constantly shoot his tounge at it, but he never walks on. I do use a branch though!