Biting

[bluegeorge]

I have a quick question on biting.

I have had George for a month now, he is getting used to us & his new surroundings but after my little scare with him and thinking he may be ill I realize that sometime in the future I may have to pick him up to handle him (feeding meds etc).

He is around 7 - 8 months old and is a Blue-Barred Ambilobe Panther Chameleon and is very feisty.

I understand that picking them up and handling them is stressful and that they are not a 'hands on' pet and I am happy with that.

So my question is how do I get him used to me being around him and handling him. At the moment he puffs up displaying his colors and hisses at me when I have to clean his cage. He sort of pretends to strike out as well when he hisses.

I am very careful around him of loud noises and I dont make any sudden movements & being as gentle as possible when cleaning his cage but how
can I get him used to my hand being near him.

Will he bite? If so do they hurt? Whats the best course of action to be able to handle him?

Any advice would be great

 

[ChromaChameleons]

Loud noises won't be percieved as sound to your Panther. He may feel vibrations though.

Try hand feeding him
It will get him used to your hand over time.
If he never warms up to being held, you may need a glove or wrap a blanket around him if you need to administer meds

 

[dodolah]

best to wear thick gloves.
Then you won't have to worry getting hurt at all
and you don't have to stress him so by handling regimen.

nasty attitude makes medicating chameleon easier (IMHO).
Just a bit is enough to make him gape and administer liquid meds.

I have to work extra hard to make my chameleon open his mouth.

 

[AFH]

Yeah, they bite and it hurts. If he does get a hold of you, it's best just to not panic and let him let go on his own. You'll do more damage to yourself and possibly hurt the cham if you freak out and pull away suddenly.

 

[summoner12]

I have two veileds and one is like a dog and wants to come and hang out and the other is more shy. Neither will bite unless they feel a threat. Fred, the more easy going does gape at my hand when I touch him right after he comes out of the cage. I let him get used to me for a couple of minutes before I try to touch him for any reason. Jake the shy one... well he is fine with me touching him. He is just harder to get out of the cage. What I have found to work with both of them, leave the cage open and leave something there for them to climb out onto. Jake will make his way down slowly if he wants to come out. Fred just comes tumbling out in a hurry sometimes. The reason they are used to coming out a lot is because I bask them in the sun almost every single day. So they see coming out as a treat.

Bottom line, make coming out a good experience. Offer a snack to entice him or a basking spot in the sun (not behind a window, UVB does not come through glass or plastic).

If you find that he doesn't want to come out and you need him to come out. I have found that putting a hand behind them and one in front (sorta hidden) and sorta chase him out with the one hand. Most of the time they walk away from your hand and onto the other hand without even noticing. It is a bit stressful, but better than just grabbing him out of his cage... they HATE that.

If you get gloves... be SURE they do NOT have any colors. Jake noticed the yellow between the fingers on my gloves and FLIPPED out he started attacking my fingers. It wasn't hurting me but he wasn't going to stop and I didn't want him to hurt himself. I had to pull him off my glove. This is him after removing him from my glove.

I made a little video of Fred coming out of his cage. He does this every single day, so if you would like to see I can post it.

 

[kim01]

i was just wondering if it hurts when they bite. glad you asked so i can be prepared if it happens(hoping not though).
what type of treats do you guys use? i am so confused on how you guys get them to sit on a tree outside? am i correct in if you get them out of the cage onto something ex a tree or plant that they will stay on that and not come down? b/c they like to be up high? even walking outside or into the shower they are ok with this?
sorry i know i sound like i have no clue. i am new to this(getting educated before my guy gets here). i just want to be as prepared and educated as i can.

 

[summoner12]

i was just wondering if it hurts when they bite. glad you asked so i can be prepared if it happens(hoping not though).
what type of treats do you guys use? i am so confused on how you guys get them to sit on a tree outside? am i correct in if you get them out of the cage onto something ex a tree or plant that they will stay on that and not come down? b/c they like to be up high? even walking outside or into the shower they are ok with this?
sorry i know i sound like i have no clue. i am new to this(getting educated before my guy gets here). i just want to be as prepared and educated as i can.

lol I know it sounds like im following you around the forum.... but... to give you an idea of how it works for my guys...

I have a tall ficus tree outside on my patio that either of the boys will sit in and not move. Fred will try to come down on the weekends when I have him out there for extended periods of time. I keep an eye on him and either bring him inside or when he sees me he'll just climb back up into the tree. I also have a ficus I keep inside sitting in front of the patio screen door. The sun comes in just right and from about noon till the sun sets both trees are in the sun. I usually put Jake inside because Fred likes to wonder off and find his buddy Fred 2.0 (his mirror reflection) in the bedroom. He will puff up and walk along the floor back and forth showing off to himself. If you think like a cham and provide what they need, they don't usually leave.

I do keep an eye out for birds. If i hear a crow squawk I will stand outside or just inside the door to keep an eye out. Fred and Jake hide pretty well. The only time a bird has come close was a small bird landed right next to Fred and he just looked at the bird like "WHAT THE F***!" and did his little leaf shake side to side... The bird must have thought the same thing "WTF" and just took off.

 

[kim01]

hey thanks you are giving me good advice so continue to follow me.
as yo can see i need some help.
thanks again.

 

[bluegeorge]

Thanks for the advice! I am glad I found this forum. I wasn't prepared for Geroge as he was a late Christmas present so I am learning as I go....

They really are wonderful characters!

I am going out to get some gloves for any 'just in case' situation and a fiscus for the patio.

It was interesting about the colors George HATES blue. I have a pair of blue tweezers I use for his worms and he carries on as if I am going to kill him if they get too close. If I don't use the tweezers he couldn't care less....just his normal looks of contempt. He isn't particulary fond of my red sweater either....that gets a reaction worthy of an academy award. I put some bright yellow blossom by the side of his cage and after giving them a good look over he then clung to the side of his cage for a good hour just staring at them....who needs tv!

 

[summoner12]

Thanks for the advice! I am glad I found this forum. I wasn't prepared for Geroge as he was a late Christmas present so I am learning as I go....

They really are wonderful characters!

I am going out to get some gloves for any 'just in case' situation and a fiscus for the patio.

It was interesting about the colors George HATES blue. I have a pair of blue tweezers I use for his worms and he carries on as if I am going to kill him if they get too close. If I don't use the tweezers he couldn't care less....just his normal looks of contempt. He isn't particulary fond of my red sweater either....that gets a reaction worthy of an academy award. I put some bright yellow blossom by the side of his cage and after giving them a good look over he then clung to the side of his cage for a good hour just staring at them....who needs tv!

I know I have brought this up a couple of times but I just laugh whenever I read this thread. Check this thread out.

 

[bluegeorge]

That is hilarious! A cham headbutting a hibiscus flower!

I didnt know they could eat them......I am going to find one tomorrow and see how he goes...maybe a yellow or orange one...

Hopefully it will put him in a good mood...hopefully....something has too.....

 

[dodolah]

That is hilarious! A cham headbutting a hibiscus flower!

I didnt know they could eat them......I am going to find one tomorrow and see how he goes...maybe a yellow or orange one...

Hopefully it will put him in a good mood...hopefully....something has too.....

yes. that was my chameleon, Columbus.

Your chameleon might not be afraid of red. Seems like it is unique to each chameleon (Just like yours hate seeing blue)
-although red seems to be more common than any other colors.

 

[bluegeorge]

I am going to do some color experiments tomorrow and see what he likes...

He seems to love the yellow blossom

 

[Cainschams]

The way I get my very pissy male panther of about 1 year is to start misting him and when he shuts his eyes put my hand underneath his chin and gently slide under his arms. When I touch mines arms he starts to climb on my hand and I stop spraying but still hold the bottle somewhat close. When he opens his eyes and sees my hand with the bottle he climbs the rest of the way on my hand. He is in a free roaming habitat so it might not be that easy in a cage. Just remember not to pull him off the branch it could rip out a toenail. Once they are on you and out of there teritory they want to defend they will calm down a bit.