building trust and a relationship

[wyattroa]

Just wondering the steps others took when you got your chameleon. I have had my guy going on about a month now and everything seems to be going great.

I know people will say chameleons are for looks and not to be held, but I would still like to be able to take him out of the cage for cleaning and such. He is about 5-6 months old. If my hand goes into the cage for any reason he slowly tilts away from me. If my hand goes near him he automatically starts with his big open mouth.

I have tried to hand feed him to build trust, but as I said, I put my hand in the cage and he leans away from me, he sees the food, but take no interest in it until I release in the cage.

I have taken him out of the cage with a stick, he doesn't get worked up like he does if he sees my hand coming. Once out of the cage his only goal is to be away from me.

Any tips on steps I can take? He is a panther chameleon by the way.

 

[Angelwolf]

That's just how some are. Males will be especially territorial, and he is just reaching maturity. One will go after me, and ry to bite me. Less handling is best. When cleaning the cage, I recommend slowly, calmly, and quietly cleaning around him. Allow him an escape route, and let him move away from you.

 

[Remkon]

I leave mine in when cleaning and just ignore them and any response they give to me.
They will notice I don't care for them and ease down.

Handling is just babysteps.
My Jax is easy as he's not scared so I just get him out when he has to go out.
My panther comes out when the cage opens. I use this as advantage since he wants to go out and explore and I'm the guy that lets him, kudos for me.
More kudos for me when I handfeed him super worms.

One thing you want to avoid is scaring em.
Be obvious but resolute, plan you approach and then just do it in a normal pace.

 

[guanagator]

Handfeeding is the first step and it just takes patience, and more patience... with some even more patience. With panthers I've found they tend to mellow out a bit around the 1 yr mark or so. When they get motivate to find a mate and want to walk around a lot you can leave the door open and let him come out on his own, approach with you hand below the chin and gently lift up allowing him to climb onto you, never approach from above that will trigger flight or fight response every time.

 

[Pitcard]

Daily interaction and hand feeding are the best ways. All but one of my chams started out the same as yours, and they all eventually hand fed and tolerated handling.

The ticket to hand feeding is finding the right treat. Always been hornworms for me. They won't eat the first or second from your hand maybe, but the third time? They know exactly what you have, and they want it.

Treats + Time & Patience = Buddies.

 

[wyattroa]

Curious, how are all of you doing hand feeding and what are you using. How long do you hold the food in your hand? I have been using dubia roaches, he looks at the roach in my hand, but he just leans away from me. Is there a certain amount of time you let pass before you pull the food away or let it go in the cage?

 

[kelly_girl199]

Curious, how are all of you doing hand feeding and what are you using. How long do you hold the food in your hand? I have been using dubia roaches, he looks at the roach in my hand, but he just leans away from me. Is there a certain amount of time you let pass before you pull the food away or let it go in the cage?

Mine won't hardly eat roaches. Normally in the morning if I offer supers he snatches them up within seconds. Next is horns, not as quick on those but he recognizes them before they even move.

 

[Pitcard]

You could let him go without food for 2 days, and then offer something other than your staple feeder. And just hold it, far away enough so that he doesn't lean. If he does start showing signs of stress, pull back and let him get comfortable again. Try not to make eye contact, and position yourself lower than he is. Repeat.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Here is how I do it! I am not saying that this is the only or best way, and I do not promise that you won't get bit, but I get it over with and do not drag it out!

With chameleons that do not show too much agression, I just grab them from below! With ones that are very agressive, like with wild caughts (who totaly do not trust me and who have bad memories of us gigantic horible humans who ripped them out of their solitude and home) with these guys, I spray the chameleon down with my hand sprayer and nice warm water, then while spraying their face lightly with one hand I pick them up with the other hand. Before they know what is going on they are out of the cage. Now I work carefully and let them climb from hand to hand (bringing the hand they are not on from below) till they calm down and stop running. Once this happen, I just hang around with them, carying them with me through the house while I do simple chores. I do not let them go back to their cage till they calm down being in my hands!

I do this every day till they don't get mad at me anymore! I also do not pull them out or handle them till they have eaten and try to hand feed every day!

Works for me!