Cage Cleaning

[TheDOMINATOR]

Hello everyone. I have a 4-5 month old veiled and every 2-3 weeks I do a full cleaning of his habitat (a 16x16x24 cage). This includes taking out his two live plants (a couple of coleus) and artificial vines and plants. I've only done this twice, as I've only had the little guy for about six weeks. Both times, this causes my chameleon a great deal of stress, because before I start the process I attempt to physically take him out of the cage by gently putting my hand near him and directing him into a tupperware container. He always backs away from me and tries to hide and run away, and it takes a great deal of work and time to get him out.

My question is, how do you guys take out your more antisocial chams when you do a cleaning, if you take them out at all? I couldn't imagine doing it with him still in there. It's just, reaching out for him, trying to get him for 20 minutes causes him a huge amount of stress and I'm desperate for an easier way to do this, because the next time I do this I'm just worried it will be too much for him.

Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

 

[Sanababit]

Get a movable branch and put it next to him and try to get him aboard or get a small ficcus tree and get it up close to it and coax him to hop on it

Sana

 

[SaintJimmy]

My chameleon does not enjoy being picked up by me, but he *does*, however, enjoy coming out of his cage.

Buy a somewhat large office plant (ficus benjamina I find is the best for this purpose) with a pot and keep it in your room. When it comes time to clean, offer him a stick. Put the stick into the potted plant near the cage, and then wedge it into a place where it won't fall.

This way they will have a pathway to get out of the cage onto the plant Then you can clean.

It's what I do. I have a tall ficus in my room. I will attach a bendy vine to the ficus, and then the other end to the branches in his cage. Then he crawls out, onto the ficus, and hangs out in it while I clean.

 

[vgaines]

I have learned that when I put on blue garden gloves Rebel is much more willing to let me pick him up. I know its weird but he "attacks my hand" when I am not wearing gloves and doesn't when I put the gloves on. I swear, I always get the strange pets. lol Wouldn't have my little pissy boy any other way..

 

[TheDOMINATOR]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'll try those suggestions. I've been thinking about buying a ficus tree anyway and that sounds like a great idea.