Can veiled chameleon ever get used to you?
- Thread starter followmehaha
- Start date
followmehaha
New Member
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think it all depends on how you treat your chameleon. I treat mine with allot of love and respect and they are all friendly. It's kind of like a dog that's put on a chain in the yard. It can often become very mean. If chameleons are caged with no interaction from humans they can and often do become mean.
vladdimir26
New Member
Totally agree with you
. But do you really think some will actually like it so much that they will "love it" or "have fun" when being handled? Not trying to mock you or anything. Heck! You know more about chameleons than I do and I understand your relationship with ur chameleon is strong. I am just basically re-saying what ever tells me that they don't enjoy handling.SimplyDerangedBrain
New Member
It definitely depends on how you treat your chameleon.
I've had mine, Sir Yoshi Trenton III (lol), since he was about a month old, and since then he's never been scared of me, and loves to be handled. There are times he even runs over to me when i open his cage. But there are also times when he doesn't feel like being handled, and you have to understand that and respect that, or it will stress them out if you try to handle them. You need to dedicate a lot of time and gentleness to them, and you must be VERY patient. it's easier when they're really young, and some will become accustomed to your presence faster than others.
Yoshi loves being out of his cage, and his favorite place is either my shoulder, or hiding in my hair on top of my head. (i have curly hair)
Although, they do go through stages where they dont want to be handled, and you just have to leave them be, and try again later.
One example for most chams is when they're shedding. I can just imagine that shedding is probably really uncomfortable, so its understandable that they can be easily irritable. He has rarely let me handle him while he's shedding.
And the way you treat them, and frequency of handling also matters. The last two or three weeks, I've been working a lot of overtime.. (6 am - 10 pm), so i leave home before he wakes up, and come back after he's gone to bed, so i put crickets in his cage in the morning, and my gf makes sure he gets misted and takes care of anything else.. she doesn't really handle him, so he's gotten a little un-used to it, so when i tried handling him this past weekend, he didn't seem like he wanted to (not sure if it was because we haven't "hung out" in a couple weeks, or because he just started shedding). I just let him be, and i'll try again later once OT is done and i can give him a lot more time and attention again.
I've had mine, Sir Yoshi Trenton III (lol), since he was about a month old, and since then he's never been scared of me, and loves to be handled. There are times he even runs over to me when i open his cage. But there are also times when he doesn't feel like being handled, and you have to understand that and respect that, or it will stress them out if you try to handle them. You need to dedicate a lot of time and gentleness to them, and you must be VERY patient. it's easier when they're really young, and some will become accustomed to your presence faster than others.
Yoshi loves being out of his cage, and his favorite place is either my shoulder, or hiding in my hair on top of my head. (i have curly hair)
Although, they do go through stages where they dont want to be handled, and you just have to leave them be, and try again later.
One example for most chams is when they're shedding. I can just imagine that shedding is probably really uncomfortable, so its understandable that they can be easily irritable. He has rarely let me handle him while he's shedding.
And the way you treat them, and frequency of handling also matters. The last two or three weeks, I've been working a lot of overtime.. (6 am - 10 pm), so i leave home before he wakes up, and come back after he's gone to bed, so i put crickets in his cage in the morning, and my gf makes sure he gets misted and takes care of anything else.. she doesn't really handle him, so he's gotten a little un-used to it, so when i tried handling him this past weekend, he didn't seem like he wanted to (not sure if it was because we haven't "hung out" in a couple weeks, or because he just started shedding). I just let him be, and i'll try again later once OT is done and i can give him a lot more time and attention again.
Padose
New Member
Here is a great link: https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/psychobunny/746-taming-chameleon.html I find it extremely useful. My guy was really awful and nasty to begin with, but he is getting better, slowly... Patience and love
I have had my male veiled for about 2 months. From the start he had let me handle him. Only time he does not like it is if he has just eaten, or it's getting close for him to go to bed. He doesn't change to a dark color at all (stress) so I got a good one. Try hand feeding him and that will get you on the right path. Also spend time with him everyday good luck!Thanks for the reply, I totally agree with you. I'm just more curious about the evidence that if veiled can change their personality, or get used to you, over time.
cristocamo
New Member
George
My cham is very friendly and actually runs to his cage door when I'm anywhere near it to come out and will actually walk up on my hand. He literally runs some days he loves being out of his cage! He was about a month maybe two old when I got him and he climbed right out of the box on my hands and every since then I try to get him out at least 20-30 mins a day (had him about 3 months now) I love to take him out to walk on me, my vines or the blinds (his favorite spot). He seems to take a second to get use to people when new people hold him but soon warms up and runs all over them.. he even fell asleep on my hand once.. seems like I'm extremely lucky to get such a personable one but he is great! I was told as long as it doesn't stress him you can tame them by hand feeding which I also did but it only took maybe a day or two before he was just climbing right on. I think he has learned he can.explore more if he's nice LOL
My cham is very friendly and actually runs to his cage door when I'm anywhere near it to come out and will actually walk up on my hand. He literally runs some days he loves being out of his cage! He was about a month maybe two old when I got him and he climbed right out of the box on my hands and every since then I try to get him out at least 20-30 mins a day (had him about 3 months now) I love to take him out to walk on me, my vines or the blinds (his favorite spot). He seems to take a second to get use to people when new people hold him but soon warms up and runs all over them.. he even fell asleep on my hand once.. seems like I'm extremely lucky to get such a personable one but he is great! I was told as long as it doesn't stress him you can tame them by hand feeding which I also did but it only took maybe a day or two before he was just climbing right on. I think he has learned he can.explore more if he's nice LOL
Hi, I have a 3-4 month male veiled chameleon. I understand chameleon is unsocial, especially veiled chameleon. But I still see people say once they get used to you, they will be less afraid of you. And I have seen videos on Youtube about relatively docile veiled chameleons as well.
So far I have had mine for 2 weeks and never taken him out of the cage. But he still seems to be frightened. Even when I get close to the cage, he would just run away and find a place to hide. So I start to wonder if veiled chameleons are generally born the way they are and will never change. For those of you who have tame veiled, did they have the same temperament when they were young, or they changed over time?
I just want to know what to expect from him.
At least yours moves when you get close to its cage, mine just puffs up and hisses and tries to bite me, I'll have him one week tomorrow and wanted to start to handle him but hes shedding and dont want to interupt his process of shedding -.- in a nut shell mines a butt
tagerlilly18
New Member
Did he always come running towards you or did it take a few weeks for him to do that?
chameleonluv101
New Member
Hold them first
My chameleon has a uncommon personality he likes being held and he is just a little different. You should probably ask what personality they have before buying them, and maybe hold them if they let you. At Petsmart (where i got my veiled) they let me hold him. It matters what you do if they DO get used to you, I suggest you pet him (or her) with 2 fingers so they get sweeter but before you pet him (or her) make sure he is calm and looking at you. Hope that helped!!
My chameleon has a uncommon personality he likes being held and he is just a little different. You should probably ask what personality they have before buying them, and maybe hold them if they let you. At Petsmart (where i got my veiled) they let me hold him. It matters what you do if they DO get used to you, I suggest you pet him (or her) with 2 fingers so they get sweeter but before you pet him (or her) make sure he is calm and looking at you. Hope that helped!!
ChiefRedman
Member
I am also a firm believer that where the cham came from has alot to do with it. I've read many posts from tons of other chameleon owners about how their veiled was pain. I can honestly say that even though this is my first cham, he is so sweet. He is a little hesitant when being brought out of the cage, but he comes alive when I take him outside or let him climb my curtain(Under careful watch) Also, like many others said be sure to give them treats, but dont give them treats for bad behavior. And the most important thing, whatever you do , DO NOT give up on him. He may not turn out as the ideal companion, but with lots of patience and time, he will become the companion he was meant to be. Do your research everyday, Always be learning something new, never just settle for hand feeding if you dont want to. Saying that dont force him to love you like a 5 year old girl would force a kitten to love her. I always think of the dentist scene from Finding Nemo where the little girl is super harsh with the fish and shakes them around. Anyways dont give up, treat them to nice things ( Sun baths, Different foods, Free ranging) and by the end of all your hard work and patience not only will the cham grow on you , you will grow with it being the best owner for him!
I've had the same problem with my chameleon. I got her when she was about 6 months. She wouldn't even come close to the door, that's how afraid she was. But then I tried feeding her from my hand to show her that I'm not an evil monster. And after about a week or so, she knew that I'm her owner and eventually let me hold her. And when you do hold her, don't show that you're afraid! They can just sit on your shoulder/stomach while watching TV and they'll calm down. It works 100%!
study his habits. my 6 month veiled will go to the back of the cage if he doesn't wanna be bothered. if he's in the front on a branch its easier to coax him into handling.every time I've handled him its been when he's out and about, not perched under his basking light. from what I've absorbed, reaching deep into the cage is trespassing, KEEP OUT! once your hand is under him usually they're pretty mellow just don't look like you're grabbing at him.
SolidSnake1
New Member
They say the same thing about snakes and my opinion is also that It depends on the animal, they claim snakes simply just tolerate us but I have a few snakes that hate being held but I have two that Ill swear to this day they LOVE being handled.
