Chameleon Behaviour

[FighterfortheStrider]

A recently posted a new thread about my veiled before, and that (thankfully!) got figured out within the day. Since then, I have fixed his enclosure and I'm still making edits for his own benefit. As of lately, he's been.. Anxious to get out, to say simply. I haven't let him out of his enclosure yet, since he really doesn't like me, and I don't want to have to make catching him a big fuss, especially because I don't want to hurt him. He likes to come to the door and hiss at me, pacing around the front as if looking for means to escape. If I look at him, he hisses. He's just an angry boy, maybe.
Well, that's where I was looking for help. I was starting to think that maybe something about his environment might be making him fussy? Or will he just continue to act like this? It's hard to feed him when he's just trying to climb out all the time. Anything helps. I just want to make him happy, man.
If you need the information I have written for him, let me know. I can also post pictures and answer questions if that would help with an evaluation.

 

[alan marz]

My guy is pretty unfriendly too, although maybe not as bad. I can't handle him but I let him out of the cage when I can.
I brought a large potted plant and put it on a stool in front of his cage. Then I take a branch and put it from the cage to the plant.
Make sure the branch is secured with some ties or the like and the plant is about a foot or two from the cage so he will not
climb back on the cage. He seems to like to climb in the plant for a while then he goes back into his cage.
Just keep an eye on him and coral him back if he starts to go where he shouldn't. He seems to enjoy his time out but
he goes back willing after a short time, a half hour at the most. Hope this helps--Good Luck.

 

[Alexander1]

My veiled is almost exactly like yours my friend, if you look at my recent posts I've been dealing with him pacing, hunger strikes,dark colors, bad lil mofo too, this is what I've done.
I made sure he doesn't have any visual stress factors,mirrors birds, dogs etc. I made sure his cage has proper temp and humidity gradients, I have a variety of feeders for him(thanks to nick Barta btw). I have his fecals done regularly and parasites treated if any, I make sure he drinks everyday before I go to work.
I DO let him out his cage on my days off to wonder around in the morning before my kids get up, I use a branch to kind of guide him back in either another branch or a container I use to weigh him, I take him out to bask outside, he will be less aggressive out of his cage, but take small steps.
I also have another theory about the pacing, given that the habitat is properly set up, size, temps, humidity etc, my theory is that as they get older there hormones may start to flare up and the pacing is a sign that they would be looking for a mate in the wild, my Cham does this sometimes then calms down out of nowhere... Welp hope that's helps. Chameleons, gotta love'em.

 

[FighterfortheStrider]

My guy is pretty unfriendly too, although maybe not as bad. I can't handle him but I let him out of the cage when I can.
I brought a large potted plant and put it on a stool in front of his cage. Then I take a branch and put it from the cage to the plant.
Make sure the branch is secured with some ties or the like and the plant is about a foot or two from the cage so he will not
climb back on the cage. He seems to like to climb in the plant for a while then he goes back into his cage.
Just keep an eye on him and coral him back if he starts to go where he shouldn't. He seems to enjoy his time out but
he goes back willing after a short time, a half hour at the most. Hope this helps--Good Luck.

I just don't know how chameleon-friendly the place is. Although, yes, they're used to tough terrain, I have about a ten foot drop I'm worried I could accidentally scare him off of. He avoids me like the plague and if I let him out, I just feel he has to, you know. Not hate me as much. You feel?
That being said, thank you for the advice.

 

[FighterfortheStrider]

My veiled is almost exactly like yours my friend, if you look at my recent posts I've been dealing with him pacing, hunger strikes,dark colors, bad lil mofo too, this is what I've done.
I made sure he doesn't have any visual stress factors,mirrors birds, dogs etc. I made sure his cage has proper temp and humidity gradients, I have a variety of feeders for him(thanks to nick Barta btw). I have his fecals done regularly and parasites treated if any, I make sure he drinks everyday before I go to work.
I DO let him out his cage on my days off to wonder around in the morning before my kids get up, I use a branch to kind of guide him back in either another branch or a container I use to weigh him, I take him out to bask outside, he will be less aggressive out of his cage, but take small steps.
I also have another theory about the pacing, given that the habitat is properly set up, size, temps, humidity etc, my theory is that as they get older there hormones may start to flare up and the pacing is a sign that they would be looking for a mate in the wild, my Cham does this sometimes then calms down out of nowhere... Welp hope that's helps. Chameleons, gotta love'em.

They're like children, I think. My mom tells me that she felt a lot of the same things that I describe- the anger and the lack of patience and everything! Like I mentioned before, I'm just worried about the room and how it might hurt him. I don't even have any plants. I don't want him trying to attack me if I try to get him back in, or any of that. My baby is only around three months, as far as I know, and I don't think he's quite old enough to be craving any of that. But who knows. I just hope he's healthy and stuff, really.

 

[Alexander1]

Can u post a pic of your enclosure?

 

[Extensionofgreen]

Veileds are often aggressive and rushing towards the front and hissing is territoriality. His cage is his territory and he's telling you to STAY OUT! It could be bluffing, or he could actually rush and bite you. It could get better as he gains size and feels less vulnerable or it could stay the same. Typically, although he may never become friendly, he will at least come to realize you are no threat and that you bring food, so he may cease the rushing the entrance, hissing, but he may not. It's just how things are.
The more secure, i.e. the more foliage, cover, ability to hide, and the least amount of disturbance, visual or otherwise, will make him less likely to feel threatened and be on the offensive. Try offering a tasty treat, far away, in your open palm, and see if he will eat from your hand and forget acting as if he wants to eat your hand. Keep repeating this, until he hand feeds and you gain some trust.

Enter the cage slowly and from below, making as little eye contact with him as possible. Birds swoop in from above and being stared down on is threatening to chameleons. Snakes come from below, so try to move slowly and deliberately, without staring at him.

Hope, but don't expect the best for his improved behavior, in the future.

 

[FighterfortheStrider]

Veileds are often aggressive and rushing towards the front and hissing is territoriality. His cage is his territory and he's telling you to STAY OUT! It could be bluffing, or he could actually rush and bite you. It could get better as he gains size and feels less vulnerable or it could stay the same. Typically, although he may never become friendly, he will at least come to realize you are no threat and that you bring food, so he may cease the rushing the entrance, hissing, but he may not. It's just how things are.
The more secure, i.e. the more foliage, cover, ability to hide, and the least amount of disturbance, visual or otherwise, will make him less likely to feel threatened and be on the offensive. Try offering a tasty treat, far away, in your open palm, and see if he will eat from your hand and forget acting as if he wants to eat your hand. Keep repeating this, until he hand feeds and you gain some trust.

Enter the cage slowly and from below, making as little eye contact with him as possible. Birds swoop in from above and being stared down on is threatening to chameleons. Snakes come from below, so try to move slowly and deliberately, without staring at him.

Hope, but don't expect the best for his improved behavior, in the future.

Thank you! I really appreciate this. The strange thing is that he only does this when I'm not inside the cage. When I have my hands inside, he doesn't seem to mind, and he will easily eat from my hand if it's something he really does like. I'm just trying to make him happier at this point.

 

[FighterfortheStrider]

Can u post a pic of your enclosure?

Weird pictures, sorry.

 

[Alexander1]

I suggest you add more branches mounted horizontally, I use zip ties to secure them to the sides,if you want, you can get some dragon ledges that allow you to screw ledges on to the frame of the cage so you can mount branches and pots and such. Some people use thumb tacks on each ends.
You want there to be a little more ambient light for your chameleon as well. I also recommend you use a linear flourecent uv bulb set up especially as your Cham gets bigger, once your Cham has more space to walk around and hide behind he will feel more comfortable, still may be mean tho, but that's just the nature of these little dragons.

 

[Virgil1972]

I would add some live plants as well, like a ficus. A small ficus tree would really fill out the cage and add a lot of cover plus help with keeping the humidity up.

 

[FighterfortheStrider]

I suggest you add more branches mounted horizontally, I use zip ties to secure them to the sides,if you want, you can get some dragon ledges that allow you to screw ledges on to the frame of the cage so you can mount branches and pots and such. Some people use thumb tacks on each ends.
You want there to be a little more ambient light for your chameleon as well. I also recommend you use a linear flourecent uv bulb set up especially as your Cham gets bigger, once your Cham has more space to walk around and hide behind he will feel more comfortable, still may be mean tho, but that's just the nature of these little dragons.

I would add some live plants as well, like a ficus. A small ficus tree would really fill out the cage and add a lot of cover plus help with keeping the humidity up.

Thank you. Hopefully, all that will solve his unease?

 

[alphakenc]

I would also add some auto misting system,since u have a baby to taking most of ur valuable time,so he can stay hydrated,hour after hour,day after day,and if u can remove that cloth on the bottom periodically or completely ,jus to make sure when the misting kicks in,that will assure ur veiled cham more happier in his living environment!

 

[Alexander1]

I highly recommend buying a drainage tray for your cage its way easier to deal with than paper towels at the bottom especially if you get into listing systems

 

[alphakenc]

That is absolutely correct cause will even take more time of ur daily routine.

 

[FighterfortheStrider]

They're just cloths, since before the pet store gave me wood chips for the bottom, and I used that, but it kept getting in his mouth. I chose cloth instead just recently, to avoid that and hopefully do better for him. I don't have a mister because I was told it was highly, highly unnecessary, since I can spray him twice or more during the day. As of now, I'm investing in a plant for him.

 

[Gengarcia509]

Sorry but iam kinda having trouble to create a tread

 

[alphakenc]

That is perfectly fine if u prefer to hand mist the cham more than several times a day,just remove those cloth on the bottom completely or periodically like u change the baby's diapers that should provide the healthy environment on ur baby cham,personally I prefer bottomless for easy access reason but every man have their unique own way,not to sound like the "2man and a baby",the choice will be yours to decide.