Chameleon Help, Please!

[Iluvlizards1234]

Hi there. I've had my chameleon for about.. Two Three weeks? I've been trying to handle him a bit but he runs away and has been a very dark colour for quite some time which makes me scared! But at night he turns a light yellow/green colour which I find a bit bright. I feel like I should add more plants and vegetation in there for him, and possibly stop my parents from bothering him lol. But I want to make him comfortable around me and get him at a nice healthy state but I dont know how. Also, how do I post photos lol.

 

[WyattN.]

No I idea I'm new too.

 

[Syreptyon]

Use the "upload a file" button below the box you write comments in. Since you've only had him for 2-3 weeks, you really shouldn't be handling him at all. Give him a few weeks to acclimate before attempting or you could cause long term trust issues

 

[Graves923]

Lots of foliage for the cham to hide in will help its overall stress level. Give the chameleon a few weeks with no interaction then slowly start spending more time in the same room as the cage. Eventually the chameleon will not try to hide when you are in the room. When you do have to go near or in the cage for cleaning and feeding, do not make eye contact and ignore the chameleon in general.

Once the chameleon is used to your presence you can start working toward hand feeding. Start by using a feeder cup in the enclosure and staying near by when the chameleon is eating. Once the chameleon willingly eats with you around, you can try holding the feeder cup in the enclosure. if the chameleon wont eat while you hold the cup, put it in like normal and try again next time. When the cham is comfortable eating from the cup while you hold it, try hand feeding individual feeders.

The goal is to get them to associate you with food and build a level of trust. When the cham is finally shooting feeders from your hand, start using a stick and hold it in front of the chameleon while moving the feeder back away from the cage so the chameleon has to walk out onto the stick to get in range.

Never just reach in and grab the chameleon. Always check out what kind of mood they are in before attempting to handle.