Chameleons and Mirros

[unixmiah]

I tried searching online to give my Chameleon things to do while I'm at work. There aren't any toys that you can buy them or there aren't anything you can build them or make for them to play with.

I don't think they play but I guess giving him more twisted and complicated vines to climb would be nice. Please suggest.

I was thinking of putting a mirror in the cage, maybe he'll have a new experience. I did hold the mirror close to his cage and he likes to come close it, stare at it, he also twists his head around to see what it is. He seems fascinated by the mirror.

I do know that you can't keep Chameleons together, they will fight, get stressed out and die eventually. Isn't putting a mirror there the same thing? can they smell? is having a mirror in the cage (just a small mirror inside of the cage, clipped onto the inner screen) is like having another Chameleon?

Is it more fun for the Chameleon vs will it be a problem a all? He doesn't hiss or looks pissed or feels invaded but really curious; i have a feeling he will start humping it eventually.

 

[Wowbango]

The Mirror is generally a bad idea. They see the reflection and interpret it as another chameleon and it stresses them out since they're so territorial. They will usually fire up and puff up. Sometimes, they even charge it or shoot at it. So it might look like he's fascinated by it...which in a way he is, but not in a good way.

 

[Carlton]

I tried searching online to give my Chameleon things to do while I'm at work. There aren't any toys that you can buy them or there aren't anything you can build them or make for them to play with.

I don't think they play but I guess giving him more twisted and complicated vines to climb would be nice. Please suggest.

I was thinking of putting a mirror in the cage, maybe he'll have a new experience. I did hold the mirror close to his cage and he likes to come close it, stare at it, he also twists his head around to see what it is. He seems fascinated by the mirror.

I do know that you can't keep Chameleons together, they will fight, get stressed out and die eventually. Isn't putting a mirror there the same thing? can they smell? is having a mirror in the cage (just a small mirror inside of the cage, clipped onto the inner screen) is like having another Chameleon?

Is it more fun for the Chameleon vs will it be a problem a all? He doesn't hiss or looks pissed or feels invaded but really curious; i have a feeling he will start humping it eventually.

A terrible idea! Chams are solitary creatures who defend territory. As he ramps up his own display (more likely as he matures) so will the rival. No one wins the fight and that can cause extreme stress. Especially as the rival is always there, never leaves, can't be escaped from, etc. Your cham is not a social creature like a bird who needs the company of another bird. Its important not to misinterpret their behavior or see his actions through the eyes of a social mammal (you).

I know its hard for a sophisticated intelligent mammal like a human to understand that many other animals don't necessarily do what we would call play, but its true. A cham will be more content with a larger territory he can patrol, a variety of food, choices in places to bask, drink, hide from view, and security from intruders. So much of their existence is focused around not being detected or noticed. Give him that instead of things he can't understand or escape from.

 

[unixmiah]

Thank you for the response. I thought the same although he looked curious.

 

[Carlton]

Thank you for the response. I thought the same although he looked curious.

I'm sure he was...at first. It would be the longer term effect to be concerned about.

 

[unixmiah]

Thank you Carlton for your detailed input.

I saw this one video of this owner he would give Chameleon this Chameleon toy made from cotton fiber, the chameleon would chew it up, it would bite it constantly and abuse it. I'm not sure if its good for him, but it's not going to make their teeth stronger since they have any. I'm not sure if that helps Chameleon vent or play or take their stress on a toy.

I thought the same afterwards, I don't think it knows it's fake, or he can tell by the smell it its fake or not real. Plus it will always be there and it will stress it out.

I will give him better vines and complex climbing patterns in his cage, he loves patrolling, always moving, never still.

 

[Carlton]

Thank you Carlton for your detailed input.

I saw this one video of this owner he would give Chameleon this Chameleon toy made from cotton fiber, the chameleon would chew it up, it would bite it constantly and abuse it. I'm not sure if its good for him, but it's not going to make their teeth stronger since they have any. I'm not sure if that helps Chameleon vent or play or take their stress on a toy.

I thought the same afterwards, I don't think it knows it's fake, or he can tell by the smell it its fake or not real. Plus it will always be there and it will stress it out.

I will give him better vines and complex climbing patterns in his cage, he loves patrolling, always moving, never still.

BTW, chams do have teeth. They aren't all that noticeable in some species. Yes, I'm sure that cham was trying to defeat the cloth "rival". As long as the toy went away leaving the cham as the victor maybe not too bad.

 

[JlaPinska]

ooo they definitely have teeth. let one chomp on you and you will never forget it.. mine bit me by accident (hand feeding, got my finger and the cricket) and it hurt. they have a very strong bite. few days prior i was bitten by a bearded dragon that is the same age (11months at the time) and their bite strength was suprisingly equal. except the beardie kept chomping because he was trying to eat my shiny nail polish. ow.

 

[Wowbango]

ooo they definitely have teeth. let one chomp on you and you will never forget it.. mine bit me by accident (hand feeding, got my finger and the cricket) and it hurt. they have a very strong bite. few days prior i was bitten by a bearded dragon that is the same age (11months at the time) and their bite strength was suprisingly equal. except the beardie kept chomping because he was trying to eat my shiny nail polish. ow.

This sounds fun...yikes.

 

[JlaPinska]

This sounds fun...yikes.

well i mean, it was funny. i was laughing in pain. beardies are drawn to shiny things. being bitten by the cham was more of a shock. he also frequently targets my nailpolish when i try to hand feed him. he'll shoot at my nails so i have to sometimes point the food out to him by making it move. drawbacks to hand feeding lol. his mouth is ginormous now at 1 year old. i do not wish to be bitten again, so i keep my hand at least 4 inches from his face when i feed him now. if i get too close he tries to bite at the bugs instead of shoot and thats how i got bit. he didn't care, he didn't bat an eye after biting me lol

 

[Wowbango]

"Serves you right." Is probably his thought...

 

[JlaPinska]

"Serves you right." Is probably his thought...

either that or whyd you stop feeding me. fatty still eats 5 crickets, 2 superworms, and a bowl of veggies daily at a year old. he eats better than anyone in the house.

 

[jajeanpierre]

A terrible idea! Chams are solitary creatures who defend territory. As he ramps up his own display (more likely as he matures) so will the rival. No one wins the fight and that can cause extreme stress. Especially as the rival is always there, never leaves, can't be escaped from, etc. Your cham is not a social creature like a bird who needs the company of another bird. Its important not to misinterpret their behavior or see his actions through the eyes of a social mammal (you).

I know its hard for a sophisticated intelligent mammal like a human to understand that many other animals don't necessarily do what we would call play, but its true. A cham will be more content with a larger territory he can patrol, a variety of food, choices in places to bask, drink, hide from view, and security from intruders. So much of their existence is focused around not being detected or noticed. Give him that instead of things he can't understand or escape from.

This is great advice.

It is really nice that you are thinking of enriching your chameleon's environment. As Carlton said, you can do it with his territory.

I think the most fun you can give a chameleon is to put in flying insects. Letting the insects free in the cage so they can hunt is very enriching. Give them a variety of food.

 

[Revival]

My ambilobe looked in the mirror gave himself 2 thumbs up and walked away.

 

[unixmiah]

do you know if they have certain colours? what if I show up to his cage with a red t-shirt? will that be an issue?

 

[leedragon]

do you know if they have certain colours? what if I show up to his cage with a red t-shirt? will that be an issue?

yes they do ract to color, mine mellery did like when I had black on my don´t know due how other react but they do react

 

[Wowbango]

do you know if they have certain colours? what if I show up to his cage with a red t-shirt? will that be an issue?

As far as I'm aware they have no reactions to me personally wearing certain colors. That being said, there has to be some sort of color recognition/response since they indeed communicate with their colors with potential mates.

 

[Lathis]

My Jax hates stripes and t-shirts with animal faces on them. Not so much any particular color.

The only time I have seen him really freak out, puff up, and hiss and lunge is when my husband wore this shirt with a graphic tiger face on it with big white eyes. He also had an owl shirt that Ferdinand hates.