Clipping nails

[jeeperz21]

I have a Jackson.... she is quite the climber and seems to always be on the go. She loves to come out of her home and wander around on my desk, but normally she climbs my shirt and sits happily on my head to watch everything going on.
I've noticed her toenails, (if that's what they are called) seem to be getting long. Is this something I need to take care of? Do I need to clip her nails or do I just leave well enough alone? She seems to be content to let me check her little feet, but I'm not sure she'd be to cooperative for a nail clipping...?
She is quite the character!

 

[Olimpia]

Nope, no need to clip their nails. Since they are tree-climbers it pretty much comes with the territory. If you use vines/branches with natural texture (say, a real branch instead of smooth, wooden dowels) just walking around will file them down a bit but they're always going to need to be long.

You haven't experienced pain until you're bent over doing something in a cage and a sharp little chameleon hand grabs something on your face lol.

 

[jeeperz21]

Thanks for the reply. I wanted to make sure so I wasn't dealing with surprises of little problems with their feet. She climbs everything she can get to. She comes out of her cage like the world is hers to explore and tries to climb anything in her path. As for the little sharp nails on the face.... I've already found that out.... didn't think much of her climbing up my shoulder and then my face till she did so the first time..... You might say I learned the hard way.. lol. I also found out they move a lot faster when they want to.... not a streak of lightening, but still will surprise you. They are nothing like my beardies, that's for sure. I am still new to this, so I can imagine I still have some surprises yet to come..... It is a joy just watching and learning about her.
Again, thanks for the info....

Kate
and Lilly

 

[inlinefourpower]

You haven't experienced pain until you're bent over doing something in a cage and a sharp little chameleon hand grabs something on your face lol.

lol, they do love doing that, don't they

 

[Rory]

Hi All, I'm new here

I just got a 5 month old Veiled Chameleon from Macks. I was wondering the same thing about nails. I thought you would have to clip them (somehow!). I had a green iguana for 8 years and trimmed his nails so figured these little ones would need it too. Thank you for clearing that up! I have a ZooMed cage and noticed his nails seem to be getting caught on the screen. I have some manzanita wood, plastic plants and vines in the cage. Is there something I should put in there to help to wear down the nails? Thanks so much!

 

[nightanole]

I clip. Mine gets these hypodermic needles at the end. I dont really clip the nail(like beardies/iggies), but family members dont appreciate 5 red marks per foot on their arm.

 

[leedragon]

NO!

 

[Carlton]

I just got a 5 month old Veiled Chameleon from Macks. I was wondering the same thing about nails. I thought you would have to clip them (somehow!). I had a green iguana for 8 years and trimmed his nails so figured these little ones would need it too. Thank you for clearing that up! I have a ZooMed cage and noticed his nails seem to be getting caught on the screen. I have some manzanita wood, plastic plants and vines in the cage. Is there something I should put in there to help to wear down the nails? Thanks so much!

If you add some larger diameter (too large for his toes to wrap all the way around) naturally rough barked branches to the cage it will help wear down the tips.