Defense

[NatoV]

** not a health question really just general discussion**
So one day a couple months back (a week or two after I got my two veileds) I accidentally injured my female *her name is Jude* (she was chilling on the door and I guess I just didn’t see her when I went to open the door of the enclosure) she got a bruise on her head (which is long gone now) and is completely fine now. (I take her out of the enclosure once every two weeks to do a complete clean of the vines and enclosure, I do a spot clean every week I don’t do a full clean) and whenever I take her out her defense is to just.. fall. No slipping or trying to get away and missing a branch no no no, she just falls, I always now put my hand under her to catch her but has anyone else seen this behavior? I know it’s because she got injured when I got her because she started doing that once it happened, but curiosity has the best of me and I just wanna know if anyone else has seen this.

 

[NatoV]

Oh and also she moves around perfectly fine and is okay with me opening the enclosure, she only ever falls when I go to move her to a different enclosure to clean

 

[CC's Baby]

Oh and also she moves around perfectly fine and is okay with me opening the enclosure, she only ever falls when I go to move her to a different enclosure to clean

That is strange. But then again, I am still learning behaviors of these little guys. Angus would rather NOT come out and wraps his tail around a vine so I cannot get him out on occasion. I have never seen him fall like that.

 

[JacksJill]

Some species do a behavior known as disking. You may be able to find clips of it on this site if you do a search and you can compare it to what you are seeing. You could also film the behavior and post it. I have never heard of it in a veiled maybe others have.

 

[Brodybreaux25]

She remembers the door incident and panicking when she sees your going to try to move her. It’s her last ditch effort to escape what she considers a threat.

 

[NatoV]

She remembers the door incident and panicking when she sees your going to try to move her. It’s her last ditch effort to escape what she considers a threat.

Ya I know what why she’s doing it, just wanted to know if anyone else has noticed this behavior in chams

 

[Brodybreaux25]

Ya I know what why she’s doing it, just wanted to know if anyone else has noticed this behavior in chams

Never seen it personally but it is a known chameleon defensive response.

 

[Gingero]

When I first got my guy and tried to handle him, he instinctively jumped off my hand. It was like he had a parachute and plopped onto the ground.

I’ve been working on bonding with him just by putting my hand near him and what not and now he comes out voluntarily.

 

[Graves923]

I know Jacksons are documented jumpers and have read that panthers will drop out of trees to escape a predator. interesting behavior none the less

 

[Syreptyon]

How old is she? I have always found jumping/dropping behavior to be more common when they are still small