Does looking cause stress?
- Thread starter emilhayek
- Start date
NashansCamos
Chameleon Enthusiast
They can but if it's not showing any signs of distress I wouldn't worry. I keep my chams in a high traffic area and they're fine. What species is he/she?
emilhayek
Established Member
Panther, 3 months old. He’s not running away or anything. He’s just climbing exploring his cage. Still hasn’t eaten anything though.
NashansCamos
Chameleon Enthusiast
At that age I would be more cautious and gentle about stress, but I wouldn't worry too much if he's not reacting. What locale is he
emilhayek
Established Member
Ambilobe, I’ve only handled him to move him into the cage
NashansCamos
Chameleon Enthusiast
Yeah wait a few days or so before handling extensively. still at that age I wouldn't handle too often
emilhayek
Established Member
that was my plan. hopefully he eats today or tomorrow
Ares05
Chameleon Enthusiast
You need to let him settle.
I would refrain from handling for a few weeks. you need to build trust on his terms, not yours. Once hes gotten used to your presence, you can start offering food by hand. then you can start trying to lure him onto your hands with food. Do not force him out. Creating trust is the goal
Since you just got him I would try and keep his direct human interaction at a minimum if possible. These animals are easily stressed. He's already stressed from being in a new place
I would refrain from handling for a few weeks. you need to build trust on his terms, not yours. Once hes gotten used to your presence, you can start offering food by hand. then you can start trying to lure him onto your hands with food. Do not force him out. Creating trust is the goal
Since you just got him I would try and keep his direct human interaction at a minimum if possible. These animals are easily stressed. He's already stressed from being in a new place
emilhayek
Established Member
Gotcha, im not trying to handle him now i just wanna make sure that having 3 humans (including myself) watching him isn’t going to stress him out you know? that’s my main concern right now. From the looks of it, he seems just fine. Exploring his enclosure, licking the water off leaves and looking at the feeder cup but not interested ?
Ares05
Chameleon Enthusiast
Just act normal in the room his cage is in. He needs to get used to seeing normal activity, but you don't want to go out of your way to go look at him and bother him. Just avoid eye contact with him for now and let him settle 
I promise he will eventually
Took my little man ages to even let me walk around near his cage. Panthers tend be more mellow though. Some chameleons just don't tolerate handling, some do. Just love him for whatever he turns out to be, lol!
I promise he will eventuallyTook my little man ages to even let me walk around near his cage. Panthers tend be more mellow though. Some chameleons just don't tolerate handling, some do. Just love him for whatever he turns out to be, lol!
emilhayek
Established Member
For sure! Weekdays i’m at work from 11:30-6:30 so he’ll be alone most the time. Weekends i just stay home, play video games and often go out to eat so it’s really chill! I’ll just do my own thing while he does his own thingJust act normal in the room his cage is in. He needs to get used to seeing normal activity, but you don't want to go out of your way to go look at him and bother him. Just avoid eye contact with him for now and let him settle
Took my little man ages to even let me walk around near his cage. Panthers tend be more mellow though. Some chameleons just don't tolerate handling, some do. Just love him for whatever he turns out to be, lol!
emilhayek
Established Member
Thank you! Right as you replied he went up to a pothos leaf and started licking the water off it
emilhayek
Established Member
I guess every cham is different huh?
emilhayek
Established Member
Geez!
Cloud9Chameleons
Member
I would keep the room quiet and give him a few days to settle in. I’m surprised he’s not eating. Pretty much anytime I have ever gotten a new chameleon they went after food immeadately. BUT I have also found that sometimes some of them prefer the cup feeding method while others prefer hunting their food with it just left loose in the cage. Also I have chameleons that will refuse a certain food ( super worms, Dubias) but I have never had one refuse a cricket. If he won’t eat, try crickets. If you have crickets and they are in a cup or bin in his cage let them loose. If they are running loose, put them in a bin. Sometimes it can be trail and error. Just figure out what he wants. More importantly, I just want to make sure you have the correct lighting because if not he can get MBD- a very nasty bone disease. If you are using the bulb that came in the chameleon kit from the pet store it is total garbage. Chameleons need the linear bulb that fits into the long hood fixture. If this is not what you have and you are using the bulb that screws into a light fixture throw it out at once and get the correct bulb (pictured below). And you can just use a regular incandescent 60w light bulb for a heat source. No need for the special $12-$20 bulbs at the pet store. I have been using a regular light bulb as a basking light for years and have never had a problem. Good luck! Enjoy your new baby!
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emilhayek
Established Member
I do have a linear t5ho with an arcadia! I’m just afraid if i let a cricket loose that they could bite my cham?
Ares05
Chameleon Enthusiast
Some chameleons take a bit before feeling comfortable enough to eat in their new environment. He should start eating in the next few days. I wouldn't worry about him not eating yet. Every cham is different.
Keeping their food contained in a cup or feeder makes it much easier for them to find their food.
Keeping their food contained in a cup or feeder makes it much easier for them to find their food.
