Friendly cham?

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

So i got my veiled chameleon(Loki) a few days go, and i did a lot of research on them. All sites i went on said that they were not very social and to handle them as little as possible, however, my cham turns neon colors and raises his front hands up like he wants to be picked up. he acts crazy until i put my hand in his habitat, then he climbs up my arm and clings to the front of my shirt. this behavior started only a few hours after i got him, after i fed him and misted his cage. he does feed out of my hand and will drink out of a spoon if i'm holding it. Is something wrong or is he just unlike other chams?

 

[Syreptyon]

So i got my veiled chameleon(Loki) a few days go, and i did a lot of research on them. All sites i went on said that they were not very social and to handle them as little as possible, however, my cham turns neon colors and raises his front hands up like he wants to be picked up. he acts crazy until i put my hand in his habitat, then he climbs up my arm and clings to the front of my shirt. this behavior started only a few hours after i got him, after i fed him and misted his cage. he does feed out of my hand and will drink out of a spoon if i'm holding it. Is something wrong or is he just unlike other chams?

There is probably something about his enclosure he doesn't like, so he's trying to get out of it. Can you post pics of the enclosure please?

 

[nightanole]

chams will go from "biting the hand its standing on" to "head butt snuggles on the shoulder". And you have not gone through "teenage veiled syndrome" yet, so enjoy handling the cham for now.

If the cham comes to you, anything goes. Just dont put your hand in "loki's" tree. That is its house/room.

 

[CC's Baby]

Yep, usually its the enclosure he is desperate to get out of, so show pics.

 

[Graves923]

I second the enclosure photos. What temps are you reading in the cage as well? Being a new cham to you, there is something he does not like in the cage that makes him think this big possibly dangerous creature is more comfortable than in the cage.

Usually a young cham in a new enclosure will try to stay hidden as much as it can. At that stage in life, they are food for a lot of predators.

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

chams will go from "biting the hand its standing on" to "head butt snuggles on the shoulder". And you have not gone through "teenage veiled syndrome" yet, so enjoy handling the cham for now.

If the cham comes to you, anything goes. Just dont put your hand in "loki's" tree. That is its house/room.

He is 3 years old now, so i don,t think i have to worry about "teenage veiled syndrome"

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

I second the enclosure photos. What temps are you reading in the cage as well? Being a new cham to you, there is something he does not like in the cage that makes him think this big possibly dangerous creature is more comfortable than in the cage.

Usually a young cham in a new enclosure will try to stay hidden as much as it can. At that stage in life, they are food for a lot of predators.

I second the enclosure photos. What temps are you reading in the cage as well? Being a new cham to you, there is something he does not like in the cage that makes him think this big possibly dangerous creature is more comfortable than in the cage.

Usually a young cham in a new enclosure will try to stay hidden as much as it can. At that stage in life, they are food for a lot of predators.

he is three years old

 

[Graves923]

Any photos of the chameleon?

Also, Fill this form out: https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/how-to-ask-for-help.66/

Copy and paste it below. Itll help us get a better idea of the setup and care you are providing. If there are any red flags, we will be able to help you correct them so you don't run into any issues later on.

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

this is loki

 

[Multivitamins]

@Jet and Loki the Cham the arms up is the "double salute" it's typically a sign fear or stress in most cases. The willingness to leave the enclosure is as previously stated a sign something may need to be rearranged or temps need to change.
Check out https://www.chameleonbreeder.com/
They have a wealth of information about body language how to spot signs of stress or illness and tons of husbandry tips.

 

[nightanole]

UHHHHH. Are you sure its a "He"?

 

[CamoChameleonsHuman]

UHHHHH. Are you sure its a "He"?

That's a tiny casque and a tiny 2 year old Male.

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

UHHHHH. Are you sure its a "He"?

yes

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

i rearranged his habitat some, he still seems to enjoy being handled, but doesn't mind being in his habitat

 

[Beman]

He has tarsal spurs in the pic...

 

[nightanole]

He has tarsal spurs in the pic...

Thats not the other half of the foot?


but yea he looks like this one too:

https://flchams.com/chameleon/blue-sub-adult-veiled-chameleons-for-sale/

I just looked at the head, and the age, and went "girl".

 

[Beman]

Thats not the other half of the foot?


but yea he looks like this one too:

https://flchams.com/chameleon/blue-sub-adult-veiled-chameleons-for-sale/

I just looked at the head, and the age, and went "girl".

Yeah I know the casque is small... I just did an arrow on the photo for what I see is a tarsal spur.

 

[snitz427]

Neon colors and raising the hand dont sound like “pick me up” colors, they sound line “eff you up” colors to me.




That being said, most of my guys will happily come to my hand to come outside or free range. Sometimes they’re content in their space and sometimes they clearly want out. I dont think handling them for a few minutes if they want out is detremental, especially if it leads to something they enjoy, like a few minutes of sunshine.

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

Neon colors and raising the hand dont sound like “pick me up” colors, they sound line “eff you up” colors to me.

View attachment 236920


That being said, most of my guys will happily come to my hand to come outside or free range. Sometimes they’re content in their space and sometimes they clearly want out. I dont think handling them for a few minutes if they want out is detremental, especially if it leads to something they enjoy, like a few minutes of sunshine.

If its warm enough and he wants out, i take him outside in the sun, and when he has seen his reflection or any of my family members, he gets darker and blows himself up, the bright colors also show up when im hand feeding him mealworms waxworms and superworms

 

[Jet and Loki the Cham]

That's a tiny casque and a tiny 2 year old Male.

he is 3 years old, but the people who had him last kept him in a too small habitat and seemed to stunt his growth, im getting a big one soon, i doubt he will grow any but im sure hell love the extra space