Gaining trust?

[ADotsalot]

So I got my very first chameleon yesterday and she is so adorable! She is four months old and is really sweet. But sadly, like all other chameleons at first, she's scared of me. I'm trying to get her used to my hands by slowly bringing one towards her chin, but she just runs away and ends up falling of the branch. I'm sure she hates me now since I'm the reason she fell. How can I gain her trust me if she just keeps running away???

 

[Veild Cham Owner]

Here are some tips.

(1) leave her alone for the next couple of days, you have only had her for a day she is probably stressed out because of the new surrounding (every cham is like that) try not to touch her or interact with her until ,just say wednesday. (2)Then try hand feeding her a worm or something she likes. She knows that food is a safe thing so by u hand feeding her she will realized the hand is a safe thing. (3)Keep the door open to her cage often. She will see you walking around and know your are safe. (4)Just stick your hand in the cage, just put ur hand in and do nothing just keep it there. She will see that ur hand is in her territory and by doing nothing (not bothering her) she will see ur hand is safe. (5) how often are you in the room that she is in? I have my chams cage in my room, which i am always in, This one is kinda the same concept of having the door open, she will see you from her cage (not bothering her) and see that your are safe. (6) when you have her out try to keep her out as long as you can w/o stressing her out. Try to do something she likes outside of her cage like eating a worm or climbing a branch. By doing thing outside of her cage she will realize that outside the cage is safe and can be fun!. (7) your cham is still a baby and their fist instinct is to run away from humans (8) BE PATIENT!! Chameleons are very timid animals and take a while for bonding and things like that, i've had my cham for over a month now and he still isnt too fond of me. He rarely has these moments where all he wants to do is be outside his cage. It takes time! and good luck with you bby girl, they are so much fun

 

[jacksonjacinto36]

Yea atleast wait a week after you first get her so she can be comfortable in her new ambient ! After a week slowly start to grab her , chameleons aren't meant to be handled . And what type of chameleon? Vieled chameleons tend to run away and be more aggressive than some of the other common house kept chameleons

 

[ADotsalot]

Here are some tips.

(1) leave her alone for the next couple of days, you have only had her for a day she is probably stressed out because of the new surrounding (every cham is like that) try not to touch her or interact with her until ,just say wednesday. (2)Then try hand feeding her a worm or something she likes. She knows that food is a safe thing so by u hand feeding her she will realized the hand is a safe thing. (3)Keep the door open to her cage often. She will see you walking around and know your are safe. (4)Just stick your hand in the cage, just put ur hand in and do nothing just keep it there. She will see that ur hand is in her territory and by doing nothing (not bothering her) she will see ur hand is safe. (5) how often are you in the room that she is in? I have my chams cage in my room, which i am always in, This one is kinda the same concept of having the door open, she will see you from her cage (not bothering her) and see that your are safe. (6) when you have her out try to keep her out as long as you can w/o stressing her out. Try to do something she likes outside of her cage like eating a worm or climbing a branch. By doing thing outside of her cage she will realize that outside the cage is safe and can be fun!. (7) your cham is still a baby and their fist instinct is to run away from humans (8) BE PATIENT!! Chameleons are very timid animals and take a while for bonding and things like that, i've had my cham for over a month now and he still isnt too fond of me. He rarely has these moments where all he wants to do is be outside his cage. It takes time! and good luck with you bby girl, they are so much fun

Thank you for the tips!! I'll definitely do all of them! Also she is in my room so she sees plenty of me thank you so much for your help!!!!

 

[ADotsalot]

Yea atleast wait a week after you first get her so she can be comfortable in her new ambient ! After a week slowly start to grab her , chameleons aren't meant to be handled . And what type of chameleon? Vieled chameleons tend to run away and be more aggressive than some of the other common house kept chameleons

Okay I will do that! And she is a veiled chameleon. But I noticed when she hissed at me, right before she fell, it was really quite. Is that normal? Does she have some type of respiratory problem?? I've seen videos of chameleons hissing much louder.

 

[jacksonjacinto36]

No the hissing in different noise levels is normal . I first started with 2 vieled chameleons (right before I traded them for my Jackson) and trust me they would hiss whenever I would even get my hand near them . They were both pretty good when I first got them and as they got older they got more aggressive. i would just try handling it least possible , even if she does trust you the species itself is aggressive so don't be sad or think she hates you its just not in their species to be handled that often or at all

 

[brittbritt]

When we brought our Graceful chameleon home we handled him too soon and it stressed him out and he went on a 8 day hunger strike. So we gave him some time to adjust and now he doesn't get as upset being held.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

I wish all breeders would do what my family an I do. When handle the hatchlings a lot from the moment they hatch! All they know is that handling is what you get all day. I also make sure each and everyone of them gets handfed on a frequent basis. My babies are not to be treated like fish in a bowl! I do not know how they will act/fare if they stop getting handled!

As for your baby, patience, love, yummy food and you being his/her memory of all that is good! Should win any chameleon over!

 

[ADotsalot]

No the hissing in different noise levels is normal . I first started with 2 vieled chameleons (right before I traded them for my Jackson) and trust me they would hiss whenever I would even get my hand near them . They were both pretty good when I first got them and as they got older they got more aggressive. i would just try handling it least possible , even if she does trust you the species itself is aggressive so don't be sad or think she hates you its just not in their species to be handled that often or at all

I can understand that! Thank you so much! For all your help!!!

 

[ADotsalot]

When we brought our Graceful chameleon home we handled him too soon and it stressed him out and he went on a 8 day hunger strike. So we gave him some time to adjust and now he doesn't get as upset being held.

Yeah I should deffinatly give my baby chameleon some space. Thank you!!

 

[ADotsalot]

I wish all breeders would do what my family an I do. When handle the hatchlings a lot from the moment they hatch! All they know is that handling is what you get all day. I also make sure each and everyone of them gets handfed on a frequent basis. My babies are not to be treated like fish in a bowl! I do not know how they will act/fare if they stop getting handled!

As for your baby, patience, love, yummy food and you being his/her memory of all that is good! Should win any chameleon over!

I'll try my best to make everyday great for my new baby chameleon!! Thank you so much!!!