Nicholaskerns1106
New Member
Hey everyone! I just wanted to stop by and share my experience with handling my veiled chameleon.
Before i got my chameleon, i read every single article that exist about handling chams. My cham is a year old, and i want to share my story so other people interested in handling their cham may have better luck.
Almost all sources will claim that chams are not the animal you want if you wish to handle them frequently. This made me apprehensive about buying one, because i wanted an animal that would enjoy being handled on a daily basis. However, the chameleon is such a cool animal and i HAD to get one. Because i am stubborn, i ignored all the media that claim chams generally do not like being handled, and i took a chance anyway.
I got him as a 3 week old baby, and set him up in a small reptibreeze. For the first 2 months, i would reach in and bring him out, but i could tell he was not comfortable. Not much movement, looking horrified of his surroundings. After about 3 more months, i read an article that suggested to leave the cage door open, and let him come out on his own. After a few weeks, he finally started coming out on his own, and i would intercept him for a short handling session, and put him back. This system worked for about 2 months, and one day while i was trying to intercept him, he opened his mouth and hissed violently. After that day, i left him alone for about a week.
After that week, i started trying again. But after he came out on his own, he would flip the fuck out as soon as i got near him. Tail curling and uncurling, hissing, swaying back and fourth, and even giving a hard bite once. After this, any time i tried putting my hand in the cage, he would lose his shit in the same manner i just described. At this point, i was discouraged and fed up.
I made the decision to try and sell him, and i was going to use the money to buy a bearded dragon or iguana or something. Nobody was interested. He stayed in the cage with no attempts at handling for an additional 2 months. Once i realized he wasnt going to sell, i thought id take a new approach. I started purchasing wax worms and fed him by hand every evening. I would not extend my hand into the cage with the worm, but have my hand outside of the cage door. I thought that this would convey that i want to help him, but i also do not want to invade his space.
After a week or two of this, my cham seemed very interested in the cage door. Constantly scoping it out, exploring the screen and corners, as if he wanted to come out. One day, i put my hand in a flat position at the cage door, and waited for him see me. I slowly opened the door, and after a few seconds of hesitation, he climbed right on my hand. We continued to have a brief handling session where he was visably happy! Climbing from hand to hand, bright green, and comfortable!
After the last few months of doing this EVERY SINGLE DAY, i can proudly say that my cham literally destroys all stereotypes about handling chams and their distaste for it. Every single day when i get home from work and he sees me, he will scratch at the door until i come over, open it up, and let HIM come to me. We have a great time together for about 5 minutes, and i put him back. 9 out of 10 times as soon as i put him back, he will try to make me bring him out again. He absolitely loves it! He literally behaves like a dog when the owner gets home from work. I handle him for 5 minutes, every single day, which most experts will think is unhealthy. I never bring him out against his will, and i never reach into his cage. He makes the decision all on his own. He only comes out when he shows me he wants to come out, which i just mentioned, is every single day without fail.
So in conclusion, my goal in this article is to provide a bit of information to those who are interested in purchasing and handling a cham. I lerned 2 major lessons which are as follows:
1. There is no cut and dry. Chams have different personalities, and there are too many variables that affect their behavior. Listen to the experts on the internet because the info is VERY helpful....but nothing is guarenteed.
2. Dont give up! If i would have sold my cham when i was upset with him, we would have never made it to this amazing point in our relationship. Try different things, take advice, and dont lose hope.
I hope this article will shed light on the topic that i heavily researched before i purchased my cham. When it comes to this topic, all i have to say is that it CAN be done!
"Bambino" today vs 1 year ago
Before i got my chameleon, i read every single article that exist about handling chams. My cham is a year old, and i want to share my story so other people interested in handling their cham may have better luck.
Almost all sources will claim that chams are not the animal you want if you wish to handle them frequently. This made me apprehensive about buying one, because i wanted an animal that would enjoy being handled on a daily basis. However, the chameleon is such a cool animal and i HAD to get one. Because i am stubborn, i ignored all the media that claim chams generally do not like being handled, and i took a chance anyway.
I got him as a 3 week old baby, and set him up in a small reptibreeze. For the first 2 months, i would reach in and bring him out, but i could tell he was not comfortable. Not much movement, looking horrified of his surroundings. After about 3 more months, i read an article that suggested to leave the cage door open, and let him come out on his own. After a few weeks, he finally started coming out on his own, and i would intercept him for a short handling session, and put him back. This system worked for about 2 months, and one day while i was trying to intercept him, he opened his mouth and hissed violently. After that day, i left him alone for about a week.
After that week, i started trying again. But after he came out on his own, he would flip the fuck out as soon as i got near him. Tail curling and uncurling, hissing, swaying back and fourth, and even giving a hard bite once. After this, any time i tried putting my hand in the cage, he would lose his shit in the same manner i just described. At this point, i was discouraged and fed up.
I made the decision to try and sell him, and i was going to use the money to buy a bearded dragon or iguana or something. Nobody was interested. He stayed in the cage with no attempts at handling for an additional 2 months. Once i realized he wasnt going to sell, i thought id take a new approach. I started purchasing wax worms and fed him by hand every evening. I would not extend my hand into the cage with the worm, but have my hand outside of the cage door. I thought that this would convey that i want to help him, but i also do not want to invade his space.
After a week or two of this, my cham seemed very interested in the cage door. Constantly scoping it out, exploring the screen and corners, as if he wanted to come out. One day, i put my hand in a flat position at the cage door, and waited for him see me. I slowly opened the door, and after a few seconds of hesitation, he climbed right on my hand. We continued to have a brief handling session where he was visably happy! Climbing from hand to hand, bright green, and comfortable!
After the last few months of doing this EVERY SINGLE DAY, i can proudly say that my cham literally destroys all stereotypes about handling chams and their distaste for it. Every single day when i get home from work and he sees me, he will scratch at the door until i come over, open it up, and let HIM come to me. We have a great time together for about 5 minutes, and i put him back. 9 out of 10 times as soon as i put him back, he will try to make me bring him out again. He absolitely loves it! He literally behaves like a dog when the owner gets home from work. I handle him for 5 minutes, every single day, which most experts will think is unhealthy. I never bring him out against his will, and i never reach into his cage. He makes the decision all on his own. He only comes out when he shows me he wants to come out, which i just mentioned, is every single day without fail.
So in conclusion, my goal in this article is to provide a bit of information to those who are interested in purchasing and handling a cham. I lerned 2 major lessons which are as follows:
1. There is no cut and dry. Chams have different personalities, and there are too many variables that affect their behavior. Listen to the experts on the internet because the info is VERY helpful....but nothing is guarenteed.
2. Dont give up! If i would have sold my cham when i was upset with him, we would have never made it to this amazing point in our relationship. Try different things, take advice, and dont lose hope.
I hope this article will shed light on the topic that i heavily researched before i purchased my cham. When it comes to this topic, all i have to say is that it CAN be done!
"Bambino" today vs 1 year ago
