Handling and Disposition

[GlennFrog]

Hello all. I've asked a few questions on these forums and I'm quite happy with the feedback I've received, so here goes another one: are most chameleons naturally finicky about being handled, or can they learn to be okay with it? I've had my girl Rinoa since Christmas and I handle her very rarely as she doesn't seem to appreciate it much. I only move her out to clean the cage and show her off to my friends every once in a blue moon, and she puffs up when I get my hand near. Once I have her grabbed she tries to run for a minute and then calms down. I'm assuming this is all normal behavior, and I know that all chams have different personalities, I'm just a nervous owner looking for some reassurance. Thanks in advance for any info provided.

 

[Phinfan31]

I've only been an owner for about 6 months now...but my guy definitely settled down after a couple weeks and ever since has been really chill with handling.

To give you a perspective...my girlfriend and I literally pull him out daily just to let him roam around or he likes to just rest on us and goes to sleep usually.

I know I'm very fortunate to have a cham that is so relaxed about human interaction...but I do think that if you're very gentle and get him more accustomed to you - then you could have the same situation.

If its once in a blue moon - as you said - then I do think you're certainly stressing it out as it is not used to the handling.

If anyone disagrees with me that is more experienced then I would advise you listen to them instead

Just wanted to throw out my 2 cents.

 

[werecat]

We have a panther who has always been very shy. We can tell he doesn't like to be handled and we try to avoid it out of respect. He has never been aggressive or puffed, but he usually tries to run away and makes a big fuss about touching us (like "Eeew, human! I shall not sully my hands with your humanness"). We are able too handle him when necessary because of his passive nature. I have also "trained" him to go in and out of the cage on his own and sometimes on command. This minimizes handling.

Others have worked with their chams and have been able to get them to tolerate regular handling. The best thing to do is get her to hand feed. Once she associates you with food she will find you less threatening. Always approach from below and gently coax her to climb onto your hand (rather than grabbing). Time and patience are the key!

 

[Vinyonga]

I think it definitely varies between each chameleon. All of the ones I've had (over 45, wild-caught "temporary pets") have been fine with being handled regularly by myself and others. Only one has hissed slightly on first being picked up, but she calms down immediately afterwards and wanders up my arm onto my head.

But perhaps it can depend on the species, as well.

 

[odduc748]

From personal experience, neither of mine really seems to like handling. I have two Panthers, a male and a female.

The female will allow me to coax her on to my hand and out of the cage without any aggressive behavior.

The male runs away, very quickly, and will puff up and hiss if I get too close. He has even tried to bite me. I give him his space and have tried to warm him up to me by setting out a worm as close to him as he allows. He will snatch up the food and look to me for more. But, still gets aggressive if I try to approach him to get him out. So, I only handle him when I need to get him out of the cage for cleaning, etc. He doesn't really care to socialize.

 

[GlennFrog]

I've tried hand feeding before, but no dice. Perhaps I wasn't being patient enough, and I will admit that I gave up on it pretty quickly. Once she seemed disinterested in the food I just put it in the bowl and let her find it on her own sweet time. I guess I'll try hand feeding and handling a bit more, but I'm not going to try to force anything. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[SycoSquirl]

my male veiled was sick and hated coming out of his cage because it was always either for medicine or the vet ( if you threaten your cham sometimes it will vibtate which is so cool but made me sad finding it out trying to force meds down his throat)
My male panther on the other hand is cage aggressive. When he wants to come out he will come out to the open door and start climbing the door. Thats one of the few times I can get him out without him trying to bite me.
Just keep working with your chams and gain their trust. Hand feeding treats is what ive been doing, and keep your cage door open when your there. They need to see that even though their cage is open they are not in a threatening situation. My cham used to freak out anytime the door would open, but now he only trips out when i put my hand really close to him, without him realising I did it because then its like a suprise hand infront of him haha
Think about it as if you were the chameleon and how you would feel with this giant thing that could or couldnt kill you at any second coming into your home?

 

[ccreag]

This thread is giving me life!! All these stories of hissing/puffing and then relaxing/whatever sounds just like my year old veiled. I got him when he was so small and didn't handle him much out of fear that he was too delicate- so by the time he was 8 months he would his and puff and run away. But the other day when he escaped from his cage (he needs a bigger one, too) onto a fake ficus tree, I was able to slowly and gently lift him from the branch and he didn't puff or anything! Go figure, I think we bonded.

 

[Tabby]

My tame chameleon

Hi Glenn, keep faith, I have a 1 year old Panther male, I got him in December but he had lived in a busy household with kids, kids are brilliant at taming animals, I always worry about stressing an animal and I am too timid, these kids just played with him when they wanted I guess, as a result now that I have him, I have the most wonderful relaxed chilled out Cham, he loves to come out, spends as long as possible riding around on my shoulder, he's given free range of our living room and curiously chooses to come over to us rather than anywhere else in the room, tv is usuall obscured by his tail hanging down over my face as he lives to sit on my head, I do chores around the house with him, he loves to climb on other people, feeds from their hands, he's totally i phased by anything, so they can be handled, I never pick him up, I always only ever let him come to me, can take a while as they aren't exactly fast! Good luck!

 

[GlennFrog]

Thanks for the responses everyone. You guys are making me feel a lot better. I'd like to be able to handle her more, but like I said I'm going to give her her space and not try to force anything. She seems to just enjoy basking and taking in the lovely So Cal weather, so I don't want to bother her. I won't be upset if she doesn't ride my shoulder or hang out with me, as long as she's happy and healthy I'm good.

P.S. She's a veiled that was probably about a month old on Christmas when I got her, so she's probably about 5ish months if that makes a difference to anyone.