Handling help PLEASE

[Nathan96]

I have a 3 month old Nosy be Panther cham and I've had him for almost a month now and he's scared of me. He's in a 24x24x48 cage and I've been trying to first open the cage then making my presents known to him then trying to slide my hand under him. Once I do this he immediately try's to get off of my hand and go up the cage. Also, if I try to touch him gently he begins breathing heavily. It doesn't seem like he's terrified of me because he doesn't immediately run away and hide. His hatch date was May 6th of this year, and I free range crickets. I've attempted feeding him with forceps but he doesn't go for the cricket. I'm just looking for some advice and I understand some chams will just always be skittish. If anyone could tell me how to improve this situation, or if I should just leave him be until the right time. I would appreciate any suggestions or advice. Thank you

 

[nightanole]

Well you popped him in the big boy cage right off the bat!!!

You are right he might not be scared of you, but he might be cage dominant. Poor guy hasnt even been in HIS cage for a month.

I would try leaving the cage door open, and having a few sticks or vines come out of the cage 2ft. See if he will crawl out to them.

For tong taming, try some non daily feeders. Maybe something with wings or a caterpillar or even a mealworm.

I dont think any of them like being petted so i wouldnt try to gently touch him like you are trying to win a cats trust. Even mine that you can just walk up and pick up doesnt like it when i pet his side. He wont leave, but he will puff up and suck in his eye balls in protest.

 

[rummbo]

I also have a 3 months old cham(ambilobe panther). I have had him for over 2 weeks now. He is in a 16x16x30 cage. Will get him in his big boy cage in couple more months. I think getting the appropriate size cage is important. Too large of a cage at too young would make him territorial and stays up on the top of the cage.

I left him alone for the first week and kept the cage door opened as much as possible. After one week, I started to hand cup feed. To ensure success, feed him a bit later in the day so he is hungry. I did that for another week. Each time I put my hand in the cage I slowly moved closer and closer to him without touching him. You want to get him to associate food with your hand and feel safe that the hand wont hurt him. The day I actually held him for the first time, I used a stick to get him to perch on and bring out. I handled him for no more than a minute and I put him in the outdoor cage. So now he has 2 things to associate my hand with. One is food and the other is out to sun bath. After couple of days of that, he now wants to climb out of his cage.

Takes a lot of time and patience to work with your cham. Good luck with your lil guy!

 

[Nathan96]

Thank you very much for your time and advice. I understand that chameleons aren't like playful and interactive. In going to take it slow, leave the door open as much as I can, and cup hand feed

 

[DeremensisBlue]

Also take into account that young panthers will be much more nervous than they will be later in life. Many (not all!) settle down as they get older, get used to their surroundings, and get used to you. Be patient and keep him realizing that you coming around means he gets fed. He should settle in.

 

[maya2]

This might mean nothing whatsoever, but my guy hates metal tongs. When I first got him to hand feed, it had to be with chop sticks.
I don't know why but metal freaks him right out. Maybe it's the reflective quality?

I don't know if you mind holding crickets/worms but it might be easier (although I've heard that using your hands can train your cham into seeing your fingers as a food source).

 

[natureboy86]

In my experience, hand-feeding is the best method to get your cham used to you, and your hand.. It will view your hand as a source that provides treats, thus a positive... Go from that, to luring him out with his favorite treat, little by little, until the treat is just outside of his launching distance, then offer your other hand as a stepping stone to reach the treat.. It's a trick, but it works EVERY time with my guy lol

 

[kplatvoet]

My panther chumley is about 6 months old now and used to behave the same way - I'm pretty much an old bat so handling isn't such a big deal to me - I do want to be able to look to see he's alive and well and clean his cage without him running away. I also wanted to get him some natural sun.
- What worked for me was I bought a zippered laundry bag (amazon 15 bucks) and a few fake vines and plants - and an order of blue bottle flies- (mantisplace)
I put him outside in the cage hanging by where we have a picnic table (not real close but close enough so he knew we were there- before I put him in I put in about 20 flies- He got so into hunting and zapping that he forgot all about being scared and hiding and I had to add more- and moved him closer-
.
After about two trips outside he stopped running and hiding in his inside cage which he used to do if I looked in or filled his cricket cup -Outside, he gets his happy colors on and doesn't mind when the neighbors stop by to watch him eat. He by no means friendly but if I put my hand in to give him a worm he doesn't head for the hills- (he doesn't eat it from my hand he just looks at it till I put it in his cup) He doesn't like it when I move him between cages but he's figured out that outside means flies and flies are good and as long as he's had a bunch he not even bad going back inside. It gives me a chance to give his cage a good cleaning. One thing I did find out while he was out one day my mother walked by him wearing a bright green shirt and he hid behind a vine - I stopped feeding him wearing bright colors since then- I don't know if it's had any effect but I've heard of different reactions based on colors -seeing his reaction made me think it might make a big difference. I'm still experimenting.