Handling your chameleon

[Cmoore]

O.k. so from what I have read, most chameleons do not like to be held
Of course I am one of the optimistic gals that hopes her cham will gladly walk right on my finger and be content sitting there looking handsome for a few minutes - which is NOT the case. We've had Spike (veiled) for 3 weeks today. It was 10 days before the first time I coaxed him onto my hand so I could clean out his cage and he did fine. A week later I tried it again and he puffed and hissed and opened his mouth as if to bite me. (he's 2 months old today) Yesterday afternoon I thought I would try again - Nope not having it - same aggravated, defensive behavior. We've been hand feeding him his worms by putting a hand in cage and he'll come toward you to get those, but backs off the minute I try to touch him. My theory was that if I hand feed him at least once a day (I'm in his space anyway- misting, feeding), he would gain trust in me and readily climb on. If I don't try to hold him or hand feed him at all, then I can see him never wanting to be held. Any thoughts on this or what seems to have worked for anyone else? I'm guessing most people truly want to be able to handle their chameleon at least a little bit…

 

[UserName336]

when i got mine, i had been told (and shown) how incredibly friendly he was. in the place i got him, he ran straight to the shopkeepers hand when he opened the cage. it took at least 10-15 days before my guy was comfortable enough to even not get scared when i opened the door. and even then, i took baby steps. i let him come out to the top of the glass doors (he likes sitting up there when i open the doors up), then i let him walk to a plant that i held. from there i slowly built up his trust by allowing him to run around the couches while i was doing work, then i sat on the couch. he eventually got to the point where he wandered over and climbed up my leg. i found that as soon as he did that, he was comfortable enough to come right out of the cage to my hand and now he loves being held. he actively seeks it out.

all in all, from when i first brought him home to having him completely comfortable with being held took about 6-8 weeks. i work with him at least once a day. i have hand fed from the very first cricket (thank god he already did that). so yeah! just be persistent and be patient

 

[A1forall]

Chameleons dont like to be held?? Its more like chameleons dont like to be grabbed!! Handeling one more often will only help build a somewhat bond between the cham and owner. Nobody likes fear esp a small cham. If you are not comfortable with scooping him up use a branch. Place it under him and gently lift it up. It is also good (in opinion) to look your cham in the eye. Not a mean stare but look him or her in the eye. This will also let them know you are not afraid. They are small they dont know if you are going to eat them or whatever. At first they may feel more afraid of you. If you show your fear they will feel fear and react.
Fear nothing love everything!!!!

 

[FrankTheTank]

Chameleons dont like to be held?? Its more like chameleons dont like to be grabbed!! Handeling one more often will only help build a somewhat bond between the cham and owner. Nobody likes fear esp a small cham. If you are not comfortable with scooping him up use a branch. Place it under him and gently lift it up. It is also good (in opinion) to look your cham in the eye. Not a mean stare but look him or her in the eye. This will also let them know you are not afraid. They are small they dont know if you are going to eat them or whatever. At first they may feel more afraid of you. If you show your fear they will feel fear and react.
Fear nothing love everything!!!!

I've read from many resources that you should NOT look them in the eye b/c that is threatening to them. I wouldn't suggest doing that...even in the "friendliest" of ways. They could be wrong though but I don't risk it

 

[SarahcoadunatioZac]

I look my guy in the eye all the time, hes become afraid of us because of being "grabbed" out of his free range. It was more of a saving from escaping the back yard. Now we are starting from square one to get him to not run from our hands. He still hand feeds, but being held is a different book all together. Problem is my guy is a wanderer, he attempts to escape his free range constantly.

I'm pretty optimistic too, just need to understand your chameleon and work with him/her.

 

[Cmoore]

Oh I have never attempted to grab him. I know better than that. I slowly move one hand toward the front of him, for him to climb on while I use my other hand to "guide" him in that direction. I'll keep trying without overly doing so and stressing him out. In just about everything I have read it says they do best as primarily a display animal and different chams will tolerate handling to some degree based on personality and to only handle for short periods of time or they will get stressed. I'm hoping in time he will come around - just looking for some good advise on the best way to go about it.