handling.
- Thread starter rionjames
- Start date
happiness
New Member
I have to lure my veiled chameleon out onto my hand with food, though she wants right back into her cage. (Trying to get her more used to me) When she does gets a hold of a leaf or something in her cage, she quickly moves away.
When I go to clean her cage out, she will climb on the the side of the cage, right next to me and eventually end up on the other side of the screen. I think my hand scares her more then the rest of me. The last person who owned her had a young son who grabbed her around her back and probably picked her up a lot.
& When I'm hand feeding her, a lot of times she'll think my hand is food though
I would love to have a chameleon that came over to me and climbed on my hand. I would never want to get rid of the one I have though.
When I go to clean her cage out, she will climb on the the side of the cage, right next to me and eventually end up on the other side of the screen. I think my hand scares her more then the rest of me. The last person who owned her had a young son who grabbed her around her back and probably picked her up a lot.
& When I'm hand feeding her, a lot of times she'll think my hand is food though
I would love to have a chameleon that came over to me and climbed on my hand. I would never want to get rid of the one I have though.
Psychobunny
Avid Member
All my cham, with the exception of my new baby panther, "beg" to be let out
to play on the free range. So they get right on my arm when I open the cage.
It can be a pain at feeding time!!
As soon as I walk up to the cage, they are right there with their little arms
stretched out
to play on the free range. So they get right on my arm when I open the cage.
It can be a pain at feeding time!!
As soon as I walk up to the cage, they are right there with their little arms
stretched out
Psychobunny
Avid Member
I don't think any cham actually LIKES being handled, but I wouldn't call,
letting them get on my hand and climb my arm, handling.
They have just overcome any fear of me, and use me as a convienient bridge
and transport devise to get were they want to go.
I'm sure if I tried to grab them, they would stop doing it.
windex
New Member
My panther is very very calm. If I'm working on his enclosure (changing out the feeder cup, adding vines, cleaning, etc.) I can't keep him off me. He'll perch on my shoulder and watch, or he'll walk across my shoulders and onto my other arm. A couple times I've had to actually grab him as he'd be walking on my back and not able to see him. I can pet his back, top of his head, belly, pretty much anywhere and he doesn't even change his color let alone gape or hiss.. Sometimes I wish he was a little more shy because I can't go near his enclosure without him rushing to the the door and pawing for me take him out
Psychobunny
Avid Member
LOL! I know, it can be a problem when they all want out at the same time!!
I cant resist them when they look at me like they do, and stretch out their little arms to me
Guaca mole
Member
Mine is a total Mommas boy! He wants out every time that I would let him!
He is very friendly, and that is why I bought him. He was trying to claw his way out of his enclosure in the pet store to get to me.
It was love at first sight!
He is very friendly, and that is why I bought him. He was trying to claw his way out of his enclosure in the pet store to get to me.
It was love at first sight!
Last edited by a moderator:
Molly mittens
New Member
Aww mine did the same thing! So cute
happiness
New Member
Aww mine did the same thing! So cute
Cutest picture! You could probably win the photo contest on this forum with that one.
My cham would be running for the hills if she saw my hands near her. 
revengeveronica
Member
I have a 6 month old male veiled chameleon and he loves being held. I have company over a lot and he even likes being passed around and letting everyone hold him. He loves the attention.
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
My panthers were great with handling - if I leaned in too far wiping up poop from a cage I'd soon feel little chameleon nails climbing my head!
But now my Meller's are not thrilled with me. They've learned that I bring food and they handfeed super well but they don't like to be touched. It just makes them really uncomfortable. Although they don't fight me anymore, they seem to know I only move them to go outside for sunshine, so it must be a bit of positive operant conditioning.
But now my Meller's are not thrilled with me. They've learned that I bring food and they handfeed super well but they don't like to be touched. It just makes them really uncomfortable. Although they don't fight me anymore, they seem to know I only move them to go outside for sunshine, so it must be a bit of positive operant conditioning.
grccola
New Member
I have a question about hand feeding . I have had my male panther for about 2 months he is almost 6 months old he ate the first day I got him and he always will take a cricket from me when I feed him with the tweezers (the short red one ) The problem I have is that a lot of times when he get the food he also grabs the tweezers and I have to let the tweezers go a bit because I am afraid of hurting him . what do I do if I hand feed him and he grabs part of my hand
Psychobunny
Avid Member
I don't use tweezers because I am afraid they may hurt their tongue on them.
I just grab the crick by both back legs and hold it a few inches in from of my
cham. You may have to hold still a long time while he analyzes the situation
and decides to zap it.
If he does not take it, or moves away, it's best to pull out slowly and try again
later.
Move very slowly, and try not to get your face too close to them, just an extended arm.
The main thing is letting them see your hand with the food on it, and they will
learn, in time, that you are not a threat.
All my guyz cages are in my living room, so they get used to seeing me walk
around.
With the new, shy ones, I try to only open the cage if I have something good
for them.
My new little panther does not yet trust me enough to take food from my hand,
he just stares at it! I hold it a few inches from him, and give hime several
minutes to think about it.
Takes time, repetition, and tons of patience
Psychobunny
Avid Member
You mean their tongue sticking to your finger?
I have never had a problem with that, but their tongue may stick if your skin
is very dry.
When I cup feed, I lightly mist the inside of the cup so they don't stick to it.
In the winter, here on the east coast, it's very dry, really hard to get the
humidity up to 50%.
