Handling

[gumbycham]

Okay so I am completely new to owning a chameleon as I just purchased mine yesterday. I bought a sunburst veiled chameleon and he is 3 months old. I named him gumby. Gumby is from a breeder and the person i purchased him from handled him everyday. When I went to get him, I just stuck my finger out and he happily climbed on and up my arm. By the time i got home it was his bedtime and he went to sleep. This morning when I woke up at 630 he woke up to. I opened the cage and went to put my finger in to say goodmorning and when i got close he just snarled at me. Didnt open his mouth or anything. Know whenever I go near he slowly walks away and turns black or spots of black. He also seems to mind when I am in the room. Ive read alot about how chameleons dont need to be handled everyday, but I just want him to warm up to me like he was at the previous owners house. Any suggestions for what I can do?

 

[Branman]

He needs some time to adjust to his new surroundings. You shouldnt handle him until he is more comfortable with his new surroundings. Just give him some time and he will learn to be handled. But they really like to be handled alot.

 

[Branman]

You can also try to hand feed your Cham. This helps them get used to your hand being near them. This will take time for them to get used to hand feeding, but it is very cool to watch.

 

[Captive Creations]

Both good Ideas but I would wait at least a week before doing either. IMHO For now just free range or cup feed which ever you do depending on age.

Welcome to the Forum by the way! I would give him some space. he will come around. chameleons aren't ment to be handled a lot. and Veiled are very territorial chams so they are very protective of their enclosures so that could also be what its about, but with that being said I would wait at least a week before handling for him to get use to his new home

We LOVE pics too so if you get a chance post a pic of your new little one We love to see cham pics!

 

[gumbycham]

Thank you for all of those ideas and tips. Im 19 now and ive always wanted a cham since I was like 7 years old. I will definitely post some pics up soon Il try to get a feeding picture too

 

[BuddyFrodis]

Ok I was wondering the same thing. The breeder I got my veiled from said to wait a week before handling. He seems like everytime we get near his cage to do anything he hides and turns dark brown.

How long will it take him to get used to the sounds of our house and us even just approaching the cage with out stressing him out? Is a week the magic number? Or will he just eventually warm up?

 

[gumbycham]

Ive had mine for almost a week now and he's warmed up just a little bit, i just fixed my humidity problem so that might help with him warming up to me

 

[BuddyFrodis]

This morning he seemed a little less skiddish but we just got him on Saturday so hopefully it will keep getting better. He was scared of the spray bottle as an example, but he did great with it today.

 

[Captive Creations]

it all depends on the chameleon, so its really up to them. I had one veiled that only took a week and another that still puffs up if you move too fast or while misting. so its there isn't really an answer to that, but my chameleons took about a week or so to get use to the routine and the noises in the house.

can't wait for pics I am sure he will come around though just give him time.

 

[gumbycham]

I just moved him downstairs into my basement yesterday bc the humidity and the temperature is more stable there than upstairs in my room. Will it take about another week to adjust. Also how am I supposed to take him out of his cage to clean it? He hids and gets all angry whenever I get near or open the door to the terrarium.