He fell asleep with me!

[SilverWolf]

I'm in the kitchen and it is quite dim. He is on my shoulder and he just fell asleep! XD So cute! This is the best picture that I could get without waking him up.

 

[jc31]

That's awesome hopefully my guy gets that comfortable being handled.

 

[SilverWolf]

Hand feed him, lure him on your hand with food and take him outside for natural sunlight (with supervision). That's what I did in a nutshell.

 

[Brad B]

Hand feed him, lure him on your hand with food and take him outside for natural sunlight (with supervision). That's what I did in a nutshell.

How often do u take ur chams outside? And once outside wht do u let them crawl around in ?

 

[SilverWolf]

How often do u take ur chams outside? And once outside wht do u let them crawl around in ?

I take him outside everyday as long as the temperature is right. Once outside, I do not let him crawl in anything. Sometimes I took a fake plant out with me but to ensure safety, he is always on my hand, shoulder or head when outside. I do not mind sitting out there with him for 20 minutes, especially with my phone or a book…or gaming magazine or something. XD Some people have outdoor enclosures but I've heard of several sad stories of escaping, stealing and even a bird swooping down to take it form a branch (obviously not inside a screen enclosure) right in front of the owner's eyes. So I always have him with me. But you can put an outdoor enclosure for him/her just make sure it has no way for the chameleon to escape, or another animal to break in. And be sure to check on him or her very often, or at just keep them in your sight the whole time.

 

[Brad B]

Blu (my male veiled) is kinda not really ok with handling ... and Leo (my female veiled) is full blown no handling iv lured both onto my hands with food leo freaks n blu just wants to go back but no puffing or hissing like leo. Blu crawls around but my hands still make him nervous so if hes on my head I just stick my head in his cage n he walks off. I have plants outside that I bring inside for free range when I clean their cages, so I was thinking just put him in the potted ficus outside while I sit next to it read gameinformer or scour thru the forums lol

 

[Chance Leon G]

I have say my Chance Leon G likes my green shirts best. I actually read somewhere that it does matter what color you are wearing. Greens and khaki being better colors. My wife wears a lot of black and he has not warmed up to her. Here hair is also black (not going to change that). He likes to sit and even starts to go to sleep on my shoulder while I am on the computer.
I recommend caution when they do as mine fell about 2' from my arm to the floor. He was fine and I returned him to his home so he felt secure.
I have not wanted to risk the out doors with him yet.
Greg

 

[SilverWolf]

Blu (my male veiled) is kinda not really ok with handling ... and Leo (my female veiled) is full blown no handling iv lured both onto my hands with food leo freaks n blu just wants to go back but no puffing or hissing like leo. Blu crawls around but my hands still make him nervous so if hes on my head I just stick my head in his cage n he walks off. I have plants outside that I bring inside for free range when I clean their cages, so I was thinking just put him in the potted ficus outside while I sit next to it read gameinformer or scour thru the forums lol

Yep, we have quite a bit in common then XD but thankfully, Tricky usually isn't nervous or stressed at all when handling. Of course sometimes he turns spotted and wants back but I just interpret that as "I don't want outside today" which is fine, some days I don't even want to leave the house. Bringing a magazine out or laptop, game console or whatever, just make sure that nothing can swoop down and snatch him or her out off of the plant. That has happened before even with a human right near the chameleon. Just be careful or cautious, that's all.

 

[kimmieg]

My veiled falls asleep in my hands quite often. He just gets all cozy and then next thing I know I have a sleeping chameleon in my hands. Cutest thing ever. Guess it means he really trust me.

 

[mhfan305]

Is this handling with the more hardy chameleons? Because I'd like to handle my mt meru jackson, but I'm afraid of stressing him out. And should I handle him everyday for short periods for him to get use to me? Or does this all matter on his temperament which I should be watching for?

 

[SilverWolf]

Is this handling with the more hardy chameleons? Because I'd like to handle my mt meru jackson, but I'm afraid of stressing him out. And should I handle him everyday for short periods for him to get use to me? Or does this all matter on his temperament which I should be watching for?

I handle my jackson chameleon almost everyday but only when he is not stressed or showing stress colours. If he does then I put him back. The way to get him used to you is to hand feed. Everyday hand feed the first two crickets or so (or whatever you use to feed), and eventually he will begin to associate your hand with food. After he takes food from your hand hold out your other hand and position your two hands so that he has to walk onto your hand to get the cricket in the other hand. Let him sit there for a minute and chew his food, then put him back. Doing this everyday is good as long as he walks on there on his own. Make sure when you lure him onto your hand, that is is the first time he ate that day. His hunger will serve as an incentive to walk onto your hand to get the cricket in the other hand. After a few days of doing this, if the temperature is appropriate, take him outside on your hand for some natural sunlight. Keep him safe though. As you move you may notice that he climbs onto your shoulder, and if he's anything like, Tricky, he'll climb your hair or try to climb your face and head XD. Just make sure he is safe, and as long as he does not show stress colours like spots, he is most likely fine. Remember turning darker isn't necessarily stress, especially if it is in the sun. He may just be turning darker to absorb more heat. Spots are the biggest sign of stress when it comes to colours.