Help! I can't get Rango out of his cage to clean it!

[Chamycon2016]

Help please! I've been trying to get my veiled Hamelin out of his cage for two weeks and I can't. I've tried everything from putting food in his capture cup to ambushing him into it. Nothing's working. Everytime I try to ambush him he obviously gets mad and starts hissing and snapping and when I try to coax him with food he just shoots his tongue out to get it and retreats back into his cage. His cage is getting really dirty and it needs cleaned. How do you guys do it? Any tactics that might work?

 

[Nursemaia]

So I just reach in and pick them up if they are being stubborn about coming out. Even if they are hissing and pretending to bite.

 

[Link]

Help please! I've been trying to get my veiled Hamelin out of his cage for two weeks and I can't. I've tried everything from putting food in his capture cup to ambushing him into it. Nothing's working. Everytime I try to ambush him he obviously gets mad and starts hissing and snapping and when I try to coax him with food he just shoots his tongue out to get it and retreats back into his cage. His cage is getting really dirty and it needs cleaned. How do you guys do it? Any tactics that might work?

Just grab them call them out if they're being like that. I get bit constantly

 

[Joleen]

You should invest in bite gloves if you are very squeamish about being bit but then just use a safe holding method and pull the chameleon out of his cage. I would have a secure spot for him to be in while you clean.

 

[Decadancin]

I agree to a point, but remember that you are causing stress to an animal that is defending it's domain. Go easy. Be gentle.

 

[Lathis]

Some chameleons do get "cage aggressive" but are often much calmer once out of the cage. He's nervous and feels cornered; the trick is to coax him in a direction (out!) that will let you clean. Can you herd him onto a stick with your other hand and then take the stick to a free range plant until you're done? Take advantage of chameleons always wanting to go up, up, up by angling the stick above him.

My Bucky is a very shy about being handled and occasionally does get spooked when I go to move him. I have found that no eye contact (sounds silly but it makes a difference), slow and smooth movements, letting him see both my hands, and approaching him from the underside helps him stay calm.

I would try the stick idea first to see if it will work. You do want to be able to handle him when needed without triggering his aggression. You might also try leaving his door open with a vine leading to a plant and see if he will come out on his own. I really believe that regular free ranging helps with temperament, and if he can do this safely, you might want to let him out regularly.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I agree to a point, but remember that you are causing stress to an animal that is defending it's domain. Go easy. Be gentle.

Screw that. You stick your hand in, you go under his front legs while he gets all pissy. Don't go slow and hesitant, that will only let him decide if he should bite. You reach in smoothly, confidently, just as if you were picking up a pissed parrot (which does the same thing by the way). After doing this once or twice a week and the animal sees it is not being hurt, they adapt. Doesn't mean they like you, or will stop hissing, it just means it will adapt. Do be gentle, but don't go easy on him in the form of letting him win or back you off. It's like a pissed cat, don't do anything to hurt it but don't let it steer you either.

 

[Decadancin]

I've done this (at least my version of it) with birds, but not with a chameleon that is hiding between branches and leaves. True if your chameleon is right out front it may work, but it is not always the case. What then?

 

[Decadancin]

Oh, I almost forgot to say... screw that.

 

[Ronandex317]

Screw that. You stick your hand in, you go under his front legs while he gets all pissy. Don't go slow and hesitant, that will only let him decide if he should bite. You reach in smoothly, confidently, just as if you were picking up a pissed parrot (which does the same thing by the way). After doing this once or twice a week and the animal sees it is not being hurt, they adapt. Doesn't mean they like you, or will stop hissing, it just means it will adapt. Do be gentle, but don't go easy on him in the form of letting him win or back you off. It's like a pissed cat, don't do anything to hurt it but don't let it steer you either.

I think you are forgetting the stress factor of the chameleons. Yes, you can occasionally grab them if you need to, however, it's much better to find a method that causes less stress. That is just plain old good animal keeping.
I find nothing wrong in making sure my animals are comfortable and live a long, stress reduced life.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I've done this (at least my version of it) with birds, but not with a chameleon that is hiding between branches and leaves. True if your chameleon is right out front it may work, but it is not always the case. What then?

You part the branches, move the plants, set the cage up in a way that allows for access as needed. Stuff like that when designing a cage while also seeing to the animals needs. Besides, the OP posted he can't clean the cage. that means he needs to get the animal out, set it all up a little differently, and most importantly, clean the cage anyway.

While I am known for coddling these animals, it only when that is the right thing to do. In the case of an aggressive specimen of a well known and hardy species, you reach between it's legs and gentle get it to climb up. I'm not suggesting anything else like grabbing it and trying to pull off an poor impression of a native collector who doesn't give a crap about the animal.

Hey if my way isn't your cup of tea, hire a Lizard Whisperer to come over and talk him nicely out of the cage.

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I think you are forgetting the stress factor of the chameleons.

Not even remotely, however I also know these animal are not so delicate as to merit letting one intimidate the owner to the point they can't clean a frigging cage. There is a balance.

 

[Remkon]

I agree to a point, but remember that you are causing stress to an animal that is defending it's domain. Go easy. Be gentle.

Being quick about it and without hesitation gets you bit way less often than being careful and hesitating, it's also less stressful for the animal since it's over quicker.

Ideally I try to let my cham walk up my hand by putting 1 finger in front of em and with my other hand I gently push his behind but if that doesn't work I rather be quick about it.

 

[Decadancin]

I'm not saying you are wrong about getting it over quickly, but the way certain advice is written can be taken wrong by some new members. The words "don't be gentle" and "don't go easy" may not be the best advice for all age groups or skill levels.

 

[Twitchet]

My parson male is now a bit snippy- but everyday I handle him I make sure I wait until he's within easy reach- ie not right at the back amongst branches- I have a leather glove- it's a flat gardening glove but makes quite a good platform for him to step onto- and gently and quietly and with no eye contact go in a slip my hand under his front legs- he will automatically put his front feet on the glove- I disengage his tail with my other hand- at this time He may be puffed up or biting and snapping or hissing but everyday i do the same- I make little or no reaction to his posturing, just calmness and slow movements.
When I have got him on my glove I pause briefly and remain still and look away and just let him sit for a moment , just to let him feel contact.
If I lose his feet and they wriggle off onto another branch I leave it until he's accessible again- at this early stage of handling there's no point making his experience worse and having a fight trying to control 4 feet and a tail. I wait and start again. O.k it's an effort sometimes but if I can do this now and not grab him or 'show him how's boss' I may stand a better change of having an animal that in the future that wont' ever like being handled but will not fear me or get stressed or get me stressed. There's two way to go- get in there and get it done or try a slower softer approach and for me I'm happy as with all my animals to go slow , gentle but decisive -as remkon says- being hesitant can be counterproductive .

 

[OldChamKeeper]

My parson male is now a bit snippy- but everyday I handle him I make sure I wait until he's within easy reach- ie not right at the back amongst branches- I have a leather glove- it's a flat gardening glove but makes quite a good platform for him to step onto- and gently and quietly and with no eye contact go in a slip my hand under his front legs- he will automatically put his front feet on the glove- I disengage his tail with my other hand- at this time He may be puffed up or biting and snapping or hissing but everyday i do the same- I make little or no reaction to his posturing, just calmness and slow movements.
When I have got him on my glove I pause briefly and remain still and look away and just let him sit for a moment , just to let him feel contact.
If I lose his feet and they wriggle off onto another branch I leave it until he's accessible again- at this early stage of handling there's no point making his experience worse and having a fight trying to control 4 feet and a tail. I wait and start again. O.k it's an effort sometimes but if I can do this now and not grab him or 'show him how's boss' I may stand a better change of having an animal that in the future that wont' ever like being handled but will not fear me or get stressed or get me stressed. There's two way to go- get in there and get it done or try a slower softer approach and for me I'm happy as with all my animals to go slow , gentle but decisive -as remkon says- being hesitant can be counterproductive .

A... did you say a... a.... Glove? Blasphemy !!!!!!

<Flips open the big 'ole book of holy lizards, actually a collection of scrolls from 132 BC >

It says right here on scroll 7, paragraph number 11. Ahem. "Thou shalt not handle the most holy of lizards, the Parson Chameleon, with anything other than your soft skin. If such glorious creature should draw your blood it is only proof that said animal needed the softness of your skin for it's comfort."

 

[Twitchet]

Haha- very amoozing- I'm still laughing about you saying parsons being telepathic and not like less evolved chameleons -he he! - lol - I can assure you the glove is soft leather and I know their skin is very delicate- I'm always super careful with him- I'm female so i have bought ladies soft leather gardening gloves, I move at his pace- there's no grabbing or shoving, just a platform for him- that protects me! .
I'm not having his big sharp acrodont teeth sinking into my hand- surely I don't have to let that happen do I ??

 

[OldChamKeeper]

I'm not having his big sharp acrodont teeth sinking into my hand- surely I don't have to let that happen do I ??

I'll check. Atlas is currently in the shower and doesn't like to be disturbed

 

[Twitchet]

Hang on , no need to disturb him, just do it telepathically!

 

[Nursemaia]

It's an honor to be bitten by those acrodont teeth. It's called love mauling. My cats do it too. Wear your marks as a badge of honor