Help! I just got my veiled Cham but he won’t eat!

[ChristopherTheChameleon]

Hey everyone! I have made most the changes to the cage, but I’m still waiting on the T5HO lamp and live umbrella plant to get here! He’s eating about 10-15 crickets a day now and growing like crazy! He’s still super active, however he still isnt very receptive to handling. Today makes a week with my little buddy so I’m still not trying to push it overly hard but I’ve been trying to spend at least 2 hours a day sitting next to his cage watching tv or improving his cage. Should I be doing anything in addition to start getting him more comfortable with handling? Also, not that he just started shedding yesterday and he seems a little moody...

 

[Beman]

Wonderful to hear! Once you have the cage done and are no longer messing with his environment you can start trying to build trust more. Here is my blog for how I did it. Remember this is not to handle him all the time though because added stress is not good. This is to ensure that it is less stressful when you need to clean, take him to the vet, or take him out for real sun. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/building-trust-with-your-chameleon.2396/

 

[Ruthless]

To add to what @Beman chams are not the type of pet to be played or handle they are more of a look but don’t touch type of reptile. Maybe look into getting different type of reptile that loves the social interaction to get your fix.

 

[ChristopherTheChameleon]

To add to what @Beman chams are not the type of pet to be played or handle they are more of a look but don’t touch type of reptile. Maybe look into getting different type of reptile that loves the social interaction to get your fix.

I’m not planning on handling/playing with daily, I just want to build trust so I can clean his cage, take him outside, and take him to the vet! I just know it’s important to get him

Wonderful to hear! Once you have the cage done and are no longer messing with his environment you can start trying to build trust more. Here is my blog for how I did it. Remember this is not to handle him all the time though because added stress is not good. This is to ensure that it is less stressful when you need to clean, take him to the vet, or take him out for real sun. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/building-trust-with-your-chameleon.2396/

this is perfect thank you!! That’s all I was planning on doing I wasn’t planning on “playing” with him nightly or anything; I just want to get him trusting me so I can clean his cage and take him outside to enjoy the nice weather we’ve been having! that’s an amazing article and I’ll start doing that on a daily basis!

 

[Brodybreaux25]

To add to what @Beman chams are not the type of pet to be played or handle they are more of a look but don’t touch type of reptile. Maybe look into getting different type of reptile that loves the social interaction to get your fix.

I’m just being picky here, nothing against you, but chameleons are a hobby and not a pet!

 

[Brodybreaux25]

feed him crickets and super worms, along with leaving him a salad of collard greens, mustard greens, and apples daily.

Most chams this age wont show any interest in salads, that comes with adulthood. This is why it’s so important to ensure your gutloading your feeders correctly.

 

[JoshD49]

My veiled didn't touch veggies until around 9 months and he would only take a couple of bites which I first noticed this on my pothos. I started offering him veggies to spare my plants haha. As an adult he eats greens everyday and slowed down on the protein.

 

[Ruthless]

I’m not planning on handling/playing with daily, I just want to build trust so I can clean his cage, take him outside, and take him to the vet! I just know it’s important to get him

this is perfect thank you!! That’s all I was planning on doing I wasn’t planning on “playing” with him nightly or anything; I just want to get him trusting me so I can clean his cage and take him outside to enjoy the nice weather we’ve been having! that’s an amazing article and I’ll start doing that on a daily basis!

Great that you understand what type of pet/reptile you have. I thought you were trying to handle it on a daily basis. Just be patient it will learn to know you are the care taker.

 

[ChristopherTheChameleon]

My veiled didn't touch veggies until around 9 months and he would only take a couple of bites which I first noticed this on my pothos. I started offering him veggies to spare my plants haha. As an adult he eats greens everyday and slowed down on the protein.

Surprisingly, my little guy loved collard and mustard greens. He practically sprints to the bowl when I put the salad in his cage! I still gut load my feeders with collard and mustard greens, along with apples. Sometimes I add a Fluker's orange cube if I know I have a busy day that day! He is slowly getting more used to me and is starting to take the crickets right out of the tongs before I can sit them down, whereas before I would put them on nearby leaves and he would hunt them.