Help!?!
- Thread starter Jessi
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Solid Snake
Avid Member
Hello!
Welcome to CF!
We are super glad you are here, and hope you stick around
Generally, chameleons are not sold until after 3 months of age. Are you sure on its age?
Chameleons are not really an animal you can handle much(usually).
I would not attempt to handle a chameleon that young, unless it was absolutely necessary.
The behavior he is exibiting, means he does not want to be held, he is scared of you, and this is stressful for him. Stress can kill a chameleon
So you want to be careful about not stressing them as much as possible.
Welcome to CF!
We are super glad you are here, and hope you stick around
Generally, chameleons are not sold until after 3 months of age. Are you sure on its age?
Chameleons are not really an animal you can handle much(usually).
I would not attempt to handle a chameleon that young, unless it was absolutely necessary.
The behavior he is exibiting, means he does not want to be held, he is scared of you, and this is stressful for him. Stress can kill a chameleon
So you want to be careful about not stressing them as much as possible.
DanSB
Avid Member
Slow steady movements, quiet voice. It is your job to not be scared. A bite won't kill you, at most it will hurt, if you jerk too much you could kill it easily.
I vote for not handling Chams unless it is absolutely required but that is just my opinion and I know some chams actually seem to really like it.
I vote for not handling Chams unless it is absolutely required but that is just my opinion and I know some chams actually seem to really like it.
Jessi
New Member
I got him from screameleons.com and they told me not to hold him for the next month so he can get use to everything. Ive held one at the store and it seemed to really like being held n just chill on you, so I was hoping my panther would be the same way. I do not want to kill him, that would suck.
Solid Snake
Avid Member
Lol, yes that would "suck".
Mine wasnt very comfortable with the idea of holding until about 5-6 months old.
Do you mean youve had him for a month, and he is 4 months old now?
Some chams tolerate handling better than others. Just take it slow, and you will eventually build trust with him. Have you tried hand feeding him?
Mine wasnt very comfortable with the idea of holding until about 5-6 months old.
Do you mean youve had him for a month, and he is 4 months old now?
Some chams tolerate handling better than others. Just take it slow, and you will eventually build trust with him. Have you tried hand feeding him?
DanSB
Avid Member
Nobody thought you wanted to kill him! That is good advice they gave you. I'd take it. Let him get used to being fed and having the cage cleaned. Over the course of a month he will get more used to you and you stand a much better chance of not stressing him out when trying to handle him.
Jessi
New Member
Ok im a girl, n not really big on the whole cricket n worm thing, so I get them into the cage as best as I can, I havent tried hand feeding at all, and dont think I could at least right now, he doesnt mind when im feeding him, he just sits there and checks me out, he does get sciddish when I get too close to him. Does his "attitude" have anything with him, just shedding yesterday? I am not sure but its a thought.
DekuScrub
Avid Member
if youre movement is jerky or fast, he will notice and it will make handling 100x harder. i like how dan said to use a quite voice, they cant hear but it will help you remain calm and steady.
approach them from below, always, under the chin, and below the base of the tail. dont pull you can seriously damage their nails. if you approach from above youre immediately seen as a threat. so if you can keep your approach from below that will help. i know its hard depending on where they are in the cage. wait till hes in a position where you can approach along the parameters described.
i know youre a girl but having a chameleon your gonna have to get used to handling insects as well, in the mean time you can try using some tweezers with a broad tip (dont squeeze) to hand feed.
good luck!
DanSB
Avid Member
They can't hear what you are saying but your voice creates subtle vibrations a very sensitive person and I'd imagine a chameleon can feel. Plus it helps keep you calm which is of the utmost importance when dealing with any animal who is not familiar or comfortable with you (including homo sapiens).
Jessi
New Member
Now his cage is up on a dresser, which I have to stand on a chair to usually spot him in the leaves. When I went to just try n touch him today. It was kind of from behind. I know that they like getting rubbed under their chin and was kind of goin in that direction n was moving slow. Since yet im still unsure bout holding him, n since hes still small. He then turned his heaf towards me and snapped. Ive never seen him do that. Nor have I ever tried to hold him. I do "talk " to him everytime I go to feed him. I know they cant hear, but go 0 sight n vibrations. Hes been pretty chill with me, til today. But as I posted this, then went back to ho check on him he was getting ready for bed. Is there curtain times to try n hold/touch him?
DekuScrub
Avid Member
either im retarded or that makes no sence. he will and may snap. ignore it if you have to. let him bit you but its most likely a bluff. do what i said and youll have him in matter of moments.
im honestly amazed at the amount of "how do i handle my chameleon" posts we get.
1) dont handle your cham unless you have to, but i recommend at least monthly or bi-monthly for conditioning reasons.
2) BE SLOW if you arent capable of being slow and deliberate handling is not an option. my suggestion is that you get rid of it unless you can get over being bitten.
3) this is not a pet and never should have been considered a "pet" chameleons are captives and more often than not dont like you. get over it, they usually wont like you. at least if they are healthy.
4) being a good handler is integral in chameleon keeping. many people will say "dont touch it leave it alone, you touching it causes it stress. stress will lead to death" (only in extreme cases will it lead to death and im most instances there is an underlying issues)
Solid Snake
Avid Member
You are an ass sir.
I will gladly explain to you why we get posts along these lines, but, as this is not the educate dekuscrub in manners thread, youll have to PM me
Stress kills chameleons, because they do not behave the same way under stress as they do when not stressed. They will not be taking care of themselves as they would when they are "happy" and over time, this takes a toll on the animal. When they are weak, they are more prone to illness. Illness leads to death.
The best you can do, is just give the chameleon no good reason to not trust you. Over time, you will build his trust, and he will hardly take notice of you. Once the chameleon learns to ignore you, handling becomes easy.
Like all animals, some are more trusting than others. So a chameleon may always bite you, no matter what. I have never had either of mine even attempt it. They dont care if they are picked up at all. Just pay attention to the animal, and do your best to interact with it in only a positive manner, and see how it goes. Thats about the best you can hope for.
Patience is the word here
Good luck!
Elizadolots
New Member
Jessie, I rarely handle mine. One I will take out every month or so when someone is over and asking questions...the other? Nope....I've had him for 18 months, I've had him out maybe 3 times.
So, what I'm saying is: respect his space. Follow the advice people have given you and maybe you'll get to take him out as much as you'd like, but if it just isn't working for him, respect his space.
He's no less wonderful and amazing prowling his cage than he is crawling on your shoulder....
I'll also offer this: be opportunistic. One of the few times I got "the big guy" out was because he was on the door...I was able to open it and be his only option for moving....It was such a big deal to get him out that my husband got the camera.
And, you know what? He was really sweet when I had him out. He didn't hiss at me, he didn't do the "scary face"...he's nice....but it's not what he wants to do. Even when I open the cage to put food in he backs away.
So, I respect that.
So, what I'm saying is: respect his space. Follow the advice people have given you and maybe you'll get to take him out as much as you'd like, but if it just isn't working for him, respect his space.
He's no less wonderful and amazing prowling his cage than he is crawling on your shoulder....
I'll also offer this: be opportunistic. One of the few times I got "the big guy" out was because he was on the door...I was able to open it and be his only option for moving....It was such a big deal to get him out that my husband got the camera.
And, you know what? He was really sweet when I had him out. He didn't hiss at me, he didn't do the "scary face"...he's nice....but it's not what he wants to do. Even when I open the cage to put food in he backs away.
So, I respect that.
Ashleigh
New Member
My panther is about 5 months old now and I've had him for a month, I'm not sure about chams that are younger, but when they're so little it's in their instinct not to get eaten. Loki(my cham) definitely feels more cornered in his cage when I try to get him out so what I do is place a silk plant near his open cage with branches from the plant going in for him to climb on and I leave the room for a while. I constantly check until I see him on the plant out of his cage and I'll gently, from underneath him with kind of scoop him up at the same time letting him climb onto my hand. You never want to pull so you don't hurt their claws! I did this in very small incriments over the month I've had him. I'd start with him on my hand and them immediately put him back so he didn't have time to freak out and I just gradually held him for longer periods of time. I also let him use my hand as a bridge to other parts of the silk plant to build trust. I think your cham just needs to get used to you and hand feeding is a really good way to do it. I'm also a girl and I hate the crickets, but just get the worms out of the fridge while they're not moving yet and kinda make them move with your fingers....it fools Loki into thinking they're moving and he'll snatch them up! Also about certain times on holding them, I read that it's better not to hold just after you fed them so they don't have a full stomach, and that when they shed they can be more sensitive...Hope this helps
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Murrdox
New Member
Oh, THIS will change with time. It's impossible to have a chameleon and not get used to dealing with crickets and worms. Plus, honestly hand feeding is one of the best ways to get your chameleon accustomed to you and trust you. I'd recommend tweezers if you're really squeamish around crickets... but honestly handling crickets with tweezers is probably 50x harder than just using your hand.
Plus hand feeding chameleons is just so much fun!
Soon you'll be like all of us and love chameleon poop too. It's pretty much unavoidable.
Ashleigh
New Member
Haha! It's so true! every time i see he's pooped and it's normal, I'm like "yessss!!!" lol
DanSB
Avid Member
Very carefully! When I do I try to grab both of the rear jumping legs along with a little bit of the body. Just pinch it.
If you just grab one leg you will soon be holding just a leg as a cricket short on one leg is quickly making a break for the closest hiding spot.
Elizadolots
New Member
I'd think whatever you grab they'll gladly rip off to get away from you. I've seen crickets walking around that were missing everything past the first body section.
