How long...

[thebog]

How long did it take your Cham to trust you and let you hold him? I've had my little guy for 5 weeks now and I haven't had the chance to hold him. When I put my hand out it seems like he knows I won't hurt him but he doesn't come to me, he just stares at my hand. Maybe he's thinking "uhh what do you expect me to do here?" or "I don't see a cricket, get that hand out of my house"...

Anyone have any tips on how to tame?

Thanks in advance

 

[Tay And A]

Keep at it! It can take up to a year with my experiences lol. Sorry

 

[ridgebax1]

It may never happen. Chameleons are not like other pets. They do not socialize with each other out in the wild. As a solitary creature it is not going to feel lonely or want the company of another being, be it a mate or a keeper. Some people do have chams that appear friendly and will come out of their enclosures onto their hands but it is not like your dog. It is not going to jump for joy when you come home or come near! My cham was fairly easy going as a baby but literally from one day to the next he went from not minding to puffing up, hissing and lunging when I reached for him. I still try to interact with him by feeding and doing daily clean up in his cage but he does not come close he watches from afar! I talk to him too which is silly cause they can't really hear the way we do. But one thing I have read often is that they respond to routine so maybe just keep trying, doing the same thing the same way all the time. Good Luck!

 

[kplatvoet]

Sounds like your actually doing quite well if he doesn't take off when you put your hand in - try putting something on your hand like a wax worm (they are only good for treats as they have a lot of fat) or a phoenix worm or silks (better) there's a blog entry on it but I couldn't find it- try the search (if you have more time than I do) - It takes time and keeping to a routine from what I can tell.

 

[Olimpia]

Keep at it! It sounds like his temperament is tolerant (which is good! Better than starting with a really aggressive chameleon) so with just a little more patience and hand-feeding, you may find that he'll be the kind of chameleon that will rush to the door of the cage when you're coming because he'll know you bring food.

Keep offering delicious food treats by hand and this should pay off with time.