how much to handle?

[BobberBiker]

i have a 8 week old yemen chameleon but not sure how much to handle him.
iv had him about 2 weeks and handled him twice as i dont want to stress him out, its bad enough spraying him a few times a day as he hates it. so how much should i handle him to try and tame him? at the moment he runs away if i try and pick him up and he did open his mouth at me once. once i have him on my hand he is fine though, it just scares him me trying to pick him up as my opening was on the roof of the viv so i was coming at him from above, im moving him to a better viv with a opening front so hopefully he can just walk onto my hand. whats a good amount of times to handle him a week?

 

[PygoShlee]

You shouldnt have to handle them. some chameleons like it.. 98% dont. If you must handle, there was a video here that shows its best to go from underneath the cham (slide finger under the belly) then gently lift up. Above would scare the shit out of them, as thats what a big bird predator would do in the wild.

 

[satch4684]

pretty much what pygo said. although some people are more open to the idea than others, it seems like maybe once a week for a few mins tops.

i've gotten my guy pretty relaxed around me just by being sorta "interactive" with him, always feed him by hand (well, tweezers or cup, he took to that right away) or sometimes letting him drink right out of the spray bottle by slowly squeezing it near him. he's a shy type of cham and wild caught, so i wanted to minimize any stress he would get from my presence. i dont know, I thought it was a good idea.

i guess it helps, he doesn't seem to have a problem sitting out in the open parts of the cage anymore, he'll just sit there right by the door and, look at stuff i guess. but, he's still a cham and he'll go into hiding when he feels like it, especially if the spray gets too close. I try to get everything around him wet, but not himself. i dont bother handling him, though, maybe once every 2 weeks, if even that.

 

[sandrachameleon]

The less handling the better, in my opinion.
If you do need to remove him from his enclosure, remove the branch he is on (I keep one branch unafixed on purpose for this reason). Or coax him onto a stick you hold in front of him. Move slowly. Never grab him top down.

 

[BobberBiker]

i moved him today, i tried to pick up the plant he was on but it was to big to get out the viv so he woke up and walked on the leaf so i placed my hand under his belly and he walked up my arm with me runnin across the room to put him in his new viv before he fell off lol. he was real good about it and didnt run or open his mouth etc. he moved pretty swiftly on my arm though so i thought he might fall off or something... babies are tricky buggers to handle. i plan to handle him often as he is a baby i can tame him and it will be normal to him. my old friend from years ago had one he tamed as a baby and it would always climb on him happily. il stick to once a week for now and see how it goes. if he doesnt want to come out or turns away il leave him for a few days and try again

 

[sandrachameleon]

i plan to handle him often as he is a baby i can tame him and it will be normal to him.

Why did you bother asking our opinions if you have already decided on this method (which is not recommended behaviour - you dont tame chameleons like you would train a dog)

 

[Tputtwhatwhat]

Yeah... Probabaly best just not to ask opinions on handling, if you already have your mind made up. I personally understand that chameleons are not social animals... But do handle my chameleon occasionally! I think it really does vary on the Cham, but generally most keepers will advise against it.. So I just think those are the responses you're likely to get.

 

[BobberBiker]

i didnt make my mind up til now, i was on for handling it a few times a day before i read the replies so less of the attitude fella