how often do you handle them
- Thread starter maddie54769
- Start date
Blink
New Member
Unfortunately, chameleons aren't a "handling" sort of pet. They don't usually like it and a lot of times handling stresses them out. There are of course exceptions and stories of super friendly chams, but they are rather far and few between. I feel that it is important for a cham to somewhat tolerate handling for when necessary and it is nice for your chameleon to be used to your presence. You are on the right track with the hand feeding. That is the very best way to gain a chameleon's trust. When my cham was little, he would crawl on my hand and eat his meals from a cup. That really helped the taming process. Now that he's kind of a picky eater, he won't do that anymore, but it helped in the beginning for him to learn to crawl onto my hand.
You should always allow your chameleon to crawl onto your hand instead of grabbing him or her, especially from above. Snatching only leads your cham to believe that you are predator and he is being carried away to his doom. It is much better for him to recognize your hand as the friendly branch that feeds him and or delivers him to his free-range tree. (My cham enjoys spending time outside of his cage on his free-range tree. It's also a good way to get your chameleon out of his cage by himself. Simply set up a tree outside of his cage with a branch leading to it so he learns that it is ok to leave his cage.)
To answer you question about how often, it really depends on how well the cham tolerates handling. Some chams never leave their cages, while others love coming out. At this time, I would suggest that you only take him out when he willingly climbs on your hand (which might not be often or at all right now.) It really takes a lot of time and a lot of patience and you must gain his trust first. Good luck!
You should always allow your chameleon to crawl onto your hand instead of grabbing him or her, especially from above. Snatching only leads your cham to believe that you are predator and he is being carried away to his doom. It is much better for him to recognize your hand as the friendly branch that feeds him and or delivers him to his free-range tree. (My cham enjoys spending time outside of his cage on his free-range tree. It's also a good way to get your chameleon out of his cage by himself. Simply set up a tree outside of his cage with a branch leading to it so he learns that it is ok to leave his cage.)
To answer you question about how often, it really depends on how well the cham tolerates handling. Some chams never leave their cages, while others love coming out. At this time, I would suggest that you only take him out when he willingly climbs on your hand (which might not be often or at all right now.) It really takes a lot of time and a lot of patience and you must gain his trust first. Good luck!
scs
Member
I never ever handled my female veiled chameleon, and when she was ill towards the end of her life it was very stressful to give her medicine.
I think that letting your chameleon build up trust and gradually less stressful memories about being handled will definitely be helpful if you are in any tough situations and just in general for feeding. If I do get another chameleon, I hope to handle him/her more than I handled my veiled. Thanks, Blink, for explaining how to best handle a chameleon.
And I hope everything works out for you and your veiled, maddie54769!
I think that letting your chameleon build up trust and gradually less stressful memories about being handled will definitely be helpful if you are in any tough situations and just in general for feeding. If I do get another chameleon, I hope to handle him/her more than I handled my veiled. Thanks, Blink, for explaining how to best handle a chameleon.
And I hope everything works out for you and your veiled, maddie54769!
I learned yesterday the importance of getting them used to some handling. I had an emergency with my little veiled and had a heck of a time trying to get him out of his cage. I eventually got him on my hand a few times but couldn't get him out. Then I just stopped trying because I didn't want to stress him out even more. He is fine today but I got real worried that I am never going to get him out even to clean his tank its going to be hard.
junglefries
Avid Member
I only handle the males when it is mating time. Other than that, I don't. I do have two males who like to wander out their cage, but quickly go back inside upon not seeing ladies. If you want something to pet, I strongly recommend a cocker spaniel. They are awesome.
maddie54769
New Member
thank you for all of your responses. i appreciate it very much. 
SycoSquirl
Member
Ive had similar issues, my guy is sweet and all but as soon as I try and take him out he is one fiesty little buggar. When he had his smaller cage it wasnt a problem but I also kept the door open a lot more, since ive moved and hes in a bigger cage im worried about him falling on a hard floor and getting hurt so the most i get to do with him is get him on my hand for a few seconds before he scurries away lol
Chippy0220
New Member
I got really lucky with my boy. He is super sweet and I usually take him out about every other day, we sit on the porch for sun in the morning or I put him on my shoulder and he walks with me to the mailbox and back.
