How often you hold your chameleon?

[DanSB]

I just don´t agree on that one. I dont belive any chameleon enjoys attention. Im not saying that they are dying of stress as I know some species are more tolerant to stress, such as F.pardalis, but their is a diffrence in accepting a human and enjoying a human. If it was up to the chameleon, im pretty sure what the chameleon would choose.

If you just have a little knowledge about chameleons, then you would know that they suffer from stress much easier then many other animals. Thats just a fact.
I also think its wrong to handle other animal species in a certain degree, but some animals are less tolerant to stress and you really can´t compare a rabbit to a chameleon. You have to know what kind of animal you are working with and how each animal species have their own behavior. Wolves/ dogs lives in packs and are more social animals. Chameleons are solitaty animals that depend on their camouflage to avoid predators.
Their is also a huge difference in "wild" animals and domesticated animals.

I can understand WHY people have the "need" to handle them, as a zookeeper my self, I would love to handle all the cute tiger, wolf, giraff etc. babies that I am working with, but Im not. All people who keeps animals should study animal behavior and it goes for dogs, fish, birds, chameleons etc.

I love chameleons for what they are, the way they look, their natural behavior and how they have adapted to live they way they do.

I think this is very well stated and I agree with one caveat. I do think there can be and are exceptions to every norm. When looking in general Niels is absolutely correct in my opinion. However, I am certain that chameleons who do enjoy being held exist with Jann's as a perfect example.

Just because some chameleons do enjoy being held doesn't follow that most will or even should be. In addition I also believe it has a lot to do with the person doing the handling, if a person is a very steady and calm with no sudden movements there will be a lot less stress than a person who is more high strung.

I believe all animals have behavioral variants, likes, dislikes, and different stress cues. While the species definitely plays a huge role in what these are there is also wiggle room for variation.

 

[Zubi]

In addition I also believe it has a lot to do with the person doing the handling, if a person is a very steady and calm with no sudden movements there will be a lot less stress than a person who is more high strung.

I dont think you should own a chameleon if you are high strung, they are very slow and delicate, so if you are laid back and more relaxed then you will find that you and most chams are alike.

 

[JackJack]

Nor is it for pet birds, or hamsters, or ferrets, or bearded dragons, or iguanas, or rabbits, or nearly all the pets we have in captivity. So what's the difference if you have a chameleon that enjoys coming out?

Well put. We have an adult male ambilobe that wants out every time someone is near his cage. Once out, he is content to hang out where ever we happen to be in the cham room. One of our females on the other hand will tolerate absolutely no contact and will gape and hiss every time her cage is opened for any and all reasons. Though we don't have as much experience as some on this board, I don't think it is difficult to conclude that they are very individualistic and should be handled accordingly.

 

[jannb]

I handle all my chameleons except my Parsons multiple times a day. Several demand being held and the others like going outside and hanging on their trees. The parsons are handled several times a week and my male parsons would like to be in my house and be handled all the time like the veileds and the panthers but it's just too hot and not humid enough for him. My female parson is new to my home and still adjusting but becoming spoiled as I type.

 

[Boomerang]

I've had my two veileds for about a month, they're both still young (3-4 months) so they see me as a major threat. The male has hissed and bit at me, flared up his beard and colors once. Female is coming along a little better.

One thing I'll never do again is open my mouth around them. I yawned while holding him once and he freaked. Guess he thought "this monster is finally going to eat me!"

That's too funny! I'll have to remember that.

 

[Ulrich]

It fully depends on the character of the animal. You have to observe it carefully in its behaviour. Every animal is different as well as any human. Some like to be handled (maybe it is just the Stockholm syndrome), some just tolerate, some refuse at all. If you love your pet, you should watch its 'social' pattern very carefully before making a judgement. And it is very difficult to train them if the character is not right.

 

[Kamillion]

I just got my chameleon on Monday and I was told not to handle them that it will stress them out, they would get sick, and might die.. Is this a myth? My daughter will be happy if it is because she is always asking me to take it out of the cage..

 

[FrankTheTank]

I just got my chameleon on Monday and I was told not to handle them that it will stress them out, they would get sick, and might die.. Is this a myth? My daughter will be happy if it is because she is always asking me to take it out of the cage..

they might get stressed out but they wont die. like stated before, it is best to hold them when they are still young. I held mine everyday when i first got him so that he could get used to me. He has never gotten sick from human contact. My wife and I both hold him. It does depend on how he/she reacts to you though. If it turns dark colors and hisses/nips at you then you should leave it alone.

 

[FrankTheTank]

That being said, my cham HATES the plastic bag that i shake my crickets in to dump in his cage. He will attack the bag and hiss at it. I dont know why this stresses him out so much but his colors get a lot lighter after I've taken the bag out of his cage and he sees the crickets running around. I do not handle him until he has settled down a bit

 

[Kamillion]

they might get stressed out but they wont die. like stated before, it is best to hold them when they are still young. I held mine everyday when i first got him so that he could get used to me. He has never gotten sick from human contact. My wife and I both hold him. It does depend on how he/she reacts to you though. If it turns dark colors and hisses/nips at you then you should leave it alone.

THATS SOME GOOD NEWS.. he has hissed at me, and opend his mouth when I got close but not actual nip. The first day I got him I was holding him and he fell asleep in my hand in a matter of seconds. I guess he has his days. He turned almost black yesterday but he was like that when I walked in the door. (no one else was home). He is still a baby also.. People on here said he looks to be anywhere from 7 weeks to 3-4 months..thanks 4 the feedback my lil girl will be happy to hear this

 

[GarynTampa]

When I first got RANGO, he would blow up and open his mouth in an agressive mood. That was only 1 month ago. He's not a little guy, measuring almost 14" long.

Now that I take him outside to his new CONDO by the tiki bar almost daily, he's over the moodiness and actually comes to the front of the cage anticipating that he's going outside.

Seems every day, he is gettng more tame and touchable.

Eventually, I'll start letting him climb on my shoulders...but only baby steps right now.

Gary
Tampa, FL

 

[creddjobs]

I dont get Koopa out everyday but he wants to come out everyday!! I think he enjoys it!

 

[FrankTheTank]

THATS SOME GOOD NEWS.. he has hissed at me, and opend his mouth when I got close but not actual nip. The first day I got him I was holding him and he fell asleep in my hand in a matter of seconds. I guess he has his days. He turned almost black yesterday but he was like that when I walked in the door. (no one else was home). He is still a baby also.. People on here said he looks to be anywhere from 7 weeks to 3-4 months..thanks 4 the feedback my lil girl will be happy to hear this

do you have any other pets that might have stressed him out? I've never noticed franklin being stressed when I walk in the room except when i had a misting system setup that he did not like. Might just be a personality thing but you might want to make sure he is happy in his enclosure

 

[Zubi]

I man handle mine when I need to.

 

[Red7ny1]

Lucky ( my jax ) doesn't mind being handled once I get het out . Winter ( my veiled ) is a different story ... she pretty much goes to the back of her cage when I get near . Now when I cup feed her , she comes out and eats from the cup as I hold it . When she's done eating , she looks at me with this " I'm finished ... you may close the door and leave now , slave " , and back to the foliage she goes ... lol .

 

[Neverland]

I can't open the viv without roc running for me.. And sitting on my shoulder/head...
Sometimes i think ffs Im trying to clean/feed/move stuff.. But i guess i should be grateful!
He does have grumpy days tho.. Hes a veiled!! Lol

 

[Kamillion]

do you have any other pets that might have stressed him out? I've never noticed franklin being stressed when I walk in the room except when i had a misting system setup that he did not like. Might just be a personality thing but you might want to make sure he is happy in his enclosure

I walked in and noticed he was darker, I also noticed he had just shed about 98% of his skin off... Would that be the reason he was mad? Does the color changing take a few minutes or can it happen in seconds?He might of turned darker when I walked in the room..

 

[Kamillion]

No I don't have any other pets.

 

[Playdo]

I hold both of my Jackson's. Luna loves coming out of her cage and heads straight to the top of my hair and usually stays there and I walk around the house or play games, or even take her to petco . Athena hates being handled so I only bring her out if she's going to go on her hibiscus outside.

 

[SuperSambava72]

Every day we try to hold ours. My husband takes our cham outside while holding him and walks around. Our cham loves it. He even will come out of his enclosure when we open the door of his enclosure.