How To Handle A Chameleon

[Brad]

Screamleons recently created a great series of videos on handling chameleons that can be found here. While the subject of frequent handling is sometimes debated, most chameleons will need to be handled on occasion for health and sanitary reasons.

the wrong way




the correct way




agressive chameleons
​

Thank you Screameleons for providing the community this resource and allowing us to embed these videos.
Screameleons Website
Chameleon Forums Profile

 

[royden]

Nice videos! I want to see one for veileds.

 

[addicted]

Those are great videos, especially for those who don't have the benefit of picking up their Cham from the breeder, you can only explain so much through an e-mail or phone call. The Chameleon-keeping community will greatly benefit from this series.

Thank You Screameleons for providing those, and Brad for posting them up for all to see.

Beautiful Chams too, they're screamers!

 

[RachelRiot]

Those videos were awesome. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[Rocky]

i think they posted these about a month ago in general. The last video with the hand distraction is my favorite since i have a veiled (aka satans chameleon) and he is very mouthy when it comes to getting him out of his cage

 

[Ambanja panther mum]

Very helpful thanks!
I'm yet to handle my babies apart from when i brought them home. Their only 3 1/2 inchs long LOL!!! Hope i get my confidence with them

 

[wheresstimpy]

i should post a video "how to handle Clyde", step one "open cage", step two "walk near cage", step three "look out for flying chameleon trying to escape", use caution he likes to grab ears!

 

[Chameleonboy]

lol, I saw those videos I loved the chameleons in the videos and they are huge.

 

[Corruptedmuffin]

These videos are great! I have a chameleon that is very agressive so the last video was especially helpful.

 

[Chameleon Nation]

Biting female

O.K., so what if you have a cham that will bite even if she is on you. I have to wear a glove to handle one of my panther females. Even on the glove she will repeatedly bite your hand. The ironic thing is that she came from Screameleons. She is beautiful and a great breeder don't get me wrong, but impossible to handle.

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

Nice videos! I want to see one for veileds.

haha, yeah....

 

[Chameleonboy]

O.K., so what if you have a cham that will bite even if she is on you. I have to wear a glove to handle one of my panther females. Even on the glove she will repeatedly bite your hand. The ironic thing is that she came from Screameleons. She is beautiful and a great breeder don't get me wrong, but impossible to handle.

I think the aggressive chameleons end up being better breeders than the friendly chameleons

 

[Grizz]

If that is the case, my veiled is a stud. he is worse than "War", i think that is bottom one in video, but video helped alot. i hold one hand in front and sneek the other underneath him. i still get nipped but not as much.

 

[addicted]

O.K., so what if you have a cham that will bite even if she is on you. I have to wear a glove to handle one of my panther females. Even on the glove she will repeatedly bite your hand. The ironic thing is that she came from Screameleons. She is beautiful and a great breeder don't get me wrong, but impossible to handle.

What colour is the glove you are using? Maybe it reminds her of a male or other female trying to invade her space? Have you tried different colours, maybe you could even try gluing pieces of stick to the glove so it looks like a branch coming towards her?

You might look a bit like Edward Stick-hands, LOL, but if it makes her more comfortable, might be worth a try

 

[Chameleon Nation]

biting chameleon

The glove is a grey gardening glove. She will be sitting at the front of the cage and you can be a few inches in front of the cage looking at her, and nothing. As soon as that door opens, she starts swaying and hissing, it's quite intimidating LOL. I have tried distracting her with the other hand. It does work. As soon as she looks down and realizes she is on my hand, she turns her head sideways, bites down and saws back and forth as if she were trying to tear a piece off.

 

[AnneKemp]

These videos where a god send, i hadnt dare handle my Cham Chandler, as she hates us going anywhere near her, but after watching that 3rd video we had her out for the first time today.
And it was gooood ! Thanks.

 

[green27949]

wow

good videos they are realy cool im just starting to raise chams so i need a little help

 

[bdjacobs95]

thanks for the videos. I have a little 2 month chameleon who is very aggressive, which i think is odd for his age. Now i can actually take him out of his cage

 

[Shelana]

I'm a little scared...

I viewed your video on handling the aggressive chameleon. Thank you for that! My veiled cham is "expressing displeasure," opening his mouth and hissing, when we try to handle him. He is only about 4 - 5 inches long (not including tail). Would his bite hurt too bad? I'm allergic to pain.
Also, I think it would be better to get him used to being handled now while he's young so we don't have more problems later but I've heard that it's not good to handle them. What is your advice?

Thanks! Shelana

 

[blackbetty]

Like I said, I use a white glove and Ben(ita) isnt bothered by it when I come i front of her. I use a hand and I better have some darn good reflexes..which i dont. Maybe a darker glove upsets them. But yea, the videos were awesome.

shelana: Sounds like mY cham.and its a pinch only sometimes they dont let go too quickly an they shake their head like a dog playing with a toy..at least mine does...Lucky me.

Everyone Ive talked to says only handle when necessary. I handle mine about 2-3 times a week to move them out of cage onto a basking tree if its warm enough in the window. Will probably move their cage to a window when it warms up, possibly outside in the shade even.