How to train panther chameleon.

[calvin]

Hey I have a 5 month old panther chameleon. I have had him for a few months Now and he has always hissed and tried to bite me when I try and take him out of his cage. But once I get him out he calms down a lot and I can hand feed him. How do you guys get your chameleons to come out? I have seen videos of chams that are so desperate to come out. How can I train him to do this??

 

[Blink]

Does he hand feed inside the cage? Food is always best way to do anything wih a cham in my opinion. My chameleon will willingly (and rather excitedly) crawl onto my hand for his meals. If it doesn't involve food, though, he's not so into it. But that's just the way he is so I don't push it. You could try to set up a branch leading out of his cage to a special free range tree so that he has the opportunity to exit his cage by himself without "the monster claw" coming to get him. If he enjoys being out of his cage, he might learn that leaving it is a good thing. Just remember, not all chameleons are going to like being handled or coming out of their cage. It really depends on the cham. You don't want to stress him out.

 

[calvin]

Does he hand feed inside the cage? Food is always best way to do anything wih a cham in my opinion. My chameleon will willingly (and rather excitedly) crawl onto my hand for his meals. If it doesn't involve food, though, he's not so into it. But that's just the way he is so I don't push it. You could try to set up a branch leading out of his cage to a special free range tree so that he has the opportunity to exit his cage by himself without "the monster claw" coming to get him. If he enjoys being out of his cage, he might learn that leaving it is a good thing. Just remember, not all chameleons are going to like being handled or coming out of their cage. It really depends on the cham. You don't want to stress him out.

I have never got him to hand feed inside his cage he only hand feeds outside his cage. The closest thing I can do to hand feeding I place the cricket on a vine and he eats it up immediately.

I also do understand that some chameleons never like being held. I just hope I got one that does. But thanks for the help. I will continue to hand feed him in hopes that he will associate food with me. And I will definitely try that plant and vine idea. THX![emoji2]

 

[Blink]

If he won't hand feed inside the cage...(this is just something that I have found worked for mine)... you can try putting the food in a dry measuring cup with a handle and holding is near him. It might help create a bridge between him and your "monster claw" . This obviously wouldn't work with crickets, but definitely worms and roaches!

 

[KrazyZen]

just like blink said ... oh no the giant has found me even when i tried hiding i'm doomed...is whats going on in his mind ...so just be patient with it for all you know it might just need to aclimate itself to it's new home. respect his space and try not to give him any reason to feel stressed when you are present. always try n move slowly never try to grab it from above. fast movements like that will only stress it even more. if he rejects your hand even if you try going under him maybe you might wanna just stop trying for now and try it over again slow movements always.try to not give any reason to feel stressed around you. if it does feed off your hand don't assume it is use to you and try to handle it right after. for all you know it might have just been extremely hungry and eating it was the only thing in it's mind .. but thats fine also cuz atleast he now knows nothing happens when he tries to take the food just offer it another instead of trying to touch or grab it. when doing things like cleaning his cage and it still hasn't gotten use to you yet . you might wanna put him in a temporary cage or enclosure to avoid stressing it while trying to clean around it. that will just make it harder for it to adapt to your presence. If you do it with care and patients it will come around but sometimes you just can't win them over and if you wanna do the right thing and do whats best for your pet admire it's other great attributes as a admirer from a distance. you want it to see you as Meals on wheels not the CLAW !!!!!

 

[calvin]

just like blink said ... oh no the giant has found me even when i tried hiding i'm doomed...is whats going on in his mind ...so just be patient with it for all you know it might just need to aclimate itself to it's new home. respect his space and try not to give him any reason to feel stressed when you are present. always try n move slowly never try to grab it from above. fast movements like that will only stress it even more. if he rejects your hand even if you try going under him maybe you might wanna just stop trying for now and try it over again slow movements always.try to not give any reason to feel stressed around you. if it does feed off your hand don't assume it is use to you and try to handle it right after. for all you know it might have just been extremely hungry and eating it was the only thing in it's mind .. but thats fine also cuz atleast he now knows nothing happens when he tries to take the food just offer it another instead of trying to touch or grab it. when doing things like cleaning his cage and it still hasn't gotten use to you yet . you might wanna put him in a temporary cage or enclosure to avoid stressing it while trying to clean around it. that will just make it harder for it to adapt to your presence. If you do it with care and patients it will come around but sometimes you just can't win them over and if you wanna do the right thing and do whats best for your pet admire it's other great attributes as a admirer from a distance. you want it to see you as Meals on wheels not the CLAW !!!!!

Thank you for your help!

 

[MelissaB]

One of my panther chameleons would go spastic if I came near him when he was little. He calmed down a lot when he got bigger. I don't know if it was because he became more accustomed to being here, or if it was because he was more confidant as a "grown up."
I also used green gardening gloves (idea from Fleetwoodchams) when I started handling him more. He was definitely less afraid of the green gloves than my bare hands. Now he doesn't really care, just as long as he gets to go on the free range tree by my computer. When I open the door to his enclosure, more often than not, he'll try to climb on my hand to hitch a ride. My other panther isn't quite as friendly, he's more reserved. He climbs out on the top of the door, and then he'll climb on your hand.

 

[ZenChameleons]

This trick has helped us many times.

About 15 minutes before bedtime take him out. Go into a room that has the lights off but the TV on. Have him just chilling on your hand. Watch TV and try not to look at him or give him any attention. He will fall asleep, let him sleep on your hand for about 20 or so minutes. Then turn the lights on. Dont look at him just let him wake up (you might have to move your hand a bit) once he is awake and has been for a few minutes put him back in his enclosure for bed time. Keep doing this once a week and it may help.

Some chams are just grumpy.

 

[calvin]

This trick has helped us many times.

About 15 minutes before bedtime take him out. Go into a room that has the lights off but the TV on. Have him just chilling on your hand. Watch TV and try not to look at him or give him any attention. He will fall asleep, let him sleep on your hand for about 20 or so minutes. Then turn the lights on. Dont look at him just let him wake up (you might have to move your hand a bit) once he is awake and has been for a few minutes put him back in his enclosure for bed time. Keep doing this once a week and it may help.

Some chams are just grumpy.

That's a very interesting aprouch . I will give that a try soon.

 

[calvin]

One of my panther chameleons would go spastic if I came near him when he was little. He calmed down a lot when he got bigger. I don't know if it was because he became more accustomed to being here, or if it was because he was more confidant as a "grown up."
I also used green gardening gloves (idea from Fleetwoodchams) when I started handling him more. He was definitely less afraid of the green gloves than my bare hands. Now he doesn't really care, just as long as he gets to go on the free range tree by my computer. When I open the door to his enclosure, more often than not, he'll try to climb on my hand to hitch a ride. My other panther isn't quite as friendly, he's more reserved. He climbs out on the top of the door, and then he'll climb on your hand.

Ya I really want to get a free range for my guy. Do you have a picture of yours?

 

[MelissaB]

Sure. Mine's nothing special, just some manzanita branches zip tied to a 5 foot tall piece of wood my husband found. I put concrete in the bottom of the pot, about 1/2 way down in the pot, put the big stick in the concrete, adjusted it how I wanted and let it cure. Then I covered the concrete with some soil and popped a spider plant in. I zip tied the manzanita branches (purchased from ebay) to the branch and twisted grapevine (from my garden) around to hide the zip ties, a silk leaved vine and a few bendable fluker vines. It works, and fits in the narrow space I have available.
I'll probably clip off some of the smaller twiggy branches at the tips of the manzanita. I like how they look, but they don't make good climbing surfaces. They'd work better in my pygmy tank.

 

[calvin]

Sure. Mine's nothing special, just some manzanita branches zip tied to a 5 foot tall piece of wood my husband found. I put concrete in the bottom of the pot, about 1/2 way down in the pot, put the big stick in the concrete, adjusted it how I wanted and let it cure. Then I covered the concrete with some soil and popped a spider plant in. I zip tied the manzanita branches (purchased from ebay) to the branch and twisted grapevine (from my garden) around to hide the zip ties, a silk leaved vine and a few bendable fluker vines. It works, and fits in the narrow space I have available.
I'll probably clip off some of the smaller twiggy branches at the tips of the manzanita. I like how they look, but they don't make good climbing surfaces. They'd work better in my pygmy tank.

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Thanks! That gave me a better idea of what a fr really is! And that's a beautiful panther you have there!

 

[Surfergrom2]

My friend had a beautiful cham and he was the same he bit all of us. when we breed him later he has changed and is the calmest chameleon... so I'm not sure what you can do probably do what the other people said.

 

[Chance Leon G]

making friends

All of the above suggestions are good. I also think as others have said that they go through moods or a comfort adaptation.
Most importantly try to approach them from below. I usually stroke under my chams chin from nose to paws and he will lift a paw and allow me to put a finger under it to walk onto. If he is not in the mood, he just turns away. Then I do the same. "Not today he says."
Good luck and be patient.
Greg

 

[calvin]

All of the above suggestions are good. I also think as others have said that they go through moods or a comfort adaptation.
Most importantly try to approach them from below. I usually stroke under my chams chin from nose to paws and he will lift a paw and allow me to put a finger under it to walk onto. If he is not in the mood, he just turns away. Then I do the same. "Not today he says."
Good luck and be patient.
Greg

Thanks for the advice. And I have always gone from under the chin I find it really helps!