I want your opinion

[jhappe]

Just to throw this out there (and add more to the already burning fire).

I had to handle my veiled hermie for two extended periods of time... one when he had MBD and broke all four legs ... and when he had a really bad kidney infection. He seemed to cope with the MBD period of time ok ... I'm sure it was not enjoyable for him, but I do think he realized that he needed help and we were giving it ... we knew he was feeling better when he started hissing at us again (we don't call him hissy hermie for nothing!).

BUT the kidney infection really messed him up mentally. he had to get injections multiple times a day for over a week. If he even SEES me by his cage he will dive off his branch head first to the bottom (literally throws himself off). So I don't handle him at all anymore (except to put him back in his cage at night if he has been free ranging and doesnt return on his own ... so maybe once a month).

Handling him everyday made him miserable and the effects were lasting. overall I think that he is a much unhappier cham even though it's been about 6 months since his kidney problem. I acknowledge the effect it has had and at the time felt like I had no choice bc the other option was probably death. I would like to think that his life now is better than death.

It didn't happen overnight ... the effect added up. I'm not saying to NEVER handle your cham (it can be hard to clean their cages when they are in there ... it would make going to the vet impossible ... and some personalities might tolerate it more than others) but i wish i had never had to.

In my opinion the cham is terrified because your handling him is associated with extremely negative connotations. Every time you held him he was being held against his will and stuck with needles.

 

[jhappe]

Or your making the wrong assumption about the chameleon's psych.

we could all just throw some money in for an animal psychic and settle this!ha

 

[summoner12]

we could all just throw some money in for an animal psychic and settle this!ha

Why bother, it seems you hit the nail on the head?

In my opinion the cham is terrified because your handling him is associated with extremely negative connotations. Every time you held him he was being held against his will and stuck with needles.

 

[jhappe]

Why bother, it seems you hit the nail on the head?

well thanks

 

[Dave Weldon]

...I had to handle my veiled hermie for two extended periods of time... one when he had MBD and broke all four legs ... and when he had a really bad kidney infection...

BUT the kidney infection really messed him up mentally. he had to get injections multiple times a day for over a week. If he even SEES me by his cage he will dive off his branch head first to the bottom...

Handling him everyday made him miserable and the effects were lasting...

Howdy Jamie,

I had a similar experience with a Veiled that required weeks of handling for medical treatment. There was a definite, long-term negative association with the unpleasant medical treatment and me. I decided that if I ever had to do that with another chameleon, I'd wear a unique jacket and hat and have that be associated with "bad things" rather than just plain-old-me .

 

[addicted]

... I decided that if I ever had to do that with another chameleon, I'd wear a unique jacket and hat and have that be associated with "bad things" rather than just plain-old-me .

I think that's a good idea!

 

[OntarioLizardman]

i think that minimal handling is best, but its not the end of the world if you hold every once in awhile, which is diffrent between chams. some freak out, some might handle it better.

 

[DeFishy]

Definately you want to work out what your plans are. I hold my panther once every two to three days, but she has never shown signs of hissing, or aggrivation, and if she does for whatever reason I let her be (though the only time she does this is if she is shedding). And I usually just take her out and put her on her tree (it is too big for the terrarrium) so I can keep an eye on her and she can get a change of scene.
I've seen a lot of chameleon personalities, there was one panther at the one store who loved people he hated going back into his terrarium and would constantly climb onto people's heads. But there's the one at the store I work at and he hates people going even close to his space. Each one is different.
If you want a lizard you can handle a bearded dragon might be a good choice for you, or maybe a lepoard geko. Some critters are easier to handle then others. I don't personally reccomend small animals, I've had bad experiences with them, and they don't really have a nice lifespan (most of them). If you still want a chameleon try to find one that is a sub adult to an adult who is known to be friendly-so maybe at an expo or something. Then at least you'll know that that cham can be handled to some degree.

 

[laurie]

My question, TURTLE what have you decided to do??????