Interacting with your chameleons

[gary1621]

Peanut has calmed down a lot since we bought her for my Dad... more so for me than the rest of the family but i think thats because i understand her more and put in the time.
I totally agree with the feeding, its the surefire way of getting round them. Peanut actually climbed out of her cage and sat on my lap yesterday while feeding.
She puffs up if i do something too fast or she wasnt expecting, but thats my fault. The hissing has greatly reduced!

I dont get her out unless its cleaning time or im putting her out in the garden... and even then its usually a transfer from plant to plant. Handling is always on her terms.

Spend time with them, but not fussing too much with them directly... I mean i sit and read infront of her to relax in the evening, again yesterday she came down and just sat on a vine closet to the front of the enclosure watching me it seems.

I think you should enjoy your chams but respect their limitations and boundaries, you will soon learn what they are and you never know... they may evolve over time

 

[Carolyn E]

Yoshi was just over a year when he came to live with us. He was a bit unsure of us but now we believe recognizes us and looks forward to crawling into our hands to come out and hang with us. He had a pretty cool set up with lots of safe plants to climb and rest on in the sun both inside and out of his enclosure. In the mornings he looks forward to being hand fed then taking a stroll around his jungle outside of his enclosure. In the evenings he comes out again usually climbs around a little then comes to rest on his when he’s looking sleepy we put our hand out and he climbs aboard... many nights he falls asleep on our arm, chest or shoulder... we like to think it’s bonding time. He’s warm on us and ina bit we put him in his favorite sleeping branch in his enclosure for the night. Never knew we could fall so in love with this little guy!!!

 

[quattlebaum12194]

The way that i got my veiled chameleon used to being held is i held my hand under him and he puffed up and got all angry, but if they do that then you move your hand they will think that all they have to do to get rid of you is puff up, instead keep your hand there and eventually he/she will come on your arm, then repeat about once a week then they will have no problem climbing on you

 

[GrayMadder]

@Beman has a FANTASTIC blog about building trust! She has a lot of helpful tips to doing this! You should take a look at it.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/building-trust-with-your-chameleon.2396/

 

[Tifftar]

Our panther chameleon is a juvenile, we’ve had him for a month or so. He has adjusted so well in my opinion and is quite friendly which is obviously the exact opposite of what I’ve heard about them. That makes me a little worried because it’s almost like sometimes as soon as he sees me he comes right up and when I open his enclosure, he is waiting for my hand. Do I just have that 1% that is super friendly and loves being held or should I be worried? I’m not worried that he doesn’t like his cage because we have replicated, to our best ability, his would-be natural habitat ; temp., humidity, climbing and hidden spaces, plenty of different well fed feeders, misters and fogger on timers...

 

[GrayMadder]

Our panther chameleon is a juvenile, we’ve had him for a month or so. He has adjusted so well in my opinion and is quite friendly which is obviously the exact opposite of what I’ve heard about them. That makes me a little worried because it’s almost like sometimes as soon as he sees me he comes right up and when I open his enclosure, he is waiting for my hand. Do I just have that 1% that is super friendly and loves being held or should I be worried? I’m not worried that he doesn’t like his cage because we have replicated, to our best ability, his would-be natural habitat ; temp., humidity, climbing and hidden spaces, plenty of different well fed feeders, misters and fogger on timers...

If you used treats to build trust with him, he may associate you with giving treats now. So when he sees you, he knows he may be getting a treat! IMHO, I don't claim they "love" to be handled, but more like he tolerates it well and knows you aren't a threat.


BTW he's absolutely gorgeous!!

 

[Beman]

Our panther chameleon is a juvenile, we’ve had him for a month or so. He has adjusted so well in my opinion and is quite friendly which is obviously the exact opposite of what I’ve heard about them. That makes me a little worried because it’s almost like sometimes as soon as he sees me he comes right up and when I open his enclosure, he is waiting for my hand. Do I just have that 1% that is super friendly and loves being held or should I be worried? I’m not worried that he doesn’t like his cage because we have replicated, to our best ability, his would-be natural habitat ; temp., humidity, climbing and hidden spaces, plenty of different well fed feeders, misters and fogger on timers...

You might post your own thread... While some panthers are more tolerant there could be a husbandry issue causing the wanting to come out.
With the third pic it looks as though your using a red light. This is not recommended because it is bad for their eyes. Also you have what looks to be a bio active cage but all fake plants. Not much area for him to truly hide. Is this one of Dale's new enclosures?

 

[PoseidonTheChameleon]

Why are we all on a 2009 post? Lol

 

[GrayMadder]

Why are we all on a 2009 post? Lol

I didnt even notice that. Someone mustve bumped this back into existence.

 

[Beman]

Why are we all on a 2009 post? Lol

Because it was revived with a post lol

 

[Tifftar]

You might post your own thread... While some panthers are more tolerant there could be a husbandry issue causing the wanting to come out.
With the third pic it looks as though your using a red light. This is not recommended because it is bad for their eyes. Also you have what looks to be a bio active cage but all fake plants. Not much area for him to truly hide. Is this one of Dale's new enclosures?

He has real plants now, they’re getting acclimated in the bottom of his enclosure.

 

[Tifftar]

If you used treats to build trust with him, he may associate you with giving treats now. So when he sees you, he knows he may be getting a treat! IMHO, I don't claim they "love" to be handled, but more like he tolerates it well and knows you aren't a threat.


BTW he's absolutely gorgeous!!

No treats here however I am the one to care for his feeders and well as feeding him(not by hand) lol I’m also home all day so he sees lots of me. But obviously I am still learning, thanks!

 

[Tifftar]

You might post your own thread... While some panthers are more tolerant there could be a husbandry issue causing the wanting to come out.
With the third pic it looks as though your using a red light. This is not recommended because it is bad for their eyes. Also you have what looks to be a bio active cage but all fake plants. Not much area for him to truly hide. Is this one of Dale's new enclosures?

Also we are very new to Chamaeleon life and this is our first attempt at making an enclosure for him. I have to say, considering some cages and conditions I have seen, it’s not half bad He eats great and poops well and seems comfortable in his pad! But all suggestions welcome! I’ve been also listening to Bill Strands podcast, and kind of taking pointers from him, as a professional so I wasn’t aware of the red light being bad for their eyes...