Is everything OK?

[Lindsier]

Hey everyone - today I received my first chameleon - a 3 month old male ambilobe. I've been literally preparing for this day for months now. I've attached a few pics of my set-up and my little guy.

Question: Is it normal for him to be terrified of me? If yes, will he ever get over it? Even when I walk into the room he tries to hide behind a branch or leaf.

Question: Is he too small (skinny) for his age - they said he was 3 months? I watched a number of unboxing videos with the same type and age chameleon and they looked fatter and bigger than mine. I just want to make sure he's ok.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Kntonoff]

Answer 1: Yes it is normal for them to be scared. It won't last forever, they will get used to you.

Answer 2: Honestly I have no idea, you might want to contact your vet, or ask a local pet store employee.

 

[Kath44]

Set up looks good, as does he. Looks about right for his age to me. All are different and grow at different rates.
He's in total new environment with a totally new person(you) taking care of him.
Give him time and space, feed, mist, leave him be. Slow calm movements round him and while feeding etc. he'll get used to your presence and maybe in a week or so offer food from your hand. Either in a cup, held in your hand or holding food in/on hand. If he backs off or seems stressed, place food on branch,leaf or in a cup if using one and leave him. Try again the next day. Hopefully he'll come round and won't see you as a threat.
Kath.

 

[Ferrah88]

The setup looks lovely and I cannot find anything to complain about

As everyone says, yes it is normal for him to be scared of you. Right now, you're kind of like a giant that MIGHT eat him, so he'll hide. Once he recognizes you as not being a threat, he will no longer hide. This usually helps by not bothering him and by feeding him (your hand = food provider, not necessarily hand feeding though, that can come later).

I find it so cute when chams hide behind a branch and stare down, around the branch at you Especially when you can see both eyes, one on each side of the branch!

It's hard to tell if your chameleon looks underweight, as he's well, hiding. From what I CAN see though, he looks fine Usually when they flatten themselves out to look smaller and more leaf-like they look a lot thinner than they really are. Perhaps this is what's causing you to worry!

 

[Jupiter]

Looks pretty good. Chams are scrawny little things by nature, the way you tell how their weight is doing is by the fat pads on the top of their head

 

[amalthea23]

When I got mine, he was about that age and he was TEENY! This is a photo of him on his first day here:
https://flic.kr/p/eg26mP

He was also a nervous little man. A few months later he has a bit of a teen angst period, but now he's huge and friendly and an absolute sweetheart. He didn't even fire at the vet today while getting stuck shed taken from his eye. Looks like your little one just needs to settle in. Make sure you give him a couple of weeks of quiet time and delicious bugs so he associates you with eating, not getting eaten, and you should be ok!

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

He's adorable!

Another thing I would add to what the others said is to wear drab, like khaki, colored shirts when he can see you. They associate certain colors and patterns with threats. Drab colors will let him know you are neutral and safe. When I was acclimating a new cham I would have a few of my husbands more drab colored shirts handy to throw on over my clothes.

Also, from what I could see of him, lol, and his tail base, he does not look underweight. His response appears normal and healthy. An unnatural fear would have him spazzing out, such as curling up in a ball or dropping to the floor when you approach.

 

[brownie64]

Learn something every day

He's adorable!

Another thing I would add to what the others said is to wear drab, like khaki, colored shirts when he can see you. They associate certain colors and patterns with threats. Drab colors will let him know you are neutral and safe. When I was acclimating a new cham I would have a few of my husbands more drab colored shirts handy to throw on over my clothes.

Also, from what I could see of him, lol, and his tail base, he does not look underweight. His response appears normal and healthy. An unnatural fear would have him spazzing out, such as curling up in a ball or dropping to the floor when you approach.

I didn't know that, but if you think about it makes perfect sense, because colors is how they communicate emotion. Will remember this one. thanks

 

[amalthea23]

Don't forget, they can and WILL jump to flee, particularly the little ones. So if he IS scared, that's an option for him!

 

[Lindsier]

Thanks everyone - things seem to be better now. He's exploring and I've seen him eat a cricket and a wax worm. The only other weird thing he's doing is chewing on the branches. I've seen him chew on a branch twice now. Should I do anything about it or just leave him? I don't see that's he's actually breaking anything off the branch when he bites it. Strange. There are crickets in the cage with him.

 

[amalthea23]

He could just be exploring with his mouth. Maybe looking for water? Give him some extra hydration for a few days, see how that goes.