I've created a monster :)

[PCD]

Neo, our almost 5 month old Blue Bar panther which we've had for 2 weeks now has a bit of a problem, or perhaps it's us that have the problem

After he got settled in, I started taking him out of his enclosure at least once per day to get him used to handling, etc. At first he was reluctant and needed a gentle push on the bum to start climbing from his branch to your arm.

Well, those days are gone

Now when he see's me, he scoots from his branch (or one of his several branch's I should say) to the screen door and rests his front claws on it, OR comes so close his nose is touching it. Once you open the door, he almost leaps on you, or a feeding cup, or whatever is close enough to him and motors out of the cage.

As we all know, these guys can motor along VERY quickly if they want to (surprises a lot of people) and the natural reaction is to pull your arm away if he's going for it. Bad idea as he almost fell out of the cage. I was headed to work and didn't have time to take him out is the only reason I moved my arm.

The other day I had a cricket bucket in my hand and he came forward like he was going to grab a couple, but the little bugger climbed right over it on my arm.

At first he was leery of skin and wouldn't do this if you had a bare arm, but not anymore, now it doesn't matter. He comes out like a shot whether you have a bare arm or not.

Once out, he gets up on your shoulder in just a couple seconds, then tries for the head but I have short hair so he usually cant make it. As soon as I get him in the living room, BOOM, hes off like a shot to the highest point he can see. He doesn't move slow either

I know this is a "problem" some of you with shy chameleons would love to have, but be careful what you wish for . This has become something I really have to watch out for...I don't want him dropping 5 feet to a hardwood floor and he counts on you not to move your arm, little bugger

I even tried spraying him (warm water) as he usually didn't like that (shedding so I have to do it) but now he just stands there and takes it because he knows once I finish, I have to open the door to feed him.

So I guess the only thing to do is just be careful...I'm really glad he has taken so well to being handled and enjoys racing around "free range" but man he can be a pill sometimes lol.

Pete

 

[SwampApe]

I can't wait to get a panther after I move. Currently I have a young adult male veiled who cannot stand to have a hand come near him. He gets so puffy and now and again he turns into an asshat lol. He has settled down a little in the couple of weeks I've had him, but I can see this will take some time. I try to take him out daily, but with work this isn't always possible. It always makes me happy to hear others are having great luck handling their chams and I hope that in the near future I have such luck with my guy!

 

[JosieJobo]

slows down with age

My little panther Disesl was a bit like this a little more werey but aslways happy to come out at about 5.5m he changed he would come out and just sit, I was really worried and talked to a lady with lots of cham at a pet shop she said hed just slowed down a bit now he's a teen (he aslo started flashing at me) lol its nice he happily sits on my shoulders for ages just watching what im doing now

 

[Psychobunny]

You just described my own chams perfectly!!
I cant even open their cages w/o fear of them bolting out, up my arm, then practicly flying off my shoulder to the free range above.

And its worse in the summer, they have windows, and they know it's nice and sunny outside.

They have devised tricks, like pretending to want food, so when I open the door, with a cup of cricks, they leap over the top of the cup, up my arm, and away they go, with an occasional glance back at me to see if I'm going to chase them down!!

Sméagol knows if he scratches the screen hard enough, I cant stand it anymore, and I break down and let him out!!

Welcome to the wonderful world of captive chams, is all I can say

 

[PCD]

They have devised tricks, like pretending to want food, so when I open the door, with a cup of cricks, they leap over the top of the cup, up my arm, and away they go, with an occasional glance back at me to see if I'm going to chase them down!!
Welcome to the wonderful world of captive chams, is all I can say

Funny you should mention that!

In the past, when I opened the lid on the cricket tub, he would crane his neck toward it, pick a target and shoot.
Now, he does the same thing, except at the last second, lifts his head up and climbs over it directly on my arm . Its almost like he's faking it to fool me.

I don't know whether I'm attributing too much intelligence to him or not, but it sure SEEMS like he's playing me

 

[fleetwoodchams]

You just described my own chams perfectly!!
I cant even open their cages w/o fear of them bolting out, up my arm, then practicly flying off my shoulder to the free range above.

And its worse in the summer, they have windows, and they know it's nice and sunny outside.

They have devised tricks, like pretending to want food, so when I open the door, with a cup of cricks, they leap over the top of the cup, up my arm, and away they go, with an occasional glance back at me to see if I'm going to chase them down!!

Sméagol knows if he scratches the screen hard enough, I cant stand it anymore, and I break down and let him out!!

Welcome to the wonderful world of captive chams, is all I can say

I know bunny/PCD
Mine a re the same way.
I hear about keepers that never handle their animals and that is just foreign to me.
My chams know when I am near that door that they will have their chance. Right up the arm and onto the shoulder. Of course I just keep doing what-ever it is I was doing while they perch.
Does that make us a human free-range? lol

 

[wacky22jacki]

Thats how my nosy be is !! He literally sits at his cage door waiting for me, and if I'm in my room and he's waiting he almost like scratches at the door, as soon as I open it he comes running out and enjoys being out for hours! When I even took him to the vet last week the vet was very surprised about how friendly he was - He was climbing all over EVERYONE - I'm very glad that he is the way he is

 

[roger11489]

this makes me a bit sad. my little graceful hates me i think. i've only had him a week but it feels like he despises me. I can get him to eat out of my hand from inside his enclosure but thats about it. after he eats his fill its back to the inner depths of his bush lol

 

[Chameleonmaster]

I know bunny/PCD
Mine a re the same way.
I hear about keepers that never handle their animals and that is just foreign to me.
My chams know when I am near that door that they will have their chance. Right up the arm and onto the shoulder. Of course I just keep doing what-ever it is I was doing while they perch.
Does that make us a human free-range? lol

i rarely ever hold mine! they don't like me but verrucosus is a shy species anyway.