My chameleon hates me!

[MollyT]

I just cleaned out Kush's cage. I took his plants out and clenaed it out really good, then I spot clenaed his plants. I didn't have anywhere else to put him while I got the poop off of the leaves and such, so I just did it while he was on the plant. I have never seen him move so fast! He even almost jumped off of the plant to get away from my hand! I nearly scared me to death! I have only had him since last Wednesday, and I have been trying to just let him be, only going around him to feed and water him and clean. This is the first time we've had any realy contact. I know it's something we have to work on, but I felt so bad for him! I hate to think I scared him and stressed him out! Is there a way to get him more used to me so he doesn't freak out so much next time? It breaks my heart!

 

[Flabonsai]

My male Spunky was the same way when I first got him a few months ago and would freak out whenever I walked up to his cage and would puff up or run and hide. Give him time he will come around and not be so scared. Try to walk up to the cage slowly and always make slow movements. Once he gets more used to you then you can try to handfeed him a worm. I can finally get my male out of the cage with out him getting all puffed up and he walks on my hand now if I put my fingers under his front legs and let him walk on to my hand. I've been taking him outdoors for a few hours for some sun everytime I take him out of his cage and they really love that. I have 2 females that I'm working with now that are the same as your boy and hide and run from me whenever my hand goes in there cage. So I have to work with them now. All my chams are outside right now getting sun which is very healthy and natural for them and they get a good dose of natural UVB.

 

[natureboy86]

I would try to hand-feed him. Get a cricket, remove one of it's hind legs, and let it crawl around in the palm of your hand and offer it to your cham. Delicious offerings are a good way to get it used to your hand. Also, I try to keep all my hand movements nice a slooow. Sudden movements are more likely to scare the cham (at least that's my opinion). I'm new to the cham world too, as I've only had my guy for about 3 weeks. But once he/she associates your hand with treats, it'll be much more calm when you put your arm/hand in it's cage.

Also, maybe next time wait til your cham is off of the tree you want to clean.

 

[creddjobs]

You just have to give him some time. He is still getting used to his enclosure. Let him be, he will love you soon I'm sure! Just start little by little. I didnt get koopa out his cage until 4 or 5 months. He used to be scared but never puffed up or hissed at me. Were cool now! I love the name!!!! Kush!!!! Yeeeeaaaa!!!

 

[GabeCastro]

It's always funny when chams run away so quick. I'm used to mine being so slow haha.

Since you've only had your chameleon for almost a week, let him settle in for another week or 2. Try not to handle them at all if possible. They could be stressed out or scared in their new environment. You don't have to clean their cage out everytime they poop, unless your cham has parasites. (this is what i have to go through). Also its good you're cleaning up the poo. Just spray it down with water and wipe up the remainings. Should be fine.

Once he settles in, you can introduce hand feeding to your chameleon. Once the chameleon slowly gets confident to eat out of your hand then you somewhat built a relationship. Once you can do that, try and get the cham to walk on your hand. Just place the feeder on your wrist or something. You have to be patient...It may take up to 5-10 minutes for your cham to walk onto your hand.

Another thing i do, i just stick my finger under his chin infront of his legs and he jumps up on my hand. Then i'll take him out to his free range area. This is somewhat a treat considering i took him out his home

My cham is super docile, doesn't bite, hiss, flare up, nothing. Doesn't like to be handled though so i try not to handle him at all, only when i take him to his free range area. As of now, he's sick... So latley i've been forcefeeding him and giving him meds. I'm pretty sure he's going to hate me when he's better

Dope name by the way

 

[poppototamus]

I just cleaned out Kush's cage. I took his plants out and clenaed it out really good, then I spot clenaed his plants. I didn't have anywhere else to put him while I got the poop off of the leaves and such, so I just did it while he was on the plant. I have never seen him move so fast! He even almost jumped off of the plant to get away from my hand! I nearly scared me to death! I have only had him since last Wednesday, and I have been trying to just let him be, only going around him to feed and water him and clean. This is the first time we've had any realy contact. I know it's something we have to work on, but I felt so bad for him! I hate to think I scared him and stressed him out! Is there a way to get him more used to me so he doesn't freak out so much next time? It breaks my heart!

I got my male veiled chameleon, Creature, about two weeks ago and I have similar problems. He does this funny maneuver when I open his cage to feed him or mist the plants where he rotates around his branch and hangs off the side to hide from me. It's especially frustrating because my girlfriend, who has never opened the cage, can sit and stare at him all day long without getting a reaction, but I can't even walk past him. It's reassuring to hear that other people had to wait months for their animals to get adjusted!

 

[MollyT]

This was the first time I have taken him out of the cage, and I only took him out by picking up the plant he was on and removing it from the cage. I wasn't going to try to introduce myself or my hands to him for another week or two, but kind of had to in order to get poop off his leaves. I wasn't trying to pick him up or touch him or anything, but he just completely freaked. It made me feel so bad! I'm going to wait a week or two and then try hand feeding him to get him more used to me.

 

[MollyT]

I got my male veiled chameleon, Creature, about two weeks ago and I have similar problems. He does this funny maneuver when I open his cage to feed him or mist the plants where he rotates around his branch and hangs off the side to hide from me. It's especially frustrating because my girlfriend, who has never opened the cage, can sit and stare at him all day long without getting a reaction, but I can't even walk past him. It's reassuring to hear that other people had to wait months for their animals to get adjusted!

The funny thing with Kush is that he doesn't seem to mind me at all as long as he is inside his cage and I am outside. He will eat and poop and everything when I'm looking at him. If my husband tries to watch him, though, he turns into a leaf! haha He won't move! One time, Zack was trying to find him in his cage(it's pretty dense in there, there are 2 small umbrella plants), and couldn't find him. All of the sudden he saw a poop fall right in front of his face! haha All he had to do was follow the direction of the poop and he found him! He has definitely been an amusing little fellow this far!

Edited to add......Now he says that Kush hates him so much that he poops at him! hahaha

 

[GabeCastro]

This was the first time I have taken him out of the cage, and I only took him out by picking up the plant he was on and removing it from the cage. I wasn't going to try to introduce myself or my hands to him for another week or two, but kind of had to in order to get poop off his leaves. I wasn't trying to pick him up or touch him or anything, but he just completely freaked. It made me feel so bad! I'm going to wait a week or two and then try hand feeding him to get him more used to me.

Nice, sounds like you know what you're doing then.

And messing with their enclosure while they're in there stresses them out aswell. but what doesn't stress them out

Your cham will be fine, just keep at it and you'll both be good.

 

[natureboy86]

I've cleaned my dude's cage a few times while he was in there. He was fine because I moved nice and slow, and almost showed him which way I was moving next prior to doing it you know? However, when I would accidently bump the cage or scoot one of his vines on accident, he'd get pissed and scared I then proceed to put him on his favorite tree and set him on a table outside of his cage while I finish cleaning.