Never holding my chameleon???

[Dean Pulcini]

I think some chameleons tolerate being handled more then others I have a mitsio that would meet me at the cage door for food and then again the N. faly would take a finger if you even thought about it. With that being said I don't think chameleons want or need to be handled they are not a social animal and I see know reason to stress them out. In my opinion they will get use to you by association cleaning, feeding, watering their whole thing is concealment when they are discovered all the have left is stress because they cant flee.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

You're right, I meant 'grab' in the gentlest of forms. I was assuming that being gentle was more common knowledge, but it's good to point out that Screameleons has a video on it, which would be a must-watch for anyone.

By 'grabbing' a chameleon, this could take up to a minute or more!

 

[ratfink]

Stress is the only reason you shouldn't handle them so if they aren't stressed then there's no problem (i would think). Just handle them in a way they don't get stressed out. If you can tame a tokay you can definitely tame a chameleon, it's just a matter of how you get it there.

 

[KevinA]

I only really ever handle 1 chameleon and that is the one that will eat out of my hand. I never really took her out until she started taking the crickets and worms from my hand before I could put them in her feeding cup. After a month or so of this, she is completely calm when I take her out.. I still very rarely do it though. If you want a cham to get used to you, I suggest trying to get it to eat out of your hand, or eating out of a cup in your hand.

 

[saltykrisp]

I only really ever handle 1 chameleon and that is the one that will eat out of my hand. I never really took her out until she started taking the crickets and worms from my hand before I could put them in her feeding cup. After a month or so of this, she is completely calm when I take her out.. I still very rarely do it though. If you want a cham to get used to you, I suggest trying to get it to eat out of your hand, or eating out of a cup in your hand.

Im really new to this forum but i have been reading as a guest for some time now. I have a 4 to 5 month old Ambolibe panther that i dont handle on a daily basis but I put him near my sitting spot for watching tv. so before i go to work he see's me for 5 hours or so before i leave this is the time i feed and water the stud. by reading i have learned that every cham has his or her own personality. I pull him out about three times a week but i have recently been opening the cage for him after he has scarfed all the crickets down for b fast, Little man has been excepting my contact better over the past few weeks, but i also contribute this to temperment.

 

[blackbetty]

I did mention this in my original post and a few others mentioned it as well so thought I would just link it:
https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-handle-chameleon-18438/

Everyone is going to have their own opinion on what to do and what not to do. Take ques from your cham. Dark, puffy, running away, not interested.. coming to you, climbing, okay maybe you can hold for short spurts. Just be gentle, careful, and aware

 

[BocaJan]

I experienced the same thing as others - when your cham is a baby it is friendly and will walk up your finger and appears to like being with you. All that can change, especially with a male cham (veileds especially) when they get to be teenagers. Their hormones kick in and they don't want anything challenging their territory. Happened to all my chams. My male who is now 3, is now back to tolerating me picking him up to move him, but we have this little movement I have to do to snag him. No, he won't walk up my arm and prefers to stay where he is. I think each cham is a little different in how or what you need to do to pick them up to clean/move...but ya gotta do what you gotta do. Anyone who expects their cham to be a friendly beast is probably going to be disappointed.

 

[Miss Lily]

Lily is completely ok with being handled. She'll sit on my shoulder and sunbathe in the summer. Most days she'll want to come out when I offer her food. Handling is ALWAYS on her terms - if she wants to come out (I don't get a choice, as she legs it up my arm) that's fine, but, equally, I respect her decision if she wants to stay in.

 

[pr3mo15]

Hey thanks guys for all your feedback i appreciate it

I think what i will do is just watch him and see if hopefully he will crawl onto my finger if i put my hand in his cage... If that doesn't work ill try some other ideas


Thanks!

 

[blackbetty]

What amazes me..I see all these people holding their cham in the pics of their cham fired up.. Are they not afraid of being bitten? I know Chams are not normally aggressive, but what if they see that thumb twitch? I just know a mad chameleon wouldn't be getting near my bare skin.

 

[pr3mo15]

Everytime I put my hand in his cage next to him...He reacts VERY fast...and opens his mouth as if hes going to bite me if I move my hand any closer....I have put food on my hand and tried hand feeding him...He just walks away, or sits there until my hand gets tired of sitting there....What should I do...He is 4months old

 

[chambabysitter1]

Everytime I put my hand in his cage next to him...He reacts VERY fast...and opens his mouth as if hes going to bite me if I move my hand any closer....I have put food on my hand and tried hand feeding him...He just walks away, or sits there until my hand gets tired of sitting there....What should I do...He is 4months old

Mine does this too. I am just giving him time. Gonna take a while for him to figure out I don't want to eat him.
How long have you had my guys big brother for?

 

[pr3mo15]

I believe I picked him up from kevin on Jan. 24th...But to be honest ive only held him about 4-5 times Thats including putting him in his new home...I barely hold him...as I read its best not to hold a baby...But i was starting to think...Is he going to continue to do this as he gets older...?? I dunno.

 

[addicted]

For my cham, I barely handled him until he was about 7-8 months old. It was like one day he just decided he enjoyed being on me

Now, whenever I mist, he tries to reach for my hand to climb out. During the morning and early afternoon he follows me back and forth along the screen, just waiting for me to open it. He's not as interested in coming out during the late afternoon to evening.

What amazes me..I see all these people holding their cham in the pics of their cham fired up.. Are they not afraid of being bitten? I know Chams are not normally aggressive, but what if they see that thumb twitch? I just know a mad chameleon wouldn't be getting near my bare skin.

My cham doesn't even know I exist when he sees his reflection. He just wants to get to that mirror! He'll even hold on with just his back legs and tail in an attempt to extend his body as far towards that look-a-like as he can.

He'll even hang upside down

 

[blackbetty]

I dont ever hold Leo in front of the Mirror. I transport him from the cage to the basking spot If necessary..and even then Im all but running. He is on his hind legs either boxing with the air, or turning around and heading for my face.. After being bit, Im a tad paranoid. I use gloves but they are cloth and Im always afraid they might look tasty. LOL...

 

[DaNDJ]

Hey there, I get my cham out two or three times a week for about 20mins and he has a good old climb around, And he loves it. We move slow as to not scare/stress him but he never gets his 'beard' out ^_^ He is only 5-6months old. The only thing he doesnt like is when we mist his viv. I have no idea why?! Beard out and looking aggressive haha, i think he is starting to realise that its something thats not going to harm him and benefit him...does make me laugh though