New Chameleon owner, help!

[sinbad]

Hello everyone,
I am a new Chameleon owner, Sinbad is a veiled Chameleon. I met him at a local petsmart and fell in love as he clawed at my finger trough the glass enclosure. I visited him once a week for 3 weeks as I did some online research and finally decided to get him for myself. I have a mesh enclosure for him, auto timed lights, basking spot, hiding spots, humidifier (And spray bottle)... I prepared myself for everything! Upon arriving everything was great, I introduced him to his new enclosure, fed him some crickets (great eater) and he even drank some water from a home-made dripper. I left him alone for the rest of the day and came back home to check on him, took my phone out to get a picture and he quickly changed colors and hissed. I have left him alone (except for feeding and spraying enclosure) for about three days now because I do not want to stress him out again! I know it is impossible to domesticate him, but I would like for him to get somewhat used to me occasionally handling him so that I can make this a better experience for the both of us. Does anybody have any success stories with a cranky baby chameleon who eventually had a change of heart?
I just want a glimpse of hope that he won't always be scared of me... even if he stays a cranky chameleon for the rest of his life it would still be a privilege for me to own him.
He seemed to get along great with the employees at the pet store, and I want that same relationship with him


Also, he is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long in body without tail (too young to sex, but I see some spurs coming in) any estimation to how old he is?

Thanks for everything in advance!

 

[Masked Gecko]

You should be able to tell if its male or female as soon as it hatches, you said you can see the spurs right? You can try hand feeding.

 

[mvad]

I do believe my male veiled will never accept being handled by me. I have just accepted it. Congrats on your new chameleon and good luck with him

 

[kinyonga]

Every chameleon is different...some tolerate handling and some never do. Just move slowly and let him step onto you rather than trying to pick him up forcefully. You can let him walk onto a stick to get him out of the cage and then onto you to let him get used to you. He may just take time to get used to his new home and you.

 

[carol5208]

Post some pics of the back of the back feet and we will tell you if you have a male or female. As far as handling, give him/her some time. They take awhile to settle in and it can take months for them to get used to you.

 

[eat2muchrice]

Welcome, my chameleon hates cameras and cell phones. I take picture from a distance with good amount of zoom. As for your chameleon being mad could be a good thing, if he hates being taken out then he probably likes his new enclosure you have set up, it is his territory that he has claimed. Compaired to the pet store setup he probably climb to peoples hands knowing he could get out of the cage. Mine was the same way. Good luck.

 

[sinbad]

I have yet to get a good picture of his legs, I will wait until he falls asleep and post some soon.

Thanks for the replies! I am so happy to be a part of the chameleon community

 

[sinbad]

These are the best pictures I could get of his feet for now, is that good enough?

 

[distortionz]

He's a boy a good looking one at that

 

[Pharaoh2015]

Thanks
I was super picky and asked questions to make sure k get one that was bred in captivity and In good health. Only 75 dollars

 

[Forestdellic]

Keep in mind some factors that are stressful to your chameleon, new environment, new routine, new noises, new faces...etc all of these could be possibilities that may stress your cham for now. Just be patient.

Turning black while basking is just their way of catching extra heat so don't go think that he's mad or anything. From the pictures it looks like a boy.

I'm in the same boat as you, new veiled cham owner and there are a lot of new behaviors and other things they do that make me worry and turn up to be nothing hehe

 

[sinbad]

A little worried

Sinbad has been doing this thing where he sometimes looks up at his light and will close his eyes and move them around in the sockets. I have even caught him sleeping during the day a bit. This has been going on for two days now. Never owning a chameleon in the past I don't know what warning signs to looks for, or what could possibly be wrong. I took him out of his enclosure for the first time yesterday and left him on a plant while I got ready for the day, when I returned he has his eyes closed and didn't open them until he was fully on my hand and realized I was examining him what could be wrong?

 

[sinbad]

He has been eating really well, and basking... Other than the eye thing nothing out of the ordinary here. I do dust his crickets with repti-cal