Newbie to chameleons

[Tillie]

Okay, honestly, I'm new to lizards in general, and honestly I'm a little nervous about handling them.

"Then why would you want to own one at all?"

Well, because I've owned and ADORE snakes, but a housemate doesn't care for them. I didn't even want a lizard, but I saw this guy:

Funny as life goes, I was only in the pet store because I was caught in the rain. The people were willing to give me a discount because I'd had previous reptile experience and was capable of giving him a good home. I've actually always adored chameleons, but I think somewhere in my mind I never thought of the possibility of just OWNING one, lol.

So I think my biggest concern at this point is, how do I handle? The poor boy isn't used to being handled, and I'M not used to HANDLING, so this is really my biggest roadblock so far. I'm taking him home in two weeks, and going by everyday to see him in the meantime. Since he hasn't been handled much, he's pretty nervous about hands. You can't reach for him at all without him running and flapping his mouth open(HIISSSSSS...sound familiar?). you have to coax him onto something you're holding, and he takes along time to calm down after that. He doesn't seem to want to bite though, it's like he just wants you to know that he's got his mouth open and he's big and bad. I was told to put my finger under his chin and he jerked his open mouth down toward me and I pulled my hand back FAST... but I realized that was stupid and just forced myself to hold my hand there. He finally just closed his mouth and crawled on my hand.

Is this typical? I've heard the bites don't hurt anyway and you have to have them backed into a corner before they feel that stressed out anyway, but I don't know. I'm just used to snakes, not lizards, and I'm kindof worried I won't be good enough, I guess... What's everyone's advice for handling?

 

[westcoastchameleons]

Okay, honestly, I'm new to lizards in general, and honestly I'm a little nervous about handling them.

"Then why would you want to own one at all?"

Well, because I've owned and ADORE snakes, but a housemate doesn't care for them. I didn't even want a lizard, but I saw this guy:

Funny as life goes, I was only in the pet store because I was caught in the rain. The people were willing to give me a discount because I'd had previous reptile experience and was capable of giving him a good home. I've actually always adored chameleons, but I think somewhere in my mind I never thought of the possibility of just OWNING one, lol.

So I think my biggest concern at this point is, how do I handle? The poor boy isn't used to being handled, and I'M not used to HANDLING, so this is really my biggest roadblock so far. I'm taking him home in two weeks, and going by everyday to see him in the meantime. Since he hasn't been handled much, he's pretty nervous about hands. You can't reach for him at all without him running and flapping his mouth open(HIISSSSSS...sound familiar?). you have to coax him onto something you're holding, and he takes along time to calm down after that. He doesn't seem to want to bite though, it's like he just wants you to know that he's got his mouth open and he's big and bad. I was told to put my finger under his chin and he jerked his open mouth down toward me and I pulled my hand back FAST... but I realized that was stupid and just forced myself to hold my hand there. He finally just closed his mouth and crawled on my hand.

Is this typical? I've heard the bites don't hurt anyway and you have to have them backed into a corner before they feel that stressed out anyway, but I don't know. I'm just used to snakes, not lizards, and I'm kindof worried I won't be good enough, I guess... What's everyone's advice for handling?

Hi,
With skiddish chameleons, its all about doing things in steps. I would first try to get him used to maybe being perched on a stick that you are holding. Then starting to maybe coaxe him towards your hand...Eventually after this step by step process continues, he should get used to the idea of you holding him.

thanks,
Jake

 

[Julirs]

He also may never get used to it. I have one that is easily handled and one that will rip my hand off. She only comes out for deep cage cleaning, although she will eat out of my hand. What are you housing that guy in? The substrate needs to go as it can cause impaction.

 

[Tillie]

He also may never get used to it. I have one that is easily handled and one that will rip my hand off. She only comes out for deep cage cleaning, although she will eat out of my hand. What are you housing that guy in? The substrate needs to go as it can cause impaction.

Well I said in the post that I'm taking him home in two weeks. He's still at the pet store D: I really am looking into one of those nice upright screen cages... it'll give me a good excuse to buy Hibiscus anyway. I love Hibiscus. I really only need to be able to handle him enough to clean his cage, anyway.

He acts like he WANTS to be handled... like he runs up to the glass and claws at the lock when I go to visit him... he's just... moody I guess.

 

[Orin]

He looks like a captive-bred, good size male and probably the very best option to start on chameleons. The chameleons we have in pet shops around here are either baby veileds or wild caught senegals (and the odd wild caught jacksons or other species) which don't often do that great.
They certainly have different personalities. I've had a few (just female calyptratus) that hated and lunged at me no matter how many times I picked them up.