panther bites

[Fate X]

the sambava panther i got seems to be able to bite better then the veileds.
everytime i try to remove him from the cage he keeps trying to bite no matter what.i already got bit twice.
he caught the side of my finger,the problem is he moves his head from side to side and his mouth is open trying to bite and he can swing his jaw all the way around and get your finger.

i tried handling him with more force and he still got me.


i got batteries for my camera im gonna post some pics of him.

 

[Canopy Chameleons]

Why are you trying to force him out of his cage? He's obviously stressed, I don't think he wants to be handled.

 

[Kosmo]

Puritana is right in that your animal is probably stressed out because of his new environment. Give him some time to adjust before you start handling. However, I would make your presence known to him. When you do things for the animal like feeding and watering make it obvious and try to do them at regular intervals. This will allow him to become accustomed to you and will then see you as being beneficial as apposed to detrimental. The chameleon will slowly become used to you and eventually like you. From there you can begin to handle him more often. Never try and force him to do anything because it will just make it harder in the long run to build a bond with the animal. It sounds strange however you’re chameleon(s) can become attached to you with proper treatment. I have a nose-be that comes to me regularly all I need do is open his cage.

Cheers.

 

[Fate X]

hes not that new hes been in the cage for about 2 months i have him.i was moving his cage upstairs so i had to remove him and put him in a smaller cage.

i dont think hes stressed very much because he was very strong at trying to wiggle out of my hand and bite me.
hes big too i mean hes not a baby.

i just find this animal more difficult to handle and avoid being bitten.

 

[ChameleonsTree]

Try hand feeding him worms...he may see your hand as a friend and not the enemy then

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

Just try looking at the behavior from their side of the screen.

In his mind, He's establishing territory and is also defending himself
from what could be a predator.
much depends upon how you come at him, of course.

Since, your interactions are also "teaching him" about this new place
he can learn that the hand isn't a threat or something to defend against.

It's always going to be "stressful" when anyone or thing
gets moved into a new home. dogs and cats search around
and are alert to the slightest thing. Panthers hunker down and watch
then the establish a "defensive zone" or territory in their heads "this is mine".

Give them a few days to get settled
then have them get used to you and "the hand".

 

[Fate X]

its un-natural for a animal to not bite so my feelings aint hurting i was just wondering if panthers are better biters then veileds ,he seemed more agile and determined to bite is all.

 

[kinyonga]

Are you wrapping your hand around him to remove him, Fate X? If so, its no wonder he's biting you. If you pull his feet off the branch you could damage his feet or ankles.

I let/encourage a chameleon to walk off the branch onto my hand even if I have to wear a sweatshirt pulled down over my hand so that the chameleon can't bite me. To me if he finds that you aren't going to hurt or restrain him it will help to gain his trust.

I have run across one veiled that would always try to bite....but I just figured out ways to get his cage cleaned without having to be bitten and without having to grasp him.

 

[MWheelock]

When Manga was younger, all he'd do was to try and bite me.

We came to an agreement. On days that I had time, I'd leave his cage door open. If he came out onto the screen door, I would have him walk onto a stick. If he bit the stick, no biggie for me. I'd keep him on the stick for a few minutes and then put him back in the cage.

The funny thing was, that the more I'd do this, the more he would come out. (on his own terms.) He doesn't really like to be handled, but he is fairly interactive and comes to see what I'm up to quit a bit (I say this because he has the option of climbing on top of the cage and up curtains, but chooses to come and look over my shoulder while I do paperwork. Weird..)

Anyway, once we got somewhat use to the stick, I would pick him up with the stick on the front and manipulate the back of him by holding the base of the tail to situate him better and even move him onto my hand.

Seems to do pretty well.

There are lots of ways of doing it, this worked for me.

Matthew