Patience is a virtue...

[Moondrip]

God damn it!

I had this lil beast for about 5 days now. It´s a dudeish veiled cham and I havent got the slightest idea of his age - Perhaps a month. I made a huge slice of the jungle for him with 145 different hidingspots. He seem to like the top of the palmtree the most and this got me thinking:

"- If he´s got all these hidingspots, will ever wanna come out? Better to stay hidden and safe..."

Afie, yes thats his name, is freaking out when I get close to the doors and ofc when I try to handfeed him aswell.

I´ve read a ton of forums, posts and websites for different routines to tame this lil brute and I knoow, I knoow - People say that cham´s aint a pet-pet it´s mainly a moving, pretty little ornament only to be looked at.

Well, my jealosy, when seeing other people play with their cham´s, is growing everyday - Meeeh!

Here´s the little bastard now. Thats not a burn on his face, he´s just grumpy cuz it´s bedtime and he was too close to the spraynozzle when the automatic mister fired up and he got half a gallon of water up his azz:

 

[absolutbill]

Welcome to the forums! Your new little guy is FAR older than 1 month - I'd put him closer to 9 months or older by that pic. You've only had him 5 days, so please be patient with him - he's still settling in and learning about his new environment. It's too soon to be trying to handfeed him - let him gain trust with you just standing by the door of his cage first. As for the spraying, if I'm reading this correctly you are misting him right before his bedtime - you want the cage to be dried out before it's his bedtime, otherwise he can develop a RI (respiratory infection). I have my misters go off for the last time 4 hours before the lights go off.

Finally, please watch your language. This is a family forum, and cursing is neither appropriate, nor acceptable. Good luck with your new guy and check out the care sheets if you have any questions!

 

[shandi]

He is a veiled chameleon. They are the most aggressive chameleons and on top of being a veiled, he's a guy, which makes him more aggressive. Mine is the same way. He puffs up every time I get close to the cage and tries to bite me every time I put my hand in, which is every day because I have to give him calcium through a syringe. They're very aggressive animals. I just think it's cute and funny because this four inch animal is trying to scare me off. He hates my guts but I still love him.

 

[Galaxy]

Even those of us with Panthers can get complete grumps. I've owned mine for about six months now and he's still a brat. It's just the nature of the beast, literally!
You just have to learn to love them for what they are. You don't get a chameleon to cuddle or show off like a new accessory, you get them because they are beautiful animals who are fascinating to observe once they settle in to their home.
(Though... I hear ya on the jealousy part! )

 

[Carlton]

He is a veiled chameleon. They are the most aggressive chameleons and on top of being a veiled, he's a guy, which makes him more aggressive.

This isn't necessarily true. Veileds in totality are not the "most aggressive" chams. It varies quite a bit by individuals. My first male veiled was not aggressive...didn't like handling but he wasn't aggressive about it. Gender doesn't always matter either. Some of the meanest chams I've met were females!

The meanest cham I've had to date was a male T. deremensis.

 

[Moondrip]

He´s not aggressive at all he´s just scared and hides away. He doesnt hiss or try anything.

 

[Kiwiflage]

Really depends on the chameleon. A lot of people will tell you he won't warm up since it's a male veiled, but I've had really accpting(best term for"liking being handled") and some nasty guys. I'd "train" him by giving home treats like soft bodied worms(meal worms or better, hornworms or silkworms) by hand only and a staple either cup fed or free range. That will teach him not to be afraid of your hand and rather be entised by it

 

[Moondrip]

Ive started a new routine - When I get home from work I open the doors and put in the cup with food. Waits until he has eaten and then remove the cup.

Thinking that repeating this will get him used to the thought that Im the "cup-feeder" or something. Maybe that will get him around and out of his hidingspot eventually...

 

[Psychobunny]

Both of my male veiled chams are very tame and docile.
It can take weeks to months before they start to really trust you and feel totally secure.
You did the right thing by giving him plenty of foliage to hid in.
He will come out to you in his own time, just be patient.

Here is a like to my taming blog. You may find it useful:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/psychobunny/746-taming-chameleon.html

 

[chameleons59]

Mine is a male but he is super calm. Also he is a year old. I'll add a pic of me holding him

 

[chameleons59]

Oh and I've had him for 2 and a half months

 

[Moondrip]

See? thats exactly whats triggering my jealousy - wuaahhah I wanna hold my bast-... cuddlytoddler too

Thankyou for the instruction Psycho, Ill have to give it more time. My brain only works in 2 ways:

- Not interested or
- Totally Obsessed

 

[Psychobunny]

LOL! Im sort of an, 'all-or-nothing' type person too.

You know, hand feeding is the best way to get your cham to trust you and directly associate you with food.

Try offering his favorite food by hand, as instructed in my blog.

Even if he doesn't take it, he will still see that you have food, just don't push it, if he backs away, try again later.

Be slow, and keep your distance, let him be the one to make the moves.

To tame a cham, you really don't have to do anything at all!!!
Just go about your business, never trying to touch him, just ignore him and he will get used to you.

 

[Moondrip]

oooohh so many ways so many options... I just wanna grab him when he runs away, shake him around and scream "Get back here and LOVE ME!"

 

[shandi]

I know it varies from animal to animal but on general veiled are "said to be" the most aggressive.

 

[junglefries]

Just needs time. Eventually he will work around that cage like a tazmanian devil. It takes time.

 

[Moondrip]

Hupp!

He ate from my hand several times tonight (Sweden - Scandinavia here) - And he didnt retreat back as much when I put my hand back in the cage the 2nd time with a new fooditem... Ahhahaa this is good for my father heart

Well - Ill put this thread to rest atm and see where I can land.

Thx for tips n advices!