Scared Chameleon

[Katie_cat247]

I hve had my Cam for nearly 3 months. He is TERRIFIED of me. I dont try to take him out the cage is in a low traffic area but whenever i go into the room to feed him he bends over the side of the vine to hide. It makes it terribly hard to clean the cage because he runns around and he falls when he runs and i dont want him to get hurt so i have to stop. I dont know what to do anymore. I thought that he would have gotten used to my presence by now.
Any ideas would help. thank you in advance

 

[broderp]

If you want him to get used to you, you have to keep him in an area where he can see you and observe you regulatory. If he's secluded in a room by himself, your presence will always be a shock to him and getting him use to you will take much longer.

After a week or so of being in the same room, start to go about you business in his cage, cleaning etc. Ignore him, don't make eye contact. Eventually he will learn that you are not there to harm him and will ignore you.

 

[jamest0o0]

I really think certain animals, like chameleons, take a level of calmness and confiedence from their owner. Sure they still won't like you like a dog, but animals pick up on body language in ways we don't even notice. Maybe it has something to do with how you're approaching him? Not saying that's the case just suggesting it to think about.

 

[lynyrd cham]

I had a veiled Cham that was the same exact way. I had his enclosure towards the dining room where he could see everything but he still was not warming up. So I moved him into the living room where he was a lot closer to us and constantly saw us along with people traffic and seemed to start calming down. He wouldn't hide behind the vines anymore, only if you were looking directly into his enclosure standing I front of it. After he started to realize that he was safe he warmed up a lot! They are very very observant. Good luck!

 

[jajeanpierre]

I really think certain animals, like chameleons, take a level of calmness and confiedence from their owner. Sure they still won't like you like a dog, but animals pick up on body language in ways we don't even notice. Maybe it has something to do with how you're approaching him? Not saying that's the case just suggesting it to think about.

Based on your observations of how many chameleons?

 

[jajeanpierre]

I hve had my Cam for nearly 3 months. He is TERRIFIED of me. I dont try to take him out the cage is in a low traffic area but whenever i go into the room to feed him he bends over the side of the vine to hide. It makes it terribly hard to clean the cage because he runns around and he falls when he runs and i dont want him to get hurt so i have to stop. I dont know what to do anymore. I thought that he would have gotten used to my presence by now.
Any ideas would help. thank you in advance

I feel your pain!

As others have suggested, putting him in a room where he will see you often will help him get used to seeing you. You want him to be tucked in a corner that doesn't get a lot of traffic near the cage, but in a room where he does see big scary chameleon-eating monster humans from a safe hiding spot. Babies are particularly spooky and they will outgrow a lot of it.

I have a young male wild caught gracilior imported in May of 2016. He was the spookiest chameleon I've ever dealt with. I put him in a cage on a high shelf in a corner. He could see me often but he was tucked away and I was almost never in front of his cage. His cage was so high, I had to get a stool to open his cage. He had (has) a very densely planted cage. Everytime I opened the door to feed him, he would fling himself to the bottom. Complicating it was he refused to eat after import. After consultation with four different vest from three different clinics, it was decided that I should force feed him until he decided to live. After four months of force feeding just to maintain his weight, he started eating on his own and growing. He was still super spooky. He would fling himself from the top of his cage from the back out the front of the door to the ground. Joel @jpowell86 saw one of his suicide attempts and was more than a little surprised. I'm surprised he didn't kill himself. He's calmed down a lot. He still disappears when I reach in but I can open the door and he holds his ground. I can also hold him on my hand without him flinging himself off although I never trust him and always have a hold of his tail. He calmed down on his own without any work from me.

There is hope for yours!

 

[jamest0o0]

Based on your observations of how many chameleons?

What are you even trying to disagree with? I was suggesting a possibility. I think there is a difference in running up on a chameleon or any animal versus calmly and slowly approaching. Not saying in any way that the poster is doing this, just giving an example.

 

[jajeanpierre]

What are you even trying to disagree with? I was suggesting a possibility. I think there is a difference in running up on a chameleon or any animal versus calmly and slowly approaching. Not saying in any way that the poster is doing this, just giving an example.

What disagreement?

I asked for the sample size that you used to formulate your hypothesis.

You made a statement. I asked for the evidence you had to back up your claim.

 

[jamest0o0]

What disagreement?

I asked for the sample size that you used to formulate your hypothesis.

You made a statement. I asked for the evidence you had to back up your claim.

I made a suggestion.

 

[Decadancin]

I really think certain animals, like chameleons, take a level of calmness and confiedence from their owner. Sure they still won't like you like a dog, but animals pick up on body language in ways we don't even notice. Maybe it has something to do with how you're approaching him? Not saying that's the case just suggesting it to think about.

Based on your observations of how many chameleons?

What are you even trying to disagree with? I was suggesting a possibility. I think there is a difference in running up on a chameleon or any animal versus calmly and slowly approaching. Not saying in any way that the poster is doing this, just giving an example.

What disagreement?

I asked for the sample size that you used to formulate your hypothesis.

You made a statement. I asked for the evidence you had to back up your claim.

I made a suggestion.

Just from observing small geckos and anoles in my yard I would tend to agree with this. Some run and hide, but most are actually very calm and curious. They definitely react to the speed of movement and eye contact. Another big issue is the feeling that they know they have an out if they need it. Some (many) enclosures do not offer a feeling of security that the animal can seek refuge if needed and this simply adds to stress.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I made a suggestion.

No, the majority of your post was dedicated to stating your hypothesis on the nature of chameleons. I asked for your observations of chameleons that would back up your opinion. You didn't make a suggestion other than this: "Maybe it is the way you are approaching him."

Your private insulting PM to me was truly uncalled for.

 

[Decadancin]

I really think certain animals, like chameleons, take a level of calmness and confiedence from their owner. Sure they still won't like you like a dog, but animals pick up on body language in ways we don't even notice. Maybe it has something to do with how you're approaching him? Not saying that's the case just suggesting it to think about.

Based on your observations of how many chameleons?

I made a suggestion.

No, the majority of your post was dedicated to stating your hypothesis on the nature of chameleons. I asked for your observations of chameleons that would back up your opinion. You didn't make a suggestion other than this: "Maybe it is the way you are approaching him."

Your private insulting PM to me was truly uncalled for.

I will say that I see an opinion, and not something based on scientific studies. Not sure where all the hostility started here. Did someone read somthing wrong? Did I miss something?
Hope this thread gets back on topic and we can offer some advice...