Shy Chameleon

[CamrynTheCham22]

My veiled chameleon is a year old and she is as shy as ever! I leave her cage door open whenever I am in the room, and I have been doing this for about 3 weeks. She still hasn't got the guts to approach the opening of her cage. She has never had any traumatic experiences in this house. The other day I put a roach on a plate and ate it, but she still flees whenever I open her cage. I have a plant to free-range her on, but I am afraid to take her out because I don't know if this will break her trust. I haven't take her out of her cage in a while because it is winter and the need hasn't really arisen. I want her to feel confident and happy around me, and I am not sure what is the best way to do this. I try not to make too much eye contact when I am dealing with her cage or something around it because it seems to freak her out. Any suggestions?

 

[flowerrpal]

My chameleons have started to associate me with food and water, try figuring out what her favorite food is and then getting her to eat it and then eventually take it from you and keeping a regular feeding schedule. The more you feed at the same time, the more she associated you with things she likes. As well, works with her in slow things. My 2nd chameleon peaches was a big angry girl that hissed at me all the time but i just slowly crossed barriers and now she runs to the front of the tank when i come in the room. What I did was open the front of her tank and just work in the same room as her and then eventually work beside her tank. When I got to being in her tank I started just putting my hand in the tank and leaving it there, stopping if she ever got angry or stressed. Slowly she trusted me and Its been just over a month and she loves me

 

[Panthro413]

I just handled mine as a baby like once a day, open cage door. Now she runs towards the door everytime im standing near cage. I got lucky i guess. I would suggest to he patient. Keep opening door. Once it comes out a few times it will look forward to it every time.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

Thanks for all of the input. I guess I am being a bit paranoid about her actual health, but I guess she is fine. I will continue to work with he and see how it goes.

 

[Weebo]

My Chameleon use to rush to get out in a his small enclosure....now he’s in the massive Dragon strand Clearside Atrium and he never tries getting out. His old cage was too small and he was not happy. Do not always associate a chameleon wanting to get out with being a good thing.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

My Chameleon use to rush to get out in a his small enclosure....now he’s in the massive Dragon strand Clearside Atrium and he never tries getting out. His old cage was too small and he was not happy. Do not always associate a chameleon wanting to get out with being a good thing.

To the contrary, I thought that a chameleon that wants to get out was always a bad thing. I thought it was always because they hated their cage or felt scared in their cage. Now after a bit of research I realize that some chameleons just enjoy being around their owners and are naturally curious. My female is so possessive over her cage, but i am really glad she feels comfortable enough so that she has to defend it from me, the one who supplied it I will keep working with her. She is warming up to me for sure.

 

[Tina G]

I just handled mine as a baby like once a day, open cage door. Now she runs towards the door everytime im standing near cage. I got lucky i guess. I would suggest to he patient. Keep opening door. Once it comes out a few times it will look forward to it every time.

I have an approximately 4-6 month old male (Joey) and same age female (Zoey) that are like that, I love it!! They'll even eat out of my hand/fingers Like you, I also just made sure I handled them daily since the day I got them (which was Black Friday) and continue to do so

 

[Weebo]

Again I’m just stating them wanting to get out is not always good. Didn’t say it was always bad either just have to learn to identify it. I knew my guy was not comfortable and wanted to get out. Therefore I upsized. Understand you Chameleon as best you can that’s all. Don’t think it “wants to be around you” because it doesn’t. It’s a reptile it doesn’t have emotion.

 

[CamrynTheCham22]

I understand that. I in fact do not want my cham to feel like she has to rush out of her cage to me when she wants food, I want her too feel 100 percent comfortable in her enclosure even when I am in the room.