Square one..

BabyChamCham

Established Member
After Oswin's plant died, I got him a spider plant and a Mass Cane. So far so good. But for a while, I've relized he's gotten scared of people...Alot more than he was before. Any sight of anyone, in the cage or not. He'll just stop, and stare.
I'm thinking hand feeding wI'll gain trust, but I haven't gotten him to eat any yet.. If anything he's only had 5 superworms for the past 5 days, because of some faze he was in, to where he wouldn't come out for anything, and he was lethargic.. He's alot better now, but hes just scared..
What should I do?
 
For now, if he's not taking food from your hand, just start with sitting in the room with him whenever you can. If you have paperwork to do, sit in a chair by his enclosure and do it there. Spend as much time in the same room as possible with him for awhile, and then once he feels comfortable with you there try hand feeding him again and go from there. Don't worry, it's ok! Chameleons really typically aren't people pets, so affection is not the norm. This is why I keep mine in my bedroom, which also serves as an office.
 
I acually have him in my room too--which is where I do paperwork. I'll try that, I'm just worried.. and I know they aren't one to love people, I just wanted him to trust me.
 
It'll take time. Be slow, be patient. As mentioned above, be around the cage doing quiet activities and move slow and methodical. Start staying by the cage when you feed him and when he is no longer bothered by you standing there try holding the feeder cup and see if he will eat from the cup in your hand. Then move on to hand feeding without the cup. It'll take time but he will eventually realize you are the source of food and not a threat.
 
He ate a superworms from my hand earlier, no crickets thoguh..
Crickets can be tough, I know I struggle with them. They're fast little suckers that try and escape, so they're hard to keep in your hand. Chams like to take there time, moving slowly and having a sure eye on their meal before they try and snatch it, so you most likely won't be able to hold the crickets long enough for that. But by eating the worms, it's a good sign!
 
The only way I can get my 3 month old veiled to eat is by literally hand feeding him. Maybe adding the new plant to his cage scared him? But at least he's taking the superworms from you. That's a lot better than nothing. Just slowly build back up that trust between you two. I would try what @Graves923 suggested for feeding.

Good luck!
 
Crickets can be tough, I know I struggle with them. They're fast little suckers that try and escape, so they're hard to keep in your hand. Chams like to take there time, moving slowly and having a sure eye on their meal before they try and snatch it, so you most likely won't be able to hold the crickets long enough for that. But by eating the worms, it's a good sign!

For crickets you need to hold them by a leg. I tried using the antenna, but they broke off. Here's a short video of my Sherman eating a cricket from me. If the cricket struggles, it will attract his attention. I was so happy that he took it from me. I was giddy like a school girl.....lol:rolleyes:

The key is baby steps.

 
For crickets you need to hold them by a leg. I tried using the antenna, but they broke off. Here's a short video of my Sherman eating a cricket from me. If the cricket struggles, it will attract his attention. I was so happy that he took it from me. I was giddy like a school girl.....lol:rolleyes:

The key is baby steps.


Wow! That's super cool, and also genius. I'm going to try this in the morning!
 
You changed Oswin's plants relatively recently if I remember? He will need a couple weeks likely if he's being hit so hard. It's a big change and just needs to relax. Breathe and just sit with him. Take a couple steps back, other than the sitting, just do normal care, don't try to push hand feeding. Give him a couple days where he's left alone and he's just eating and drinking like normal. He's probably a bit confused.
 
Thank you, @Andee
Yes I added a mass cane and a spider plant. He sleeps in the spider plant now, and I'm glad he likes it. Thanks to all the others Aswell , and it's good others are getting ideas from this thread too.
:ROFLMAO:
 
You changed Oswin's plants relatively recently if I remember? He will need a couple weeks likely if he's being hit so hard. It's a big change and just needs to relax. Breathe and just sit with him. Take a couple steps back, other than the sitting, just do normal care, don't try to push hand feeding. Give him a couple days where he's left alone and he's just eating and drinking like normal. He's probably a bit confused.

THIS^^^^ It took me WEEKS before I was able to get the trust for my little man Sherman to feed from my hand. But I sit near him nearly every night doing work, on the computer etc...I'm certain this helps. He won't eat from the hands of anyone else in the family yet, so he recognizes me.
 
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