stress in handling??

[New Hampshire camfan]

Hi everyone, six months ago I received a 2 month old female panther and not long after that I got a 6 month old male.I decided to name them Bonnie and Clyde. They are the first chameleons I've had the pleasure of raising and I love spoiling them. Bonnie likes to be left alone and sometimes is a little difficult to get out of her cage so I can clean it. Clyde on the other hand pretty much begs me to hold him. Nearly everytime I walk in the room he goes to the front of his enclosure and waits to see if I'm going to open the door. He's got a great personality and is very docile. He even refuses to poop in his cage. Believe it or not, he waits til I get him out of his cage and hold him over the toilet !!! My son gets the biggest kick out of it. My question is this, its widely known that chameleons get stressed when handled. If Clyde is coming to me and is in no way hesitant of climbing all over me, am I really causing him unnecessary stress? I want to give him the attention because it seems like he's asking for it but I don't want to cause him any harm. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks NHCF.

 

[Sticktongue]

Sounds like you've gotten lucky with a social cam!! If he is coming to you, you are not causing him any stress.

 

[johnnyev]

It's very common for male panthers to accept being handled. Not so much the females though, in my experience they prefer to be left alone.
The only negative side to this, is once they get used to coming out. They don't want to go back in

 

[little leaf]

yep , if he goes to you- and begs to get out- he is a happy boy , even more so when out I have one male who will do ANYTHING to get out - and one female (both panthers ) who at the site of me- go crazy to get out- it makes me laugh how they beg - standing upright on the vines " playing the harp" waving their little legs in the air to be brought out - but ALLLLLLLLLL the rest of the chams- HANDS OFF ! they do not enjoy me holding them AT ALL - so I dont - a few do have their rare moments when they will step on my hand and come out- and some others, just looking at them makes them run - if your guy is happy to see you - play w/ him

 

[gilbert]

Glad I read this. My female (the only one I have) is the same way. She runs to the door as well to come out. I wish she used the toilet too! That would be great!

 

[kwengkynator]

You got lucky

Thats a nice Cham. I have a female veiled and rarely climbs on my hands. Although she loves it when I carry her around in her taxi stick. ; 3

Thats what I use to transport her. A stick seems more trust worth than a hand to them. Once shes on the stick I hand feed her and when shes in a good mood shell climb to me arm. After that I usually drop her off to the big pot of pothos vine and let her have a blast

 

[New Hampshire camfan]

Thanks for all the responses. I feel like i've got a really special cham. NHCF

 

[fester2226]

i hope i get one like that