Temper!

[TheLizardofOz]

Hello, I am new to the forum and hope to continue to gain knowledge from other chameleon owners! After the passing of my sweet 2 year old girl Lilly in September, I went to a reptile show in December, where I saw an sweet baby Jackson in a cage of ADULT jacksons, he was obviously abused, he is missing fingers, I took him home because I couldnt get his condition off my mind. He is SO healthy and full of energy and I love him so deeply, but his temper is awful!

I know you can not change a chameleons personality, but it has been a few months and it seems he has done the opposite of warm up to me, he can not stand me! He bites me whenever he has the chance, just me looking at him through his cage makes him turn his defensive colors. I blame the abuse he went through, but I want him to know I love him and im here to help!

any tips on helping my babies attitude?!:

 

[DirtyDubbz]

When he open his mouth stick a cricket or hornworm in it he should chill out

 

[Kath44]

Not too sure I'd do that. But something similar maybe, like offering food from your hand. Slowly and patiently. If he backs off, place the feeder in his cage or cup if he cup feeds and try again the day after. Hopefully he will trust you a bit more and start to take food from you.
What's his set up like? Plenty of foliage and places to hide? Make him feel more secure.
Kath.

 

[bluechameleon]

Patience!! It took me a year and a half to tame my panther, try holding his food pot while he feeds, talk to him when your in the room, open the Viv door and just sit there for a while, offer treats on occasion, trust me my chameleon hated me for the first year, he was seriously aggressive, wouldn't let me even open the Viv door without hissing,puffying up and lunging at me, but then one day, pop he climbed on me and was friendly. So dude just have patience he needs to grow to learn you and you need to learn him! You need to know when he's having a off day, read his signs

 

[Psychobunny]

I think you are going to have a hard time with this guy since he has been
mishandled, you are going to have to be very patient, but it can be done.

First, make sure he has lots of foliage to hide and feel safe.
Then, put his cage on a table or stand so it is elevated above your eye level
(they like to be up high).
Leave him alone, do not attempt to touch him, don't even stare at him.
I would let him 'free range' hunt his food to, just let cricks loose in the cage.

Make sure he sees you every day, just seeing you going about your normal
business w/o paying attention to him will help establish a connection.
When feeding, open the cage door, and empty your container of cricks well
away from him, but make sure he sees you with the food.

After dumping the cricks in, don't stand there and watch, just turn away and go about your business. It may help to cover his cage with a dark colored sheet at bedtime.
Once you get his cage furnishings set up the way you want it, don't change
anything (they don't like change).

Don't stick cameras in his face to take pictures for a while.

Limit traffic in his area, he needs to see you moving about, but not a lot of
other movement.

If he hisses or puffs up when you open the cage for feeding, ignore him, don't
look at him, just move slowly, and put the feeders in him cage.
When your hand is in the cage, don't move it close to him, he may think that
as a threat.

Don't attempt to do any free ranging, or letting him out for a while.

Don't try to hand feed for a while either.

It will take time, maybe even months, but as he sees you every day, moving
around, opening his cage, bringing the food, he will slowly get used to you,
and will not think you are a threat.
He may never be "tame", but in time, you should at least be able get him to
not be afraid of you.