Terrified Veiled

[specialtyhandcrafts]

I brought home a male veiled from an expo a couple weeks ago. He isnt my first. I used to keep and breed many many years ago.
He is a healthy guy, he eats well, drinks well, good poos, temps are "perfect" all is well health wise...His vive is good, leafy hidy spots, basking, varied vines and branches, water drips etc. He has all the proper uvb, etc and is NOT in a busy high traffic area and its only hubby and I so its a calm household. My beardie is in another room. HERE is the problem...keep in mind, I dont handle him, I dont stand above him and I only put hand in from bottom of cage for cleaning feeding etc. I do everything I can to seem less like a preditor. This guy is terrified. He doesnt display dark colors or act stressed etc. If he sees me coming he runs for cover and stays hidden. At first I thought he needed to adjust, but his fear is getting worse. Now, he stays hidden, basking near the drip and waits for the crickets to come to him. Its like he refuses to be seen. He withdraws more each day. If I do happen to see him cruising around he freezes in place staring at me and wont move till I go away. Then he heads for cover. He is so afraid and I dont know why or how to change his mind Thoughts???

 

[camimom]

can you post some photos of him and the cage please?

 

[Scoobthenoob]

As above but please fill in this as well

https://www.chameleonforums.com/how-ask-help-66/

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

the best pic I have of my veiled is my "avatar" photo. It was taken a week ago Sunday because he is always hiding. Ill take a pic of his vive in the morning and post it. Im really confused about his behavior. He is in a quiet no traffic/activity area of house, hes got great appetite and urate is good so he drinks even tho I dont always see, he hates misting (warm water and a really fine mist) He isnt my first Ive had males that didnt like interaction but this is totally different. He really makes sure you cant see what he is doing, and always makes sure you arent watching him eat etc. I did a sneaky...He was climbing down his vine to a branch he likes to catch worms from. He saw me and froze. I turned my back, sat still at watched him from the camera on my tablet. He climbed down and got a worm. I turned around slowly just slightly so he could tell I saw him...he froze mid chew!! I urned back around and watched on tablet again, he ate more the second he thought he wasnt being watched. Could he just be amazingly shy?? I didnt think so until I exparimented with my tablet...WEIRD

 

[Scoobthenoob]

Based on his size

Your a Giant to him...... give him time

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

I agree about being a giant BUT the first days he was here, he wasnt friendly, but he was out exploring and enjoying himself. Then he started retreating. Its almost like he had a horrible or tramatizing thing happened to him. I know nothing happened since I got him. This really bothers me, the poor guy. Im posting a pic of him and viv. Picture doesnt show some details like size, and you cant see the nozzles for the water etc. There is a cup on his floor to catch water (that I dump several times a day and wipe up water on floor) and a tiny dish for his worms. Took pic shortly after he woke, so he hadnt warmed up yet and colors are a bit dark but that only lasts a few min. He is nice and bright now

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

i cant attatch photo for some reason

 

[Scoobthenoob]

Not sure if I am ok to share link here but

i cant attatch photo for some reason

http://imgur.com/

Try uploading here then posting link in response..

[noparse]

[/noparse]


Please also fill in this for us

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

Read this regards posting pictures to your own account here https://www.chameleonforums.com/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_attachments

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

got it sorted out

I got it figured out...but as stated in my previous posts: I am NOT a newbie, almost 4mo old, male, bought from expo 2 weeks ago. I do not handle him. His conditions and diet are perfect. I figured it out. He hates women. Men can approach and handle him. He is completely different with women. Problem solved but thank you anyway.

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

I covered the side of the enclosure that faces me. Its not close by, but I cant see him and he cant see me. He immediately came out of hiding and has started exploring again.

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

I only have internet on my cell phone and it is not a smartphone. I can not attach, link back or anything. I cant fill anything out etc.

Back to my veiled. He ONLY acts this way with me. It is NOT his environment, temps, diet or location. IT IS ME and I dont know why...and the suggestion of giving him time...I AM HIS ONLY CAREGIVER and his fear of me and only me is going to kill him while I am "giving him time" So, any actual thoughts besides my lights, temps blah blah????

 

[Scoobthenoob]

Other than time and patience and trying to hand feed him daily, I have no advice to offer..

The filling out the care sheet was just cause I have no idea of his environment, could something be stressing him, etc..

Also to make sure he was eating, that he had healthy poo etc.

He will not die just because he is timid around you, so long as he eats drinks and poops.

 

[specialtyhandcrafts]

Dont wear glasses...

I also discovered something else. I wear glasses. Not only am I a giant, but he saw his reflection in the glasses. I was a giant with 2 male chams stuck to my face! Glasses off, problem solved. I named him Waldo because without glasses, I am blind....Wheres Waldo??