I want to get a chameleon and i want to know do they like to be held.

use the search button bro its not that hard.. but majority no with a few exceptions

Some do some don't. I know a person whos animals are very very easy to handle. Just PM me and i will tell you.

Not normally. They generally do not tolerate handling and it causes stress. Stress kills. There are a few exceptions where the chameleon actually chooses to climb out of the cage and onto the keeper. If you are looking for a more tolerant chameleon, buy an adult whose personality is already established.

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Depends on the cham. My nosy be is the nicest chameleon I own and will climb on to my hand any time. My ambilobe absolutely hates me and has bitten me a few times.

I think you have to assume NO. If you're willing to have a pet that doesn't want to be handled, then proceed. You might be one of those who get a friendly chameleon that is happy to be handled. That would be fun. But if you expect a pet that will want to be petted....reconsider the species you want to purchase.

Chams do not understand "petting" or being held
They're not mammals.

What they like is what being held does for them.
like going outside out of their cages and into the sunlight.
Getting fresh drink of water or an insect.

They can understand that easy enough.

So if being held by their owner is connected with good things
They "They like being held and outside of the cage"
it doesn't become a stressful thing.
One of my animals used to get very restless during breeding season
He always wanted "OUT" of the cage.
Handling him was like him ssaying.... "OMG what a relief THANKS for opening that door
OOOOOH What's that? I Want to see... go over here and show me.
No, I'll walk... Thanks"
"Hey where's that other guy... the one I talk smack too?
Oh there he is <changes colors/displays> I'm rick james *****"
So yes they can love being handled...
but it also from their standpoint a means to get out of the cage.

Caveat, it's all in how you do things.
grabbing the animal from the top and yanking them from the cage
isn't how to handle them at all. IF that's what you do, then it's best not to touch them.

[edited and added too to illustrate the "rick james" motivation]

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Also depends on species I have had much more success with Panther chams then Veileds. Not to say I havent had a Panther with a bad attitude but I have had most Veileds almost jump out of the cage at me when I was adding food to his cup to bite me. You shouldnt handle any species regularly but if you are looking for the possibility for an understanding symbiotic relationship get a Male panther(ambilobe,ambanja,sambava,nosy be) cham. Rarer locales (nosy faly, nosy mitsio, ankaramy,) im my experience tend to not be nice either. Another choice if were choicing based on personality would be a female Veiled cham I have had some really good experiences with them. Either way every cham has there own personality but I find for the first month do not attempt picking your cham up at all. Just consistently let ur cham see you putting food in and as much as you want to pick it up DONT! At about a month youll notice your cham doesnt get that freaked when you come into there realm anymore. Now you can make an attempt using a branch cox your cham onto the branch then onto your hand. Youll notice once on your hand the attempts at biting you wont happen. You can also attempt to hand feed at this point I find superworms to work best. Have a super crawl up the screen and your cham wont be able to resist. Do this for about two days then put the super in your hand flat. Your gonna have to manuever it or it will crawl right off. Your cham will now most likely snatch it right out of your hand. I used this method here on my most recent Male Ambanja and if you ask Chuck from HEROICCHAMELEONS he would tell you this cham was a menace!! We named him Tsunami cause of colors and strong(bite your finger off) personality. This guy now when I enter the room waits for me to open the door and runs through his plants to get at me but not to bite but to climb on my hand. He would sit on my shoulder all day if I let him. I actually thought something was wrong when he started doing this but everyone on the forum just assumed he wanted to use me as his car! lol GOOD LUCK HOPE THIS HELPS!!

To your question, i'd ask you another question:

How can you determine that a chosen chameleon enjoy (or like) something??

I have yet to find a satisfying and scientific answer!

Note that there is a difference between liking, loving, enjoying and tolerating!

I would certainly never suggest a female Veiled as a starter chameleon. Actually, every female Veiled that I have had over breeding age has wanted to kill me, so I don't get the nice factor there. The egg laying process is certainly one that can bring up many issues.

Excellent post morpheon! Tolerate is the word.

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