This is a silly question

I know that chameleons can recognize their owners if they associate them with food. But is it possible that a chameleon might recognize you by your clothes instead of your face? Simon seems to be more tolerant of me when Im wearing my uniform, and I think it has to do with him seeing me with the same thing everything I handled him before I brought him home. It seems that when I'm not wearing it he isn't as nice. What do you guys think? (I'm not sure if this question made sence)

It may have something to do with the frequency he sees you in the uniform.
I know that my cham will get upset if he sees my sister in certain brightly colored shirts as well, so fashion sense could be a factor too

How interesting... I've never noticed that but it would make sense that they associate colors with their mood since they give warnings this way. Probably dull colors would be more appealing

Only silly question is the one that remains unasked

This will be an opinion fest, but here is my thought, whilst I think that chameleons, have the ability to recognize there owners, I also think that certain colours and shapes might appear more hostile, think of there coloration and what we interpret it to mean.

Also what key indicators do they base there recognition on, do they recognize face, eye's, body size etc, or do they associate to an approximation of all details you present them with?

So no I still do not think this is a stupid question, and fyi, I make a point of wearing pastel and grey shades when in the same room as my fella.

Scoobthenoob said:

Also what key indicators do they base there recognition on, do they recognize face, eye's, body size etc, or do they associate to an approximation of all details you present them with?

Click to expand...

All the above. Like I mentioned, mine hates certain shirts my sister will wear from time to time, always bright colors, otherwise he's fine around her (color factors). He doesn't mind me or my brother-in-law in almost any atire thanks to the hand feeding and such I've done with him. We're about the same height and build (size and shape factors), but he gets pretty hostile toward my 2 year old nephew no matter what (also size related).

Well my uniform colors are dark-ish blue and kaki pants, if it matters what blue it is it's the petsmart blue, and I just noticed that recently that in the past couple of the day's the only times he calmly let me handle him and hand feed him was when I was wearing this after work. It might be too soon to tell but I'm definitely going to pay more attention to this. Is this blue a non threat color? Or does he associate this color with food now?

Fed by the Blue army

Yes he probably associates the uniform with food....

If I wear a baseball cap mine is less likely to come towards me. As soon as I take it off he will approach me.

Very interesting. My grandma had a fawn for a pet for hunting season and know with a wild animal it was the same thing. Now deer are said to only see in black and white. But it was her that could feed only. It was fun to watch her at least.

Great question, mine is shy of dark colors, black or dark blue, but he likes grays and light colors, like green, sky blue, white, i believe they have excellent vision, and fwiw i really think he recognizes me, both my chameleons are getting friendlier every day, i just open their cages and in a couple of minutes they want out, well i want out too if i was in a cage

Sana

My male veiled Rebel hates most bright colors. The strange this is if I want to get him out of his cage without him trying to attack my hand I just put on my bright blue and white garden gloves. It's like he doesn't feel threatened by the gloves like he does by my hand. My baby girl Penelope runs every time I approach her enclosure with the misting bottle.

I think it can go either way. I've got 3 chams in total. My male panther just loves people, no matter their fashion choices. My male veiled hates my husband, no matter what he's wearing, but is starting to think I'm ok (after only 3 years!). My husband - who is the primary feeding person - could be dressed like a female veiled, and Kimani would still try to kill him. Keeley, my female panther, is pretty ambivalent about everyone as long as they don't try to pick her up. Kimani (the veiled) does seem to flare up at me more when I wear bright shirts, but then again he's quite temperamental

Some interesting studies have been done regarding how chams react to color with regard to mate selection, territorial dominance, and stuff like that.
They do react to colors.
My guys don't like one of my red shirts, or my black one.
So, I only ware earthy colors, like greens and browns when I am around them.

I also noticed they are more likely to climb on my arm if I am wearing a long sleeve dark green or brown shirt.