Some cham handling and feeding questions

hello friendly people of the forums, Happy Halloween!!

So my questions are as follows, I've had my baby about 2 weeks, he's in his new reptarium and doing well. I waited about 10 days and now I've been taking him out nearly every day for a few minutes to hold him and let him climb around on my arms and shoulders. He is still getting PISSED every time I reach into his cage, puffing up and hissing at me. Also anytime he's on my arms and my hand gets close he freaks out again. Are there any tricks to gaining trust with your cham? I try to hand feed him but he runs away from my hand. He also gets ticked when I spray his cage. Any help would be great.
Second question, I just got a bunch of dubia roaches to breed, should i just let them run around in the cage with him or use a feeder cup? I'm not sure if he even knows how to eat out of a cup because he was always range fed at
FLChams. Any tricks to weaning him onto cup feeding? I'd like to switch over because I'm afraid the crickets hide in the ficus tree in his enclosure or in the paper towels in the bottom. Will the cockroaches munch on him at night if i leave them in there? Here's my info:

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - Male veiled chameleon, 2-3 months old, been in my care 2 weeks.
Handling - Every day to every other day
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders? I'm feeding him a mix of 1/4 sized crickets, reptiworms, and hopefully some dubia roaches. I usually put the food in in the morning, I usually give him 8-10 crickets, 5 or so reptiworms, and no roaches yet.
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule? I'm using Reptivite multivitamins a couple times a month, Calcium with D3 a couple times a week.
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking? I mist 2 to 3 times a day for a minute or two, until things are fairly wet, I also use a dripper to keep things going in his cage while I'm gone, I just got a little humidifier to make sure humidity is about 50 percent, I see him licking his lips when I spray, but he gets ANGRY about it,
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites? it's black with white on the end, longish, not been tested but he was bred at FLChams
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? Reptarium 38 gallon (tall)
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule? i'm using the Zoomed UVB 5.0 long, 12 hours a day
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps? basking spot is in the low 80's, down to 70 for the coolest part of cage, nighttime temps are low 70's
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity? I have a humidifier mixed with dripping and spraying a couple times a day, it stays high 40s, low 50's
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind? he has a ficus tree he lives on
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? It's in my closet, not near any vents nor high traffic areas, it's sitting on the floor, so 3 feet or so high
Location - Where are you geographically located? Northern Utah

Thanks!!
McKay

Each Cham is different...

Some Chams simply don't like interaction... Chameleons are by nature solitary animals... so each Cham is different, some do not mind being handled and even seem to "enjoy" it... others simply don't want to be bothered... and get "pissy".... When you get a Cham you have to be prepared to accept which ever you end up with as there is no way to "tell" in advance.

Hand feeding does help to gain their trust so they associate you with good things ie: food! But if he your guy won't hand feed all you can do is be patient and keep trying with him.

Some people are believers that free ranging improves behavior and the Chams seem more relaxed. I free range my to boys part time and I can see a differance especially in the one... he is much more "relaxed" and less threatened when not in his cage.

As for him freaking out when you get your hand close move very slowly, and again be patient you have not had him that long and so he is likely still adjusting to you.

As for the Dubias... sorry I have no experience in that area! Good luck! lol

Hi McKay! Just a couple of things! Your supplements, you want to get calcium without d3 and use that at every feeding. Use the calcium w d3 twice a month and the multivitamin to use twice a month also. What are you feeding your feeders (gutloading)? So do you have an actual basking light then? You have only had your chameleon for 2 weeks, so don't get discouraged about the handling just yet. It will take alot more than 2 weeks for him to gain your trust. He is still adjusting to his new surroundings. As far as the mistings, my chameleon is going on 11 months old and still is not fond of it! They either like it or they don't!! Make sure the water is warm and not cold, that can make a difference. Reaching into the cage, most chameleons to not like to be backed up in their cages. Why don't you try opening the door and letting him maybe try venturing out on his own and see if he isnt more mellow when he is out on his own terms. The only way I have ever cup fed is by holding the cup for him to eat out of. I never set one in the cage for him to feed out of. You are gonna have to give the little guy some space and time. I did not even try to handle my chameleon for the first three weeks or so.

@Gensen When you say free ranging, is that letting the cham out to crawl around on furniture?
@Carol They are getting fed kale, carrots, and apple slices, along with Flukers calcium gut load

ok on the gutload! so you need to dust everyday with the calcium without the d3.