Finally! success with Smidget!! Learned something new

Today, I am so happy and excited because Smidget, my 7 month old Nosy Be male zapped a silkworm out of my hand for the very first time! :D
I have been working on taming him for so long, I was close to giving up. Now, I am so glad I didn't!

I learned a few interesting things with little Smidgie.

He was really puffing up, hissing and snapping at me when reaching my hand in, no matter how slowly.

I found it best to show him the silkie on my hand BEFORE I open the cage.
I would just hold it a few inches from the door and make sure he was looking at it.
It helps if you can get your head out of his line of sight, but if not, I try not to stare at him.

Slowly open the cage, I see a little reaction, but not running away or hissing (good sign).

I have a nice juicy fat silkie in the palm of my hand, he is about 12'' away and I very slowly move my hand closer until I see him puff his chin up.
I stop moving and just hold the worm there, seems like for hours, my arm feels like it's going to fall off!!
Then, he has a peaceful look on his face, he turns his head and trains both eyes on the worm, not looking at me at all (very good sign).
Then, he suddenly leans forward, his mouth opens, I'm dripping with sweat by now, and he nabs it out of my hand and eats it in front of me.

Another thing I look for, are they letting you see them chew their food??
If they freeze, they still are not 100% sure of you, and may be afraid that their moving could give them away to a potential predator.

Anyway, I am so happy and proud of little Smidget, but will not bother him anymore today.
Best not to push it, go slow and do the same thing tomorrow.

I do have to admit, I did something I don't normally do, I let Smidget go for 3 days without food to increase my chances of success.

This is not at all a mean or cruel thing to do. Chams can go several days without food (but not water) and do not generally eat as much in the winter time anyway (which it is here).

So, I had a very difficult to tame cham, but with the patience of a Saint, we have crossed a great bridge.

Soon, when he is comfortable around me, I will let him out on the free range like my other 3 boys :D

Happy Chamming everyone :)


Crap!!!! while I had success the last time, I haven't been able to repeat, and he hasn't eaten from my hand since!! at least he has stopped hissing and snapping and I am able to get a little closer before he gets testy!!

This little guy is going to make an interesting 'test' case.
To be continued!!


UPDATE FEB 09, 2013

Smidget ate out of my hand, but he was hungry.
He does not get upset when his cage door is closed and I am moving around close by.

When the door is open, and I walk away, he mostly stays to the back of the cage, very insecure.
If you look at the pics I posted below, what I am doing is trying to get him brave enough to come out of his protective shell and onto the free range.
The door is open, and a long piece of fake vine has been draped around in such a fashion that he can easily climb out and onto the range above his cage.

This could take hours, days several tries because he just does not feel secure enough to leave his private space.

In the taming process, I believe it's very important to get the cham OUT of it's established home and into the open.

The biggest problem with a 'first time' out of cage is, how to get them back in??!! :eek:

This is the part where it's super easy to freak them out and cause them a lot of stress.

If you could not touch them when they were inside their cage, you may have an easier time when they are outside.
Still, always remember, NEVER approach from their blind spot in the rear, or reach down from above.

When outside the cage, they are VERY prone to "suicide drop" and will crash into the floor, carpet, whatever.
May want to have some towels on the floor, and try not to make the free range very large, or you could have a harder time getting him back home.

I have had Smidget's door open not for several hours and he has moved from the rear to the center of the cage.
He is just not ready to come out yet.

When they decide to come out for the first time, you better be alert and watch what they are doing, because they can get themselves into trouble really fast.

On my next update, I will talk about ways of getting your cham back in his home turf after his brief 'freedom'.
Trust me, he will NOT be happy with the idea :eek:


UPDATE FEB 10, 2013

well, this morning Smidget ate a big silkie out of my hand without much hesitation. I think he is getting more confinent that I will not harm him.

At this point in my taming routine, he is getting all his food hand fed.
He either eats out of my hand, or not at all!!

I know how that sounds, but he is eating every day, and I would never let him starve!!.

After feeding, I will try letting him out again, just leaving the door open.

So, what do you do when they do come out, how do you get them back in?? You know they will NOT like the idea at all!!

Well, it takes time and patience, but if you are not lucky enough to get him on your hand to move him (don't stress him out by being pushy) then you can get a fake vine and attach one end inside the cage, near the basking area, and the other end where your cham is stubbornly clung too, close off any alternate route so your vine is the only option.
Then use a mist bottle to gently mist him with cold water, be carefull not to freak him out.
Use the spray as a gentle 'prod' to give his incentive to move forward on the vine and into his cage.

Of course, use of the spray bottle is only in case your cham just sits there without moving, or goes halfway, then does a "U" turn.

I have found it best to do all this in the morning, after he has had a chance to warm up for a few hours, then a few food items offered by hand, then you can try letting him out.

When your cham has free ranged a bit, he will act like a new cham!! his whole personality will change; more confidence, less hiding behind sticks and leaves, more open and hanging out in the front of the cage and not just the back.

Also, make sure you do this when you have plenty of time, you don't want any interruptions.

I will try letting Smidget out again today and will post back.

Till next time, happy chamming :)


UPDATE: March 4th 2013

Well little Smidget has gone to live with my cousin!!
She met Smidge, and fell in love!! :D
But what's crazy was, Smidge actually did not hiss or snap at her at all.
She was able to get her hand up to his chin, and he slowly lifted one foot and put it on her hand!!

Wow!! I just gave him to her (w/o the cage, sorry!!).
I am more concerned with making my chams happy, and since Smidge was clearly able to bond with her, and not me, I did want I thought to be best for him.

So, Smidget's cage was not empty long before I found a 7 month male Jacksonii for a great price!!
So now, little Kokie lives in Smidgie's old place :)
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Comments

Very cool! Eye contact is something to avoid if trying to gain an animal's trust. It will trigger a flight response if they are nervous. Glad to hear of your success! ;)
 
Decadancin;bt1720 said:
Very cool! Eye contact is something to avoid if trying to gain an animal's trust. It will trigger a flight response if they are nervous. Glad to hear of your success! ;)


I try to get in a position where they are higher then I am, even if I have to sit on the floor.

Yes, they are staring right at you, so it's best to look in a different direction and not stare back.
But Smidget is turning out to be a very unusual case.
Most panthers at least will stop hissing and snapping after the first month of gentle care, but he is going to be much more work.
 
This helped me so much! I've been trying to tame my chameleon for quite a while. he is 7 months also, not quite in that condition, but defiantly doesn't want anything to do with me. I think I'll try this!! I've been preparing to set up a free range. How long did you wait until you gave him the option to free range? Thank you so much!
 

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