Aggression.

[TOMMYBOY72]

I have has my Panther for about a month now. He is in a large screen enclosure,24x24x48 with plenty of room to roam. He hunts crickets all day and eats mealies from a cup. I handle him from time to time, but when I am in his cage cleaning, feeding ect he hiss's at me alot and gets stressed. I know how to approach him correctly to let him to get him on my hand. My question is will he become less aggressive if I handle him more. He is fine once he is on my body but does not like to be picked up initially. I dont want to stress him out anymore than I need too. I think he is about 9 months old I am trying to find out exactly how old he is because I purchased him from a pet shop. I believe he came from FLCHAMS. He is an Ambanja and is healthy and happy! I think he looks like a Melvin so that's what I call him. I would appreciate any advise. Thanks.

 

[batmancumming]

I have has my Panther for about a month now. He is in a large screen enclosure,24x24x48 with plenty of room to roam. He hunts crickets all day and eats mealies from a cup. I handle him from time to time, but when I am in his cage cleaning, feeding ect he hiss's at me alot and gets stressed. I know how to approach him correctly to let him to get him on my hand. My question is will he become less aggressive if I handle him more. He is fine once he is on my body but does not like to be picked up initially. I dont want to stress him out anymore than I need too. I think he is about 9 months old I am trying to find out exactly how old he is because I purchased him from a pet shop. I believe he came from FLCHAMS. He is an Ambanja and is healthy and happy! I think he looks like a Melvin so that's what I call him. I would appreciate any advise. Thanks.

i would suggest to just take things slow. all chams have their different personalities, some don't mind being handled, some are shy and get scared and some ar just complete a**holes lol. i wouldn't over do it, he may come around in time. that being said, in my opinion you should handle him maybe once a week for 10-15 min because there may come a time when you HAVE to hold him...ie vet visit or giving him medicine for some reason or even cleaning his cage like you said

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

Thanks for the input. Thats about what I have been doing. I actually handle him for about 5 minutes a few times a week. I want him to get use to it. I am loving this creature. Every morning I feed him first, than make my coffee. By the time I pour my cup and go back inside my rep room its game on! I love watching him hunt crickets while I enjoy my morning coffee. It seems to have a very calming effect on my morning.

 

[batmancumming]

hahaha agreed. nothing like a cup of coffee while i do my morning misting

 

[Canny Chams]

Ok, i have had 2 chameleons like this. One of them has given me 2 marks on my finger. and another is now my nicest dearest cham. Some after some handling will get used to you, some wont, after having him for 2 monthes, start handling him, in intervals slowly increasing. if his behavior doesnt improve in 4 monthes, hes just aggressive

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

aggression

Once again I thank you for the input. I think he will mellow out. He is not hissing at me all the time lol. Sometimes he lets me go about my business in the cage. Maybe he is still getting use to me. At times I can get under him from the front and get him on my fingers without him attempting to bite lol. It still makes you jump a little when he makes a stab at you. I will continue to handle him periodically and keep you posted.

 

[Pilotman800]

Im guessing he is a young Panther since you've had him for a month. A young chameleon should eat anywhere from 15-20 feeders per day. Mealworms are not a good choice. They should be used as a treat no more than once per week. Try crickets, silkworms, phoenix worms, dubia roaches, and maybe even superworms.

If you want to try and "tame" him a bit, try the following.

Hand feeding
Cup feeding
Free ranging
Slow movements
Most importantly, interaction

Even doing everything above will not guarantee that he will open up to you. Some chams just never do.

I'm going to link you to my blog about new keepers. It has lots of useful information and links on how to properly care for your cham.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/pilotman800/548-new-chameleon-owner-information-husbandry.html

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

suppliments

Thanks for the info on the meal worms. I read that website. My question is on suppliments. The website you referred me two say. Dusting with Calcium everyday. Calcium with D3 twice a month and repti-vitamins twice a month. This is in direct contrast with a couple of other web sites from breeders and from general care. I have read D3 every other day and repti vitamin twice a week for ages 1-10 months: 10 to 18 months- D3 and reti vit both twice a week: 18 months- both once a week. I have also read on other breeder sites. D3--3 times a week and repti-vit 1 time a week. My panther is male: 8 to 9 months old and I am not sure which one to follow. He is very healthy. He came from Fl Chams to a shop near me and I purchased him there.Today he showed no aggression at all. I guess some days he is just cranky lol. He hunts crickets all day. I mist him and use a dripper. He also eats Collard greens that I clip in his cage. I gut load and dust my crickets and have been using the following program dusting with calcium and D-3, three times a week and repti-vitamin once a week. Anyway, thanks for any tips and please let me know what what you think.

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

Thanks for all your input folks!

 

[lindawaz]

You said you can take him out of the cage and he is okay. Maybe he does not like you in his house

When cleaning the cage take him out,see what happens if you put him on you while you are doing it. If he goes back in his choice and maybe won't be as upset worth a try

oops reread the post edit- try using a stick instead of you and when he steps onto it move it slowly out of the cage. Then put him on you for the cleaning after you buddied upfor a bit !

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

Sounds good but I am worried he will fall off of me. Just today he was sitting on my hand wrist and I started walking into my living room and he stood up with out stretched hands like he could jump up to grab the door frame and he fell. I caught him at my waist but if I didn't put my hands out he would have went to the floor. Maybe I was moving to fast and he wanted to bail out. I know they are not supposed to have feelings just instinct, but he seems to like me when he is not hissing at me lol. I find it funny how Melvin and especially my Bearded Dragons are waiting their food in the am like puppy's at the bowl!

 

[lindawaz]

when you are cleaning you are not really moving your body. Plus you are in the cage and by it- he will either stay on your clothing or bail out to the enclosure. Or skip that part and just get him out on the stick- sit and bond.

Then add some hand feeding and the trust begins

 

[reptoman]

Panthers will usually calm down as they age. I have one male (Kirk) at 5 months that will take your finger off if he can get close enough. My other male at 16 months (Spock) will finally crawl out of his cage onto my hand willingly. He used to be as mean as my young one. I got some video of the day he finally started to crawl out on his own without freaking out. Still aprehensive but that only lasted a couple days. He now goes to the front of the cage waiting for me to open the door when I am in the cham room. My advice is don't push it and let him make his move toward you. My oldest at 3.5 years (Ziggy) has been super docile since he was about 1.5 years old and shows no sign of stress at being picked up. He will also come to the front of the cage and crawl onto anyone close enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM9xBKV8Y_k

 

[Robyrango]

My panther was much more relaxed when I got him 2 months ago.. Lately, the last few days, he's hating me! I hand fed him for 2 months, now he won't eat unless I leave the crickets in a feeding cup.. I notice that he's bit more cranky
few days before he sheds, after he's fine again. He's 6 month old now, rough fully, he might be in a kind of puberty phase

 

[Robyrango]

Panthers will usually calm down as they age. I have one male (Kirk) at 5 months that will take your finger off if he can get close enough. My other male at 16 months (Spock) will finally crawl out of his cage onto my hand willingly. He used to be as mean as my young one. I got some video of the day he finally started to crawl out on his own without freaking out. Still aprehensive but that only lasted a couple days. He now goes to the front of the cage waiting for me to open the door when I am in the cham room. My advice is don't push it and let him make his move toward you. My oldest at 3.5 years (Ziggy) has been super docile since he was about 1.5 years old and shows no sign of stress at being picked up. He will also come to the front of the cage and crawl onto anyone close enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM9xBKV8Y_k

I suppose every chameleon is different, but that sounds very encouraging!
Thanks

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

Panthers will usually calm down as they age. I have one male (Kirk) at 5 months that will take your finger off if he can get close enough. My other male at 16 months (Spock) will finally crawl out of his cage onto my hand willingly. He used to be as mean as my young one. I got some video of the day he finally started to crawl out on his own without freaking out. Still aprehensive but that only lasted a couple days. He now goes to the front of the cage waiting for me to open the door when I am in the cham room. My advice is don't push it and let him make his move toward you. My oldest at 3.5 years (Ziggy) has been super docile since he was about 1.5 years old and shows no sign of stress at being picked up. He will also come to the front of the cage and crawl onto anyone close enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM9xBKV8Y_k

Cool video! Spock is awesome like his mentor. What are the walls in your cage made from plastic? Thanks for your help.

 

[TOMMYBOY72]

Ooch!

when you are cleaning you are not really moving your body. Plus you are in the cage and by it- he will either stay on your clothing or bail out to the enclosure. Or skip that part and just get him out on the stick- sit and bond.

Then add some hand feeding and the trust begins

Just out of curiosity if they bite you what kind of damage will it do? Does it break the skin?