Am I doing something wrong? - veiled handling

[korykory]

I heard that feeding my veiled chameleon will help him trust me more and then lead to him allowing me to handle him. I’m not comfortable with holding his food on my hand so I put them in this little cup and sat in front of his terrarium with the door open for around 10 minutes. He just hid behind a log the entire time which was cute, but not what I want to happen lol. Is something about what I’m doing wrong? Or is there anything else I can do.

I really want to clean his terrarium and add some new plants but he won’t let me take him out.

And if anyone remember me from my last post, I got a linear t5 uvb and am planning on getting him a 28x48 cage whenever I’m able to, financially.

 

[MissSkittles]

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/building-trust-with-your-chameleon.2396/ This will help, if you haven’t already read it. It takes much time and patience. Hold the cup out to where your chameleon can see the food inside moving around (support your arm with something) and don’t make eye contact if possible. Don’t expect your chameleon to to easily or even at all walk on your hand or arm for the yummies, especially if you have a veiled. Do try offering a treat feeder in the cup too, and one which moves/squirms a lot. My wild caught guy loves silkworms/silkmoths and hornworms and has learned I’m ok thru feeding those. Something about the worms and especially the green ones are always a favorite.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I'm a newbie but I can concur about the caterpillars like hornworms and silkworms (just make sure they're an appropriate size.) I've been cup and hand feeding my chameleon since I got him in March, and he's at last comfortable enough to crawl onto me for a hornworm or silkie! (I don't expect it to last as a veiled's temperament is known to change as they mature) but it's really is all about consistency.

I do wonder if the red cup might seem scary to your little friend?
I see a lot of people say they react strongly to red. I have a little shallow bird feeder cup like so and I pull up a chair and look away mostly. It may also help that, if it's in hiding, to have the cup close to their line of sight, but stand off to the side where they won't see your body/face.

 

[BleuSaphir]

Hand feeding with hands or with a cup, will not be an instant success. Might take weeks, months.

 

[ehdee6]

I'd also recommend a green, or neutral color cup, white even. I've found that clear containers confused them, and vibrant colors scare them LOL...

Don't be discouraged. I've still not had Mr. Jack "like" being held. I've had him since May, and have only held him when I've absolutely had to. Maybe 4 times, I've held him; Switching up to a bigger cage, and cleaning. Although he'll eat from my hand and trusts me, he doesn't like leaving his cage. Don't push them, or expect them to crawl on you. Just respect their reaction and try again the next day.

If you absolutely have to get them out, you sort of have to toughen up. You can corral them. Put one hand in front of them, and another behind them. Push the one behind towards the one in front and they'll i instinctively go forward into the other hand. It's hard to explain, I'll try to find a video of it.

 

[ehdee6]

Annd the closest video I can find is Neptune and cham academy...

Not quite the trying to move them into your hand as I was describing, though... Maybe I'll try and get video of that.

Also try and get them on an empty stomach, if they're old enough to slip days. Offer a treat, get them to do whatever for the treat, then feed them. More motivation to get the food...

 

[korykory]

I'm a newbie but I can concur about the caterpillars like hornworms and silkworms (just make sure they're an appropriate size.) I've been cup and hand feeding my chameleon since I got him in March, and he's at last comfortable enough to crawl onto me for a hornworm or silkie! (I don't expect it to last as a veiled's temperament is known to change as they mature) but it's really is all about consistency.

I do wonder if the red cup might seem scary to your little friend?
I see a lot of people say they react strongly to red. I have a little shallow bird feeder cup like so and I pull up a chair and look away mostly. It may also help that, if it's in hiding, to have the cup close to their line of sight, but stand off to the side where they won't see your body/face.

I had no idea about that red thing, the more you know, thanks a lot! I have other cups that’ll I’ll try to use. I’ll also try sitting off to the side and not looking at him.

Thats so nice that your Cham is finally comfortable with you, I wish!!! Now that he’s comfortable enough, does he just come out whenever you open up his cage and put your hand out or only when you have food with you ?

 

[korykory]

I'd also recommend a green, or neutral color cup, white even. I've found that clear containers confused them, and vibrant colors scare them LOL...

Don't be discouraged. I've still not had Mr. Jack "like" being held. I've had him since May, and have only held him when I've absolutely had to. Maybe 4 times, I've held him; Switching up to a bigger cage, and cleaning. Although he'll eat from my hand and trusts me, he doesn't like leaving his cage. Don't push them, or expect them to crawl on you. Just respect their reaction and try again the next day.

If you absolutely have to get them out, you sort of have to toughen up. You can corral them. Put one hand in front of them, and another behind them. Push the one behind towards the one in front and they'll i instinctively go forward into the other hand. It's hard to explain, I'll try to find a video of it.

I didn’t know about colors having effect on them so I’m going to try again tommorow with a toned down color.

I’ve had mine since the end of July, so a very short time. I haven’t held him at all. I know he’s friendly since at Petco, he jumppppped onto the guy that worked there and seemed really comfortable, so I think he’s somewhat friendly. Anytime I even inch my hand near him, he will literally sprint away, puff up, put his hands up, or even like flinch towards me really fast which spooked me lol. Today was the first time I cleaned and redid his enclosure and he wouldn’t come out under any circumstances and I’m honestly not man enough to forcefully grab him out, so he just hung on the side while I cleaned everything.

 

[korykory]

Annd the closest video I can find is Neptune and cham academy...

Not quite the trying to move them into your hand as I was describing, though... Maybe I'll try and get video of that.

Also try and get them on an empty stomach, if they're old enough to slip days. Offer a treat, get them to do whatever for the treat, then feed them. More motivation to get the food...

Thank you so much! Although I’m not brave enough to do that just yet, I’ll try it when I am for sure.

He’s hungry all the time lol. He’s only about 4 months old.