Any advice on handling?
- Thread starter kmc80
- Start date
Pilotman800
New Member
Hand and cupfeeding can help a lot. If they can correlate you with something positive, they may not fear you as much. Free ranging and outdoor sunning helps a lot as well.
However, some chams stay afraid and nasty. Doing what I recommended above does not guarantee your cham will become "tame".
However, some chams stay afraid and nasty. Doing what I recommended above does not guarantee your cham will become "tame".
antithesis123
New Member
also, This may sound silly but make sure your hands arent cold and that you dont make sudden moves with them, have a lot of patience too. I handle my chams but I develop a relationship with them so they dont associate me with anything unpleasant.
byrnesr
New Member
This is very true. I've had mine for three months and he was always very nervous at the mear sight of me. Hand feeding got him used to my presence.
The real difference has been free ranging. I supply a vine from his cage to a tree and potted plant, some basking sticks in the window. I check in on him regularly to make sure he's not in trouble. He climbs out on his own and I return him to his cage after a few hours.
I approach him slowly and work my hands under his front feet, lifting slowly upwards he eventually climbs on my hand and can ride back home. I get an occasional hiss, but certainly nothing like the run and bite before the free ranging.
I don't handle him for long right now. But eventually I think he'll let me take him outside. 
Here's the results:
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Its all about positive assioations as far as them being affraid of you.Food being#1 on the list. When you do go to handle your cham try to approach from under him not over top. In the wild preditors attack from over head. screameleons has a great video on how to handle a chameleon http://www.screameleons.com/How_To_Handle_Chameleons.htm
hinoco1225
New Member
Of course hand-feeding is likely to help, but I also agree that avoiding sudden movements and making sure your hands are warm before attempted to touch your chameleon are very important. You don't want to scare or shock them.
byrnesr
New Member
How's it going with handling?
Just an update KMC80, Recently my mother-in-law and my father came for a visit. First, Caesar comes down right up close to the screen to get a closer look at the mother-in-law without the slightest hint of fear.
Then this last weekend while Dad was visiting and trying a little hand feeding he climbs right out on this his hand. 
Then leisurely heads back to his basking spot.
What gives? He's never come out willingly onto my hand from his enclosure. But getting back to his enclosure after free-ranging is going much smoother. How about you?
Just an update KMC80, Recently my mother-in-law and my father came for a visit. First, Caesar comes down right up close to the screen to get a closer look at the mother-in-law without the slightest hint of fear.
Then this last weekend while Dad was visiting and trying a little hand feeding he climbs right out on this his hand. Then leisurely heads back to his basking spot.
What gives? He's never come out willingly onto my hand from his enclosure. But getting back to his enclosure after free-ranging is going much smoother. How about you?
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