At what age should you start handling?
- Thread starter DABRUTE
- Start date
Psychobunny
Avid Member
Sometimes, at that young age, they are still scared to death of you.
They will flair up no matter how slow, gentel, and carful you are.
They just need to get use to you.
I would just make sure he sees me and put my hand in his cage, maybe with
a feeder in it, but far enough away that he is not too threatened.
May still gape and puff up, but they get over it when they realise they have
nothing to fear from you.
While he is in this stage, I would avoid even touching him.
Waite until he settles down a bit.
Why are you trying to get him out?
Unless you need to transfer or clean, I would leave him be.
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markettradenews
New Member
Mine used to flinch when i put my hand in his cage and he used to flare up when he saw mother in law, but we now know that was because of the reflection from her glasses. Or maybe it was just because she was the mother in law 
Baby steps is the way, little and often. The more he knows you and your hand the more confident your cham will be with you. Mine now greets me by leaving his basking spot and scratches on the glass when he sees me. i open the door and he walks onto my hand.
You could try and coax your cham by placing a work in the palm of your hand.
But little and often is my advice.
Baby steps is the way, little and often. The more he knows you and your hand the more confident your cham will be with you. Mine now greets me by leaving his basking spot and scratches on the glass when he sees me. i open the door and he walks onto my hand.
You could try and coax your cham by placing a work in the palm of your hand.
But little and often is my advice.
DABRUTE
New Member
to hold him or just stare up close lol
DABRUTE
New Member
Mine used to flinch when i put my hand in his cage and he used to flare up when he saw mother in law, but we now know that was because of the reflection from her glasses. Or maybe it was just because she was the mother in law
Baby steps is the way, little and often. The more he knows you and your hand the more confident your cham will be with you. Mine now greets me by leaving his basking spot and scratches on the glass when he sees me. i open the door and he walks onto my hand.
You could try and coax your cham by placing a work in the palm of your hand.
But little and often is my advice.
I'LL GET THERE!! LOL Thanks!
Tyaeda
Established Member
People say that you shouldn't handle your chameleon, but it's almost impossible to not have your hands in the cage from time to time (to feed, clean, adjust foliage, etc) so even if you don't handle, it's nice to get your chameleon used to you.
I got my veiled when he was 2.5 - 3 months old, and with no previous experience, we were able to get him used to us pretty quickly. We did it through hand feeding. It didn't take him long to learn that if we opened his cage, there might be food to be had, and he would get "excited" and would be more focused on looking for crickets in our hands, than the fact that we were invading his space. He learned to associate us to his favourite thing - food. Now he "trusts" us enough to take small pieces of fruit right out of our fingers.
We did have a minor setback though. When he got sick we had to handle him a few times a day to get his eye drops in. We were also rinsing his eyes with saline too, and he HATED it. Now he's kind of afraid to come out of his cage now. But since we stopped the eye drops and rinsing, he seems less worried. Now we only handle him to get his sunbath, or to clean his cage. He likes going outside, so with hand feeding, he's starting to "like" us again.
I also notice that if I wear a bright coloured shirt, it freaks him out. It even distracts him when he's trying to eat. So I try to wear dull colours that don't resemble another pissed off chameleon.
Hope that helps
I got my veiled when he was 2.5 - 3 months old, and with no previous experience, we were able to get him used to us pretty quickly. We did it through hand feeding. It didn't take him long to learn that if we opened his cage, there might be food to be had, and he would get "excited" and would be more focused on looking for crickets in our hands, than the fact that we were invading his space. He learned to associate us to his favourite thing - food. Now he "trusts" us enough to take small pieces of fruit right out of our fingers.
We did have a minor setback though. When he got sick we had to handle him a few times a day to get his eye drops in. We were also rinsing his eyes with saline too, and he HATED it. Now he's kind of afraid to come out of his cage now. But since we stopped the eye drops and rinsing, he seems less worried. Now we only handle him to get his sunbath, or to clean his cage. He likes going outside, so with hand feeding, he's starting to "like" us again.
I also notice that if I wear a bright coloured shirt, it freaks him out. It even distracts him when he's trying to eat. So I try to wear dull colours that don't resemble another pissed off chameleon.
Hope that helps
markettradenews
New Member
They are very strange animals. Mine hates my camera, if i try and take a pic or vid clip he flares right up. I must be the reflection of my camera that freaks him out.
markettradenews
New Member
Try a wax worm, but dont feed him to many.
DABRUTE
New Member
will do!!!!
Psychobunny
Avid Member
LOL! they all seem to hate camera's.
Maybe put the camera someplace where they can see it all day and maybe
get use to it??
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
I handle my babies shortly after hatch to move to baby bins, to clean baby bins and so forth. My babies were extremely friendly in fact all my guys are friendly and no one is afraid of the camera......most pose for their pictures. I treat my guys with nothing but love and respect and they all free range. I beileve that chameleons can and often do become cage aggressive.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
I treat my guys with nothing but love and respect and they all free range. I beileve that chameleons can and often do become cage aggressive.https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
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Tyaeda
Established Member
I handle my babies shortly after hatch to move to baby bins, to clean baby buns and so forth. My babies were extremely friendly in fact all my guys are friendly and no one is afraid of the camera......most pose for their pictures.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
OMG! They are so freakin cute!
Poptartjake
New Member
Those babies are the cutest little things I have ever seen.....Dam Cham's and their adorable nature.I handle my babies shortly after hatch to move to baby bins, to clean baby buns and so forth. My babies were extremely friendly in fact all my guys are friendly and no one is afraid of the camera......most pose for their pictures.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
In the pictures it looks like you are using a All-In-One bulb on those bins? I thought separate heat and UV bulbs are recommended.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
Thank you both!
Here in FL I don't use basking bulbs on babies. I have a double fixture with a UVB in one side and a regular floresent bulb in the other. That keeps the to of the bins between 80 and 81.
Poptartjake
New Member
What is the difference between the basking bulb and a normal florescent tube? I assume the amount of heat it gives off?
Oliviabryant
Member
There is never a specific age, it varies greatly between chameleons and you should avoiding putting your hand in their house. It's a sure fire way to upset them. Let them come to you. It'll take time and consistency.
jannb
Chameleon Enthusiast
A florescent bulb puts off very little heat but adds light to brighten up the enclosure.
I handle my babies shortly after hatch to move to baby bins, to clean baby buns and so forth. My babies were extremely friendly in fact all my guys are friendly and no one is afraid of the camera......most pose for their pictures.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/babies-one-month-old-40584/
Jan although I think you meant to say "clean the bins" you typed "clean the buns".... It gave me a great picture of you wiping baby Cham buns with a Q-tip!
Thanks for the humor, intended or not.
Nick
Zephalia
Established Member
*thumbs up* I approve this message.
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