Attacking... with tongue?

[Mintglow]

I mentioned this a little in another post but I figured I'd ask again and explain it a little more in-depth.

My chameleon is, for some reason, friendlier than most. He's a male veiled, about 7 months old. He likes to be held and to come out of his cage. I know that's weird, I have another thread about it.

Occasionally, like any other chameleon, he will get pissy and puff up and hiss and gape if you go near him. Sometimes I HAVE to get my hand in the cage to clean something or whatever, and I always try never to get close to him- I let him come to me if he wants, you know? Usually he doesn't care much (or tries climbing on me) but sometimes he gets aggressive, which is fine.

The thing that I find weird is this. Sometimes he will aim his tongue at my hand, and when I start pulling it away he'll shoot his tongue out and hit me! I thought at first that maybe he was hungry, but he is always well-fed, and he's done it to me even after eating his fill. I've offered him some greens, we dust his crickets regularly, he seems healthy and well-hydrated, so I've pretty much 99% ruled out that he's wanting food... but I've never heard of this. Has anyone else encountered this weird behaviour? He's even gotten me in the face! (I was up making sure his plants on the ceiling were clean; I get on a stepladder to do that, and... *boink!*)

 

[Vegas Chad]

huh... wow, never herd of such a thing... I would not think that it would bad for it. Just really weird! I would love to see a little YouTube of this if possible. Weird... But rather funny!

 

[John33871]

yea very strange, did it hurt? lol

 

[Mintglow]

Haha no, doesn't hurt, just feels sticky. It's really strange. Getting it in the face isn't entirely pleasant, but definitely isn't painful.

 

[booshified]

make sure you dont pull away when this happens

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

I've got my fav who likes to be out of his cage and roam around
He lights up a bit (not full 100 % aggressive style) but you know the "alert" colors in his legs and tail.
I'll open the door and he'll get off his branch and on to my hand without any coaxing.
although the general agreement is that they don't like to be handled,
he certainly likes being out of his cage and if that means hopping onto my wrist
in order to be outside the cage - then so be it.

I haven't had him "hit me" with his tongue before

but IF I had to get into your little guys head
I would say that there's a want of some sort that he has for "you".
I mean what at the common uses of tongue shots? want food, want water drops, want..."?"

Occasionally, I've had them prep for a tongue shot at my hand (fingers) thinking
perhaps that they saw some mealworms I was carrying or something
but they never fired.
You little friends actions has me without answers.
maybe he wants to know more about you and getting a taste to add to his sensory information ?
that would make sense.
it's certainly not aggressive or defensive behavior
perhaps he's trying to understand you better?

 

[westcoastchameleons]

My male ambilobe thinks my fingers is a new treat every time its near him....

He eats all the time, but apparently likes the idea of something new on the menu.lol

Jake

 

[LEIGHS0101]

Tongue attack...

I'm not sure if this is the same thing but my chameleons will sometimes try and eat weird things like small red spots on clothing... for example the design on my girlfriends pyjamas has little red spots and they have tried to eat them... it could just be that the movement attracts him or maybe he sees a birth mark or freckle moving and thinks its worth trying.

I doubt very much its an attack really. Just seeing something he thinks is food. There must be something about the way these guys see that attracts them to certain colours, movement etc so its more likely mistake identity... unless he thinks hes allot bigger than he really is and hes trying to eat you! lol.

 

[Sepioteuthis]

My 2 CB melleri try to shoot me all the time, usually when they're hungry. I always figured it was because I hand feed them so much that they associate me with food (and they're just very bold animals ).

I've also seen the female of the two shoot her tongue at the male once. That was definitely meant to tell him to leave her alone.

- Suzanne