Building a relationship

[Jimmy Filth]

I would very much like woody to associate me with being fed. She doesn't flare up when I open the cage, and quite often will sit and watch me if I'm doing something at my desk.

I watch her an awful lot. I must spend at least a couple of hours a day just sitting and watching her.

My worry is, as a newbie, I'm going to do too much and stress her out.

 

[eisentrauti]

No, don't worry because of this. She doesn't think that you are an predator so she simply ignores you now

 

[laurie]

Anyone got any tips on the best way to start to build the best possible relationship with their cham??

I feel Woody is on the cusp of going either way. Sometimes she'll come out on her own, sometimes she doesn't want to know, sometimes she'll take food from my hand, sometimes not.

Last night she came out and really didn't want to go back in her viv, the night before she had no interest in leaving it.

I don't follow all for the stuff posted on here. I do have a relationship with all of my reptiles,bearded dragons, uromastix, and chameleon. Does that mean all of them jump in my hand? Sadly no, but they all have personalities of their own, and I just follow their lead. Your relationship with some may be to feed them and enjoy watching them. Some will totarate a bit of handling. I have even had a cham that would walk onto my hand anytime I opened the door to his cage. Don't push your cham, they all need time to decide who they are, but don't skip seeing if he will learn to walk onto your hand as that makes both your life and the chams life easier in terms of cleaning, vet visits weighting and health check.

It's a stupid reptile and no human ! Buy a cat or a dog if you want a kind of relationship with your pet...

Benny if you really feel this way why do you have so many stupid reptiles and what does that make you???? And do you give chams IQ tests before buying them?? Lighten up my boy.

 

[Goggles]

You might "think" he is associating you with food.
Chameleon might "think" now is my chance to get out of here.

 

[eisentrauti]

Benny if you really feel this way why do you have so many stupid reptiles and what does that make you???? And do you give chams IQ tests before buying them?? Lighten up my boy.[/QUOTE]

WTF ? Do you keep chameleons because of their intelligence and active behaviour ? no ? I keep them because they look gorgeous, don't need much space, they don't care if I look for them every day, they have an interesting behaviour, it's fun to breed them, they are on of the most perfect predators and fascinating creatures.

If I want to have an "intelligent" pet I'm going to buy a monkey...

 

[Cainschams]

I would very much like woody to associate me with being fed. She doesn't flare up when I open the cage, and quite often will sit and watch me if I'm doing something at my desk.

I watch her an awful lot. I must spend at least a couple of hours a day just sitting and watching her.

My worry is, as a newbie, I'm going to do too much and stress her out.

Sounds like you are getting the hang of it That is the most beautiful part of the hobby. Watching them from a distance and experiencing their natural behaviors.

This is a general statement and not pointed to anyone. I completely disagree with the people who are hell bent on handling their animals unnecessarily. You must do it here and there for inspections, cleaning and etc. But!! To try and handle it everyday so it becomes more tolerant of you is a stupid idea IMHO. Some say it is a good idea so it is less stressful for them when inspecting and cleaning but the truth is you are stressing it a hell of a lot more handling it everyday then doing what is necessary when you need to clean. They are solitary animals who would much rather never see a human ever.

Dont get me wrong. I love being able to hand feed my collection, which is full of chams that will not tolerate being handled. They do view me as a provider of food. Only one will actually come running to the front of the cage when it sees me and even after it is done eating it then retreats and tells me to back off

Without rambling even more I will say. Watching the natural behaviors is far more rewarding then stressing them out by unnecessary handling.

My 2 cents

 

[Jimmy Filth]

Thanks for everyones input. It is great to speak to people that actually have experience with chams

 

[laurie]

Sounds like you are getting the hang of it That is the most beautiful part of the hobby. Watching them from a distance and experiencing their natural behaviors.

This is a general statement and not pointed to anyone. I completely disagree with the people who are hell bent on handling their animals unnecessarily. You must do it here and there for inspections, cleaning and etc. But!! To try and handle it everyday so it becomes more tolerant of you is a stupid idea IMHO. Some say it is a good idea so it is less stressful for them when inspecting and cleaning but the truth is you are stressing it a hell of a lot more handling it everyday then doing what is necessary when you need to clean. They are solitary animals who would much rather never see a human ever.

Dont get me wrong. I love being able to hand feed my collection, which is full of chams that will not tolerate being handled. They do view me as a provider of food. Only one will actually come running to the front of the cage when it sees me and even after it is done eating it then retreats and tells me to back off

Without rambling even more I will say. Watching the natural behaviors is far more rewarding then stressing them out by unnecessary handling.

My 2 cents

You say it much better than I ever can! I do like to be able to pick my chams up without getting bite but some will never calm down to that point. I do weight my chams once a month but unless they have a problem that is it. I will admit to lots of watching some of them.

 

[Frock]

Read my post complete...As I said it's enough to survive not more not less...

Don't roll your eyes at my post, you're the one who called them stupid.

 

[eisentrauti]

Yeah, and now ? Should I apologize for it ?

 

[sinisterchameleon23]

yes

 

[eisentrauti]

I'm the bad guy and this here: expresses just my feelings, so short answer: no

 

[Jimmy Filth]

is it a good idea to ever take a cham out into the garden???

 

[CleaTheChameleon]

Sometimes yes and outside plants are good to but just make sure they are safe plants for your chameleon. Remember always watch your chameleon and make sure she doesn't escape

 

[Miss Lily]

is it a good idea to ever take a cham out into the garden???

Yes. They enjoy sunlight a great deal! They bask differently in the sun than they do under the lights in their cages. Lily used to really enjoy being outside. Just keep an eye on them, especially babies - they don't thermoregulate so well as adults. Even adults get way too hot and sit with their mouths gaping, but they can be so stubborn and not move into the shade! Several times I had to bring Lily inside as she wouldn't seek shelter in the shade.

 

[Jimmy Filth]

excellent, thanks.

What plants are safe to put in the cage?? gonna put newspaper in the bottom of the cage. Would I just keep the plants in their pots???

 

[chambabysitter1]

Eisen is just trying to warn against the dangers of anthropomorphizing and animal that is pretty much indifferent to human emotion and being a catalyst for emotion.

He can come off a little abrasive, but I think something is lost in translation. While some can offer the compassionate side of the argument, I think Eisen is offering the logical side, much like Cain, just more abrasive.

In the end, they are no genius animal. No matter how much you call for them, they never come. Sometimes people want to handle their chameleons so badly, they don't realize they are stressing out the poor guy.

I agree with Cain that it is much more rewarding to let them do their own thing.

is it a good idea to ever take a cham out into the garden???

Yes, as long as weather permits. If you really want to make your chameleon happy, give him an outdoor cage, well shaded but with access to sun. It will be a much more relaxing experience for him if he can bask by himself in a cage.

excellent, thanks.

What plants are safe to put in the cage?? gonna put newspaper in the bottom of the cage. Would I just keep the plants in their pots???

https://www.chameleonforums.com/plants/
http://raisingkittytheveiledchameleon.blogspot.com/2007/12/plants.html

 

[jake01]

Yes, as long as weather permits. If you really want to make your chameleon happy, give him an outdoor cage, well shaded but with access to sun. It will be a much more relaxing experience for him if he can bask by himself in a cage.

I keep my baby veiled cham outdoors, living in Miami has its advantages.

 

[Jimmy Filth]

so, what you're suggesting is, i move to miami??? Well, if it's better for the cham, i suppose i better.... haha

If I get live plants, do I put soil in the bottom of the viv and plant them??? I was under the impression soil might cause compaction (i don't know what it is, but apparently is bad). Or is that another myth from the pet shop??

 

[Miss Lily]

so, what you're suggesting is, i move to miami??? Well, if it's better for the cham, i suppose i better.... haha

If I get live plants, do I put soil in the bottom of the viv and plant them??? I was under the impression soil might cause compaction (i don't know what it is, but apparently is bad). Or is that another myth from the pet shop??

Leave the plants in the pots. You may want to repot them in organic soil and/or over the soil with large pebbles to stop the cham from eating it. Soil, bark, etc has been know to cause impaction (intestinal blockage) and the cham eating anything like this should be avoided if possible!