Chameleon becoming territorial?

[egk]

Hi! I got my chameleon, Kiwi, in late July of 2025. (He was around 3-4 months old) When I got him, he was super lively and started eating right away. He climbed on my hand when I put it in his habitat, and would not want to go back in when I tried to put him back. Recently, he hasn't wanted to come out as much. When I put my hand in his cage he hisses and attempts to bite. So I have been using a stick to get him out because he does not bite it, or get stressed. When he is out of his cage he is completely normal, no hissing or biting whatsoever. I am just wondering what could be wrong? I was thinking it could be because he is getting older and more territorial? (also I know that they are better left alone! I am just wanting to get him out for a few mins occasionally without him being scared!)
Thank you!

 

[nightanole]

Im going to go out on a limb here and assume Kiwi is a veiled chameleon.

They are unique in that right before they are full grown, they go through TVS. Teenage Veiled Syndrome. They hate you and the world, and this will last for about two sheds. Then they will be adults and no longer cricket vacuums.

 

[egk]

he is, thank you!

 

[MissSkittles]

Hi. Yup…that’s how our veiled friends do. Even though he may never be nicer or like you, it is important to build and then maintain trust with him. This is a great blog in that. https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/building-trust-with-your-chameleon.2396/
I have a male veiled who was wild caught as an adult (Florida) and while he doesn’t attack, he is very shy and skittish. However, he could not resist the allure of the green gummy worm (hornworm) sitting in the back of my hand, and then as he started to accept hand feeding from me, I moved to silkworms. He tolerates me now and not so quick to run away. It was a huge help when I had to take him to the vet and then give him meds. I had to rebuild some trust after the meds, but that wasn’t very hard.
I have an old girl that’s been with me for 6 years and as soon as she realizes she can’t eat my hand, she then is out for blood from it. She’s been having trouble catching her food, so I have to hand feed her everything now and the years of maintaining trust make that possible and much easier than I ever thought.

 

[egk]

thank you!! this helps so much! hopefully he will stop being moody soon and let me hand feed him some hornworms!