Chameleon Handling

[BehindMyMonocle]

I have a young male Panther Chameleon about a month old maybe more that I got at a reptile store; he was bred in store and was in a cage with several others of his brothers. I took him home, and sat by the cage whenever I could, he was skeptical of me at first but after about 3 days I was able to put my hand in front of him and he would tentatively climb on it. Now I hold him every day for up to 45 minutes, sometimes I put him on a plant (made sure it was safe first) and keep it misted and in the sun outside his cage while I do homework, or let him climb on my laptop monitor. He still doesn't seem to like to climb on my hand from inside his cage but once he's there he seems to love it. I even will let other people hold him, he darkens up at first but he seems to get pretty light after about 5 minutes their first time holding him. He reaches out to try and climb on me. Sometimes he gets a little unhappy if he is out for a long time or if I'm moving around a lot. His favorite place seems to be the top of my head via my face. My question is: does the lightened color really mean he's happy? He has never shown a bad temper (hissed, etc...) but I'm wondering if this can be true how happy he is being held. (He is lightest when held, and his tail is straight or curls around my finger.)

 

[Alex21]

Well, the lighter colors certainly doesn't mean he's unhappy. Youll know if he's unhappy

 

[ZiggyStardust]

This is just my personal opinion but I think that 45 mins each day is too much handling for a chameleon.

They are solitary, quiet animals and whilst some tolerate handling better than others, all the reading that I have done suggests that handling should be on the minimal side.

I have a very grumpy and cage aggressive Male Veiled who goes bananas if you try and get him out for any reason, and also a Panther, who is much more laid back, but I only handle them once a week for about ten mins, if that.

Others may well disagree with me, but I was once told that owning a chameleon should be likened to a tropical or marine fishtank - stunning creatures that are better to be admired from afar.

 

[NHenn]

We recommend to our customers to start holding them if they want to after letting them settle into their new homes for 2-3 weeks. Then at that point you can start getting them out for 1-2 minutes at a time and slowly work up from there. I would not recommend getting him out until he is fully settled in and never for that amount of time at that age as it will be extremely stressful on him.

Also, as he gets older he will more than likely become more aggressive with hissing and gaping as they don't really learn they can fight back until they reach a few months old. So I would just let him be for another 2 weeks and then slowly start working with him for 1-2 minutes every day and increasing the time as he ages.

 

[BehindMyMonocle]

We recommend to our customers to start holding them if they want to after letting them settle into their new homes for 2-3 weeks. Then at that point you can start getting them out for 1-2 minutes at a time and slowly work up from there. I would not recommend getting him out until he is fully settled in and never for that amount of time at that age as it will be extremely stressful on him.

Also, as he gets older he will more than likely become more aggressive with hissing and gaping as they don't really learn they can fight back until they reach a few months old. So I would just let him be for another 2 weeks and then slowly start working with him for 1-2 minutes every day and increasing the time as he ages.

Thank you for the educated answer! I was thinking he was so nice because he had been born in a pet store that he was more okay with being around people than most but I will take your advice.

 

[RyU]

This is just my personal opinion but I think that 45 mins each day is too much handling for a chameleon.

+1 I think 45mins is way too long to be holding chams. I have 2 year old male panther that loves being held. He will reach out to me when I'm near his tree and will climb up on my head and sit there. I don't think I'd hold him for that long every day though.

It's great though that you have a cham that likes to be held. The vast majority of my guys won't tolerate it.

 

[NHenn]

Thank you for the educated answer! I was thinking he was so nice because he had been born in a pet store that he was more okay with being around people than most but I will take your advice.

Your very welcome. It is a good sign that he is more willing to be handled than most so after he has some time to settle in, I'm sure you will be able to work with him as he grows up.

 

[Leslie11]

holding

I think your cham will tell you what is good for HIM. Obviously, if he displays his beautiful colors, he is a happy camper. If he gets dark, by all mean, put him back.
Don't forget to wash your hands, people.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

I think your cham will tell you what is good for HIM. Obviously, if he displays his beautiful colors, he is a happy camper. If he gets dark, by all mean, put him back.
Don't forget to wash your hands, people.

Very bright colours can also be a sign of stress.

 

[Lazy Boy]

Very bright colours can also be a sign of stress.

Thank you. Sure is funny I hear a lot of people say if they are bright they are happy. Put to males insight of each other and what do they do. Get very bright and I'm pretty sure they aren't happy to see each other.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Thank you. Sure is funny I hear a lot of people say if they are bright they are happy. Put to males insight of each other and what do they do. Get very bright and I'm pretty sure they aren't happy to see each other.

I was proudly showing pictures of my Male Veiled off to the breeder that I bought him from a few weeks ago, telling him that he must be happy because he was bright yellow and green and he gave me a bit of a look and said that was probably because he was scared half to death lol!!

I love your Avatar by the way Lazy Boy - I have only had my Blue Bar Ambilobe male for 2 weeks but looks so much like your cham and does exactly that - wandering around hanging upside down from the top of the screen like a little bat!!

 

[RyU]

For males, I think any time they flatten out or look big they are upset, or basking. If they are not stressed they will be more slender. Just my opinion.

 

[Leslie11]

color

Look at birds in the wild...they will show their colors and puff up and strut around to intimidate their competition. For that girl.

 

[BehindMyMonocle]

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