Chicharrones: The social and loving chameleon!

[thegreatupski]

I have had my little guy, chicharrones, a maled vieled, for over 6 months (1st cham), and he has been demonstrating unusual behavior for a male vieled since. Everytime I open his flaps to put cubes in his drip cup or throw in some crix, he immediately tries to come out of his enclosure, which decently sized, about 4 feet tall meshed with a hibiscus and healthy env. for a cham. No matter where he is in the enclosure, as soon as he sees my hand or the flap opened, he cocks his head in the i'm about to eat some lunch look, and rushes to the opening with unusual cham speed. As soon as he gets to the opening he pops his head out and maybe a limb or two and waits for my hand. He then climbs on my hand which is when I usually put him on the larger tree in my room or let him climb to the top of my head, a spot he truly seems to enjoy. He has never tried to bite me or shown any aggressive behavior or colors. He has only chin puffed when I have snuck up on him. Other than that when he is out, he is normal healthy colors and seems to enjoy his daily trips to the beyond.

He loves being out so much he even waits by the flaps occasionally, looking at me to be let out. He always hesitates for a few seconds after he pops out but generally does not hesitate too long to walk onto my hand.

I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this type of behavior in their chams. I have a few theories on why he does this. I do not force this behavior, I never intended to handle him as much as a do because I wanted him to be as healthy and unstressed as possible, but the first time i cleaned his cage he came out of the flap on his own and walked onto me. Our interactions do not seem to bother him, in fact I sense that he likes it in a strange cham way. After all, all chams are different.

 

[Julirs]

Yep-I have a male Veiled that started this behavior at 4 months and is still doing it more than a year later! Consider yourself lucky that he is a bit social! Things you do want to check though: Is his cage too small, Is it too hot or cold (ice cubes are not recommended), can he see his reflection or another cham? These are all things that may make him want out of his "territory". My male went into his 24X24X48 big boy cage at that age, but will still come out and happily sit on us if you open his cage door.

 

[coolmoon]

My male is very friendly too but he has been hand feed twice a day for his whole life. He loves sitting on my shoulder and hanging out.

 

[jannb]

My cham Luie is the same way. Extremely friendly and hates any cage. My husband built him a huge free range on the back screened porch 8ft. x 6 ft. x 4 ft. and his first time in there he explored for about an hour and then started hanging out at the door going from hole to hole in the plastic chicken fencing trying to get out. It was like he was thinking.....that is nothing but another cage. Now I just let him free range my house. He's really pretty good. I have several large Ficus trees set up for him with lights on top and allot of the time he just hangs out basking in the top of the tree.

 

[thegreatupski]

haaa thats so funny all of you guys, who would think, an animal that has under gone millions of years of evolution to remain as hidden and mysterious as possible has a sweet spot for a giant animal like ourselves. It really makes you wonder what goes on in that little cone they have... lol

 

[jejton]

Jann - Do you not have problems with him ( the cham, not your husband!) crapping in places you'd rather not?

 

[ciafardo 4]

hahaha your husband craps on the floor