Dilemma-ii --Handling a Parsonii ?

[Twitchet]

Hi all, just wanted to firstly show you how my parsonii decided to start colour changing after I asked you all of his sex- he's really colour popping now- he's getting some amazing turquoises and blues- sorry- he's doing his saggy tummy look again in this picture- he doesn't usually have this , only when I try and get a photo.

O.k big question- I know opinion is divided but I have to handle him every day- He has a viv with a hatch to his outdoor enclosure- he goes out without trouble but won't go back on his own accord so every day I quietly and avoiding eye contact go in and calmly, quietly and slowly pick him up- disarm the tail and slide my fingers under his chin so his front feet step up onto my fingers- I place him on the homeward branch and remaining still I let him walk off into his viv, it goes quite well, I did get a warning snap the other day and he quite clearly doesnt care for this as he colour changes sometimes a little - sometimes a lot and puffs. For routine I do this at exactly the same time everyday and in the same manner.

I am not wanting to handle him for fun or for the experience, he is a display animal and not there for me to play with but I do believe whether an Elephant or Hamster-or Chameleon an owner should be able to work with an animal closely and inspect it for it's own good and also handle it enough that when you do it's not a vile awful experience for all.
I just have no other way of getting him back in his house so is it o.k or will I make him suffer stress- ( he's eating very well, drinking and moving freely around during the day. ) Will he get used to it ?- right from a baby he hasn't had any handling at all up until now. If it is deemed too stressful I think for his sake I'd have to sell him as I can't change the layout here.
The much older female I have is used to being handled and barely colour changes and steps onto my hands very easily.

 

[laurie]

I don't own a parsons yer, but the friends who do have them seem to handle them very little. I help a beautiful parsons last week and his colors make it clear he wanted me to go away! Sadly I did! I only handle most of my chams every other week for weights and wellness checks? But I do have a sweet female quad who is on my hand the minute I open her cage.

 

[jannb]

It will be fine to handle him for bring him in from his outside area. My parsons were always very gentle and never minded being handled. I took them outside for natural UVB all the time. Just be sure to unwrap the back legs also. Don't pull on them or you could dislocate the hips. He looks like a male now. Very handsome!!!!

 

[Carlton]

Please refresh my memory....how long have you had him...how long has he been in this daily routine? We all know that chams are individual in their handling tolerances, but if he's still a juvenile and hasn't been in your routine for that long maybe he's just starting to assert himself as the lord of his particular territory. And, he may not be all that stressed, just reacting to you as the daily partially-trusted intruder. I don't consider the reactions you are seeing a sign of significant stress per se, just that he's reminding you that he's the boss on his own turf. Now if he was firing up at the sight of you, if he was so preoccupied with threatening you that he's not drinking, eating, or ever showing relaxed posture or coloration, that might be significant, and a sign that your situation isn't going to work for him. He's not acting fearful either. I think I'd keep your daily tasks to a routine as much as you can, offer him favorite feeders by hand as peace offerings, and give him time.

I also think that animals who will be subjected to captive situations should be given the chance to learn that occasional handling is part of life (handling for health checks etc). If they are never handled, when it becomes necessary they have no experience to draw on and it can be more traumatic. Even if a cham doesn't like occasional handling they can still learn that sometimes life is going to include this....and that its an annoyance, not a death threat. This is just my opinion.

 

[Twitchet]

Hi Jann, Thanks very much for that- I didnt even know about the hips- I let them find my pinky finger to grap onto and let them do it that their speed which let's face it is SLOW! Thanks for that as it helps me not worry as much. My relation with or about him is not an easy one- I take huge steps to try and get things right for everyone but I'm even more paranoid about them as I know that they are vulnerable to imperfect situations so I spend most of the time worrying and am not yet at the stage of enjoying keeping them if that makes sense.

 

[Twitchet]

Hi Carlton, Thanks very much for the info- reassuring to know what you said.
I got him back in Beginning of June-9 months old, had no handling before- very very shy-had not had much visual contact with people and viewed them from a high up viv , my viv is eye level so a big change there, he'd disappear behind branches- didnt eat for 3 weeks, established a routine of me going into the reptile shed and no one else allowed in- hats -glasses a no no!
I ignored him for that time just doing maintenance and supplying food in a dish, after 3 weeks he started relaxing and started feeding via forceps with me in view.
I have gradually lingered longer in front of his viv every day, he doesn't freeze or flatten his body, 10 days ago I opened his hatch for the first time and he went out-
that was first day I actually made physical contact with him,
now on handling he will remain normal colouring to start, sometimes changing a little as I move him back to the hatch, sometimes he really changes and as I say yesterday was a little snap but today quite good just uneasy and happy to get away from me. He's eating well and seems to relish the sun and the mistking I have going for him for really long sessions - he's been under the mist and drinking and sitting .
Daily routine is exactly the same- and he's definitely not firing up on sight- not at the moment, I really dont want to stress him but I have no alternative but if you feel he can accept the unwanted disruption and cope with it then that would be great. Thanks for your input.