Does my chameleon hate me?

[RandellTheCham]

hi guys ive had my 4month male for over 2weeks and he has been gaining trust in me with very slow process hea startes to climb onto my hand ect.

Today he came out of his cage and got stuck so i tryed to help him and he hissed three times. Anyway i managed to help him and he just looks mega annoyed.

Will this distroy the trust he gained in me?

 

[Angelwolf]

No, but chams don't all like to be handled. Males, especially. So don't take it personally if he just decides he doesn't want to come easily. Males like to defend their territory. Mine hisses, gapes, and tries to bite me, but as soon as I get him off the branch, he's pretty chill.

 

[Theveiled]

My cham will have days of not liking me and other times he wants out. One time my sister made him really mad and I felt like I had lost his trust, but I didnt. Now he only hates my sister

 

[Remkon]

Well in nature he's food to a lot of other animals and you are a very big and threatening animal that could be a threat...

So... He doesn't hate you but he he doesn't trust you either... The hissing and the puffing up is a threat made out of defense, he's trying to look bigger and more dangerous to you... You know, offense is the best defense... Right, chameleons invented that! (not really)
The other way of defense is to 'deflate' and look as skinny as they can so you'd think he's probably sick and no good as food.

You need to have patience with him and a lot of it. Take everything slow but be resolute in your actions, make sure he sees you so there is no scare/surprise...
Let your chameleon take the initiative as much as possible and try to feed him treats by hand... With enough patience you will have a chameleon that learns to tolerate you.

 

[Theveiled]

Well in nature he's food to a lot of other animals and you are a very big and threatening animal that could be a threat...

So... He doesn't hate you but he he doesn't trust you either... The hissing and the puffing up is a threat made out of defense, he's trying to look bigger and more dangerous to you... You know, offense is the best defense... Right, chameleons invented that! (not really)
The other way of defense is to 'deflate' and look as skinny as they can so you'd think he's probably sick and no good as food.

You need to have patience with him and a lot of it. Take everything slow but be resolute in your actions, make sure he sees you so there is no scare/surprise...
Let your chameleon take the initiative as much as possible and try to feed him treats by hand... With enough patience you will have a chameleon that learns to tolerate you.

Perfectly said! Giving him things he really likes will also gain his trust. For stark its hornworms and outside time

 

[Virgil1972]

If he was stuck then he probably felt even more vulnerable then usual. Like others said he is prey and you are the predator. Just keep it slow and let him come to you.

 

[Theveiled]

Also keeping the cage door open can also help a lot. I kept Starks door open and one day he came out. Ever since then he comes to the door when I open it

 

[RandellTheCham]

He has no problem coming out of his viv as he demands to sleep outside his cage on a tree next to his viv.

I was just worried he hates me beacuse i helped him from being stuck

 

[Virgil1972]

He has no problem coming out of his viv as he demands to sleep outside his cage on a tree next to his viv.

I was just worried he hates me beacuse i helped him from being stuck

The problem is he doesn't see it as you helping him. He sees it as "oh man I barely got away"

 

[Angelwolf]

Don't stress over it though. He isn't thinking about it anymore, but if you are, and try to handle him, he WILL pick up on it. It's just like a parrot. They fluff and act like they will bite, but it's generally a bluff, and if you just get in there, you wont have a problem. No hesitation. Hesitation is a sign of weakness.