Getting some sunshine

[chloe924]

Hello
I live in the UK so summers are brief and my chameleon hasn't been able to get much natural sunshine. I do try ,but he hates it. Understandable I guess if you're faced with big open sky if all you're used to is ceiling, but I would love to get him out more this summer!

Last year I tried just taking him out and holding him, putting him in an outdoor hedge, a separate outdoor cage I fully planted and even covered half the roof with a jacket. Everytime he has been almost catatonic when I bring him back in. Staring at the ceiling like something will attack and it makes me feel so bad I don't try again.

Has anyone had a similar experiance? Any hints to get him used to the outside or do I just have to be mean until he gets used to it? Or otherwise accept he's an indoor lizard at this point.
Thanks

 

[nightanole]

odds are he is scared of getting eaten by a bird. If you put a lid over him, the sun will still hit him if its at a low angle. My beardy does the same thing, I call it "stealth mode", he gets as low as he can and just shimmies along the ground.

 

[chloe924]

Sorry I'm terrible at remembering to reply! Thanks for the advicebut I've decided not to take him outside. I live by the coast in the UK so there are loads of massive seagulls everywhere. Even in a cage with the top covered he's terrified and it's not worth it unfortunately. Thanks again though!