Hand Feeding tips?

[Mookie Havok]

I'm trying to start hand feeding my 2 month veiled chameleons. Does anyone have any tips?

 

[WOLVERINES135]

The best tip I have to give is patience. Take your time and don't try to get in their face. Also be very slow in your movements, and don't come in from above them come in from below. Good Luck!

 

[Miss Lily]

Patience is the key - be prepared to hold your hand and arm out for ages, lol! like already said, no sudden movements as I found out! When I was hand feeding Amy as a baby, I moved my thumb to stop the feeder from falling off and it totally freaked her out - she started rocking backwards and forwards quite violently!

 

[Mookie Havok]

Thank you both

 

[Hoj]

welcome as said patience is the key also, use feeders they really like such as silk or superworms, depending on your cham, then you have an advantage over the reg ole cricket.
i see you are from ontario is that CA for cali or canada

 

[DekuScrub]

if youre using a cricket hold both of the hind legs, if you hold one they tend to snap the leg off, they can also bite fairly hard.

youll figure out how much pressure is necessary to hold a cricket comfortably. until then you may be getting cricket squirts, or losing them.

 

[Solid Snake]

Also, just start offering the first feeder of the day by hand. If he doesnt take it after a while, just feed as usual, and try again the next day. Eventually, he will go for it. Then eventually, he will become used to it.

 

[MamaD]

Patience is a must. However, I have some that just never warmed up to hand feeding or tong feeding either. Some are shy and some are super friendly. Good luck.

 

[SMITHEREENS]

i agree with solidsnake(hi snake). when they are their most hungry/first feeder, let your arm/hand be a branch they use to get the feeder in your other hand that is just out of reach so they must climb onto you in order to get at it. after repetition they will associate you (arm/hand) with a positive experience and will look forward to handling

 

[leviw06]

i've been pretty luck with my little girl, Loki. The first time i fed her i just put the crickets in with her and she ignored them so, i went to the kitchen, grabed a pair of chop sticks and tried to see if she would eat from them. and Bingo! It worked.

I didnt realize that i was doing it correctly by holding the cricket at a distance and below where she was perched, but from exp. with other animals making yourself small and less threating usually makes and animal feel more comfortable.

When I feed Loki mealworms I put them on their container lid and hold it my hand and she eats from it. So my sugestion is try putting the insect on something or hold it by a pair of tongs and each day move the insect closer and closer to your hand until your Cham will eat from your hand.

This morning during feeding time, i tried pure hand feeding with Loki for the first time. I used a mealworm and placed it in the palm of my hand and held it low and away from her. And she took it from my hand. I was really surprised and extremely happy!!!

*SIDE NOTE*
I am aware that mealworms can be hard on the digestive system for chameleos and am looking for a suplier of silk and or superworms.