Handling Chameleon

[molson101]

Two things, I know you arent supposed to hold your chameleon that much but Ive seen alot of people on this forum say that if you handle them when there young they will get use to you. My question is what chameleon seems to like being handled the most, out of all the different chams youve had.

 

[carol5208]

I only have a panther and he does not mind being handled at all. I handle him everyday, multiple times a day moving him to his various cages and free range. i don't really think there is one species that tolerates handling more than another. It really just depends on the chameleon.

 

[molson101]

Thats what I thought I just wasnt sure. Are Jackson's normally shy because I read that they are and I want one. I just dont want it to always be hiding.

 

[molson101]

Just another thing, do there nales hurt bad or is it tollerable.

 

[kirsty]

they dont hurt at all just grip nice and snug , i like the feeling

 

[DeviousMike]

I have read that panthers are generally the calmer species. But according to a Kammerflage video, any cham can be handled. I have had mixed results with chams from biting to jumping to hissing to just plain silly putty in my hands. And that's through just 3 species of chameleons. Some even start out mean but then mellow out and seem to enjoy handling. It just all depends I guess. If you're hell bent on handling, I say teach hand feeding so they associate a giant hairless monkey with something good. But even that is not a guarantee for a cham to start to "like" handling.

 

[molson101]

K because my friend had one and he said it hurt but he is a big wimp so thats probably why.

 

[DeviousMike]

K because my friend had one and he said it hurt but he is a big wimp so thats probably why.

It doesn't hurt. They can grip pretty hard but its like pin pricks. On a side note, if you give them plenty of support, they won't be inclined to grip as hard and dig their nails into you.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

My senegal likes being held more than being in his cage, as long as you make sure you don't have alot of oils on your skin to make him sick they'll be fine.

 

[madi]

i have a panther and he is fine once he is out of the cage

 

[molson101]

Kool I just wanted to proove my mom wrong she said that her friend from work had one and didnt like it because its nails hurt and you cant hold them. But I arrgued back and said if you take them out when there young they will come out more when they are older.

 

[Stanly]

Kool I just wanted to proove my mom wrong she said that her friend from work had one and didnt like it because its nails hurt and you cant hold them. But I arrgued back and said if you take them out when there young they will come out more when they are older.

It really depends on the chameleon, some are ok with handling some are not (and may never be). They do tend to grip harder when they are frightened or slipping (ie trying to climb vertically up your arm).

the thing is you don't want to over handle them if they are stressed by it, some are shy like my jacksons and even tho he doesn't try to bite you can tell he doesn't like handling, so I only get him out when I have to. My panther on the other hand will often come to me on his on. It's a matter of personality (and trust to a degree).

 

[allencg101]

when they are young you gotta be careful when handling them cause you can break their legs pretty easy. but each cham is diff. my female panther wants to be on me all the time. my male panther only wants to be held when i have my female panther panther on me. my veileds want nothing to do with me unless i have good my oustalate just goes with the flow.

 

[molson101]

I know to be careful when they are young and thanks for all the replys guys.

 

[Cricket]

I don't think it really matters, my veiled gets hissy sometimes when she first sees your hand but loves being held once you have her. We just got a jackson and he instantly climbs on your hand.

As for the nails, it's really your personal opinion. I noticed the bigger my veiled gets the stronger her grip gets though.

 

[kinyonga]

With some species the nails can indeed hurt (like a Meller's or Parson's). Some of the nails make little indentations in your skin and they itch after. Some chameleons always have a very light grip.

Some chameleons will come out of their cages willingly and tolerate the handling....others never will no matter how often you handle them.

I had one veiled chameleon from about 2 months of age until he died years later and no matter how often I handled him, he would still attack me when I put my hand in the cage and he did not calm down even when he was taken out of the cage. To handle him I had to wear a long sleeved sweat shirt so that when he bit all he would get is a mouthful of shirt. The minute my hand went into his cage he would race after me and attack me. However, he did have one redeeming feature...he was the best producer I ever had.

I had one graceful female that I had to give back to the person I bought her from since she would go absolutely crazy whenever she saw me....and I felt that if I kept her she would eventually die from the stress. The (male) person I bought her from, she had no reaction to at all.