handling question??

[NYChameleon]

I would like to be able to put my hand by my cham and be able to hold him outside the cage every once in a while..After a while i will try and get him on my hand(he is 4 months old now)..but if for some reason he never takes to me and doesnt want to be handled is there any downside to not handling ur chams? Thanks.

 

[wezeman512]

my cham doesn't like to be taken out of his cage by hand so i just lead a branch out of his cage and he eventually figures out what it leads to and climbs on it and after hes out hes fine being handled

 

[NYChameleon]

ok thanks..today i had the door open to his cage and he came right out by climbing on the door..when i went to put my hand near him he started flaming up and retreating..then i used a stick that is in his cage with him and he was scared of that too so i let him be..he did snipe a super worm about 2 inches from my arm while it was in the tank cleaning up some poop..so i guess he is getting use to me a little..i really would love to be able to handle him but i dont want to stress him out...if there flair up should u keep trying to get closer or just let him be? I see all the pics of everyones chams all fired up while on their hands..is it ok to pick them up when there scared like that? Thanks alot

 

[wezeman512]

well if hes hissing alot i let him be but usually after hes on my hand hes just fine and has even fallen asleep once

 

[ChromaChameleons]

Just a few tips...

Don't wear bright colours near your cham. Reds , oranges and bright yellows can make them crazy .

Try holding your hand vertically in front of your cham. They instinctively always try to move upwards.

Don't ever try to grasp your cham from above , by wrapping your hand around its back. This simulates an attack on your cham and they usually will respond defensively, if they percieve this as aggressive.

Misting , with a hand spray bottle, might mellow your cham out enough to allow them to be handled.

Also , often a cham will stress and retreat upon being approached, but once on your hand, completely change attitude.

Good Luck

 

[NYChameleon]

thanks alot..I just dont know if he will bite me when i get too close to him..i guess i will have to find out the hard way..

 

[Campy]

My cham has never bit me. He has hissed, even striked once or twice. But backs down before he reaches my hand. I dont figure it hurting much to begin with. And as well, if he realizes you will back away everytime he does that. Guess what he is going to keep doing?

That's my opinion though.

 

[wezeman512]

my cham bit me once, it didnt hurt at all i just got spit all over my finger

 

[dodolah]

I think there is one member of this forum that post a picture of his hand after getting bitten by an adult veiled chameleon.
From what i can tell, there were some deep lacerations.
Plus, you never know if your cham might infect u with tetanus.

You should just wear thick gloves when you need to handle him.

 

[NYChameleon]

ok thanks alot everyone.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

You have to really just get to know them
they can be handled and the sooner you start
the better they'll be for it.

Never approach from above
never grab them

Always approach and let them see you
put out your hand and stop moving it around 10" away from them
that lets them know what your intention is.
then slowly approach them from either their chin level or below their chin.
stop.
if they hesitate or are defensive
wait a bit more.
to motivate, tap on their tail gently with your other hand
they'll move forward as a reaction or turn around
slip your hand under their front "feet"
and let them walk onto your hand.
when you have 3 points of contact... gently lift.

They're always going to be much better off
if you can get them to walk onto you vs you moving them.
then slowly move them out from their cage
hold them by the front opening for a bit
so they know that they're still close to their home turf.

Then take them farther away.

They should change their attitude based upon being acquainted
with being handled and knowing you as an individual.
it's important that the first handling sessions be associated with
"positive chameleon things" like sunning themselves, food and water.

if all that fails (older animal)
take them out (as above)
and hold them while you sit on the sofa watching a movie
after 10 minutes have someone turn off all the room lights
and they'll drift off to sleep in the dark... don't disturb.
after the movie... turn on the lights
let them wake up
and return them to the cage slowly.

forcing them to sleep like this bypasses their fight or flight mechanism
and starts to pattern a "relaxed" association with you.

Don't be surprised if a male still hisses and
displays a bit even after all of this
All they're doing is asking you to do is "respect me", "this is my turf /cage".

I've found that once they're outside their turf...
that game is over and other considerations will apply.
it may take a month or two.. but eventually every one of my animals
has gotten over any early problems they had with me and being handled.

bests~!

 

[NYChameleon]

ok thanks alot I am going to try it exactly how you said and i will let u know how it goes.

 

[nightcrawler]

mine used to not like to come out and all of a sudden he started to run out as soon as i open the cage. no matter if im throwing in a cricket or worm or cleaning he sees the door open he runs out. i think its cause hes getting older and horny and is looking for a mate but i let him come out for at least 5 minutes a day and he likes it. he wanders around and he has no problems with me anymore. when he trys to get out and is climing on the screen or reaching for it i like to help him out and give him a bridge and i think that got him to like me more. its hard sometimes to get him back in but normally i have to just wait a bit for him to come climb on my arm. he likes to adventure.

 

[Bessiexj9]

My Girl

My Jenny is a three months old veiled. I agree with all the above advice...excellent. Once you lift them out of their cage (don't grab from above like a predator), they will calm a bit.

My Jenny loves being held in a terrycloth washcloth. She will always fall asleep but sometimes she stays awake. I gently keep my hand wrapped around her to keep her warm but not so tight that she couldn't crawl out if she wanted (she never has wanted to!). Actually, today we took a nap together. *Hearts*

I have noticed that she prefers me over others.... I've heard from my research that chams do recognize their handlers and others. Like all of us they have preferences.

There are several people who know a lot more than me who advocate never holding your cham but in my limited experience, I can't agree with that. I think it is important to handle them periodically because it is necessary and it gets them accustomed to you. Otherwise, there are those nasty bites. Just my two cents.

Alison

 

[Jason4045]

Just a few tips...

Don't wear bright colours near your cham. Reds , oranges and bright yellows can make them crazy .

Try holding your hand vertically in front of your cham. They instinctively always try to move upwards.

Don't ever try to grasp your cham from above , by wrapping your hand around its back. This simulates an attack on your cham and they usually will respond defensively, if they percieve this as aggressive.

Misting , with a hand spray bottle, might mellow your cham out enough to allow them to be handled.

Also , often a cham will stress and retreat upon being approached, but once on your hand, completely change attitude.

Good Luck

Those are all great tips! I wasn't aware of the bright color deal. I have been bit several times trying to do routine cage cleanings, most have been warning bites and nothing to major. There was a sticky on the proper way to pick-up/hold you cham somewhere on the forum, with videos, good info. I am going to have to try the "climb on the stick" method next time I clean her cage. Thanks for the great info!

-Jay

 

[panthercrazy]

Excellent handling advice has been given. I have a couple that don't enjoy handling much and 2 that love it.

My panther Lucifer is the best for handling, any time I am in the room he wanders to his door as if to say "Open up". I always use the stick to bring them out, and Lucifer when returning to his cage does a quick 180 back up the twig to my arm. Sometimes he makes it a little tricky to take him back to his cage??? lol

In my opinion if they enjoy the time with you then we are not creating a stressful situation for them, but remembering chams are really not a 'cuddling' type of pet either. Easier handling is easier on us when it comes to cleaning enclosure, etc. for sure but we must keep in mind that for those chams who don't like the handle time, we need to do it in a way to cause the least amount of stress for them.