Handling the chameleon.

[astroprojector]

I have had the chameleon for a month now and I try not to handle him. When I open the cage to feed him or clean the cage, I try not to spook him and when he feels spooked, he will climb down the plant away from me. I read that there are a lot of chameleon owners handle their chams at least once I week.

Is it beneficial to handle the chams? is that how they get used to your presence?

 

[pssh]

I do not think it is beneficial to handle them more than one every week or two. I only do so to check overall health and to snap a few pics every now and then. I also never handle them for more than 5 minutes.

My male hates being held/taken out and I don't like to put too much stress on him. My female runs from my hands and anything that she is not used to in her cage. My chameleons get stressed out when I handle them so I choose not to, however, if the animal chooses to walk out on to the handlers hand (while it is at the front of the cage) then I see no problem taking the animal out for a minute or two. In the summer I plan on taking the animals out for some sun so I will be using a transporting stick to keep stress minimal.

 

[meganm85]

I have had the chameleon for a month now and I try not to handle him. When I open the cage to feed him or clean the cage, I try not to spook him and when he feels spooked, he will climb down the plant away from me. I read that there are a lot of chameleon owners handle their chams at least once I week.

Is it beneficial to handle the chams? is that how they get used to your presence?

my little guy hated me when i first got him(the week of Christmas)...he would always get huffed up and snap at me.....but just the other day when i went to mist him he came down and walked onto my hand and up my arm....i was shocked!!! you really are not supposed to handle them but if they happen to climb on you then i dont see any harm...just dont handle him to long...maybe a max of 10 minutes....you have to win their trust....lately every time i go to mist him he comes running down and stands there to get misted....almost every time i walk by his enclosure he comes down by the door and just looks at me.....i only handled my lil guy 3 or 4 times since i got him...i never forced him to come out (only when i had to move him to his new enclosure)....good luck!!!

 

[jeanjacket812]

Yah I don't like to handle mine as any time I have to get it out it is a chore s/he runs from me and I feel so bad for it. When I get it out though its fine but I know it is probally just too scared to move. Regardless I do got get it out once a week for the health check and maybe it will get used to me. The only progress I have made with mine is that it does not mind at all when I watch it and I guess that is all one could ask for.

 

[kpritch17]

Most people say it is very stressful for the chameleons to be held a lot, however, I know of some keepers who say their chameleon actually comes to the front of the cage when they open it. I think it depends on the chameleon-and it takes time to build that trust. When/If you do take yours out, just watch for signs of stress and don't keep him out too long at first. The best way to build their trust is to get them to eat out of your hand once or twice every feeding.

 

[Leilaskeeper]

Most people say it is very stressful for the chameleons to be held a lot, however, I know of some keepers who say their chameleon actually comes to the front of the cage when they open it. I think it depends on the chameleon-and it takes time to build that trust. When/If you do take yours out, just watch for signs of stress and don't keep him out too long at first. The best way to build their trust is to get them to eat out of your hand once or twice every feeding.

It's true! I've hand fed my chameleon from day one. Some days she comes right up to the front and climbs out on my arm no problem and her colours come right out .. greens, blues, yellows, neon. Somedays, she gives me the evil look and turns dark colours. Guess it depends on her mood. I wouldn't force them to come out but if they show interest, why not!

 

[Courtney]

nail me to the cross already.. all our chams are held several times a week....we have been known to grab one whenever what ever they are doing and hang out outside for awhile with it. im sure it could stress them but its all about geting to know your cham and how they feel about it...not to mention most chams freak at first cause your removing them from their territory once out its a whole other ball game. we dont force them we ask via fingers under chest... always ....it they want to come out they do if not they walk away simple as that..our fiesty panthers though weather or not they want to come out we make them. they were mean as hell when they were only 2in . and are still mean how ever they dont bite and are geting accustomed to the wonderful world out of the cage. now they dont run out of the cage or jump out at us....all our chams are content to hang out with us or in a tree...

 

[Jakedn]

I take my chameleon out regularly for sun. He lets me know when he's done dealing with me though, and I put him right back in his cage. Simple as that. The small amounts of stress taking them out, is outweighed by the benefit of natural sunlight.

Everybody who owns a chameleon does so for their own enjoyment, so go ahead and hold your chameleon if you want to, just be respectful and don't overdo it. Eventually if your lucky the chameleon will build a relationship with you and will learn to deal with you. Holding him one too many times isn't going to make him drop dead.

 

[astroprojector]

I'll take thing slowly, maybe take it out once a week. I have a Jackson and I know when hs is stressing. He turns dark green.

 

[JaxyGirl]

I'm sure I'll get some flack for this, but I handle Triton all the time. In fact he's on me now....However, it took some time and patience before I could handle him like this. Now, nothing seems to bother him and he always remains a nice stress free colors of blue and green. Maybe handling Jackson's are different then other chams? I don't know?

 

[satch4684]

when I had my veiled she (i suspected it was a female) turned nasty after a month or two. Even struck right at my hand whenever I was trying to clean or move something around. Even so, sometimes she wouldn't do much and I could get her out fairly easy when I needed to for some reason. I know you are usually not supposed to pet them, but once I even had her nearly fall asleep on my arm while I was doing this and she was clearly displaying the calm, happy, or relaxed bright colors.

That was the only chameleon i've had so far, but I've never seen a reptile so "bipolar", lol, its like she would switch from one mood to the next with no warning whatsoever.

 

[mrniceveiled]

After reading a lot I see that most chameleons stress out and don't appreciate being handled very often. I believe it depends on the chams personality. I have a seven month old male that literally climbs out of his cage and onto my hand every time i open it. I don't think I am stressing him at all since it's his choice to crawl out and explore the place. Although don't get me wrong he still will have a stubborn random day where he will hiss at me randomly. It is important to give them space and let them do the decision making.