Handling young panther chameleon

[spearse]

Hi all. Nice community here - this is our first post

We've very recently bought a 2-3month old male ambanja panther called Frank. He's only been with us since 27/Jul, so that's about five days. He's a little piggy and eating well now from a cup and is slowly getting used to having our hands in and around his viv.

We've not really taken him out of his viv since he went in there and we definitely don't want to rush/stress him. We were just wondering how long it has taken others' chameleons to feel comfortable being handled and how you've gone about this.

Thanks for your help

 

[oldskoolmodder]

I was very lucky with my purchase, my little Ambilobe panther is VERY tolerating. He doesn't mind getting on my hand with a little bit of assistance, no flaring or hissing.

I would imagine you can start by hand feeding at first. I let my guy get a few out of my hands to try and warm him up to me. I'm pretty sure it worked.

After he's comfortable getting food out of your fingers try and put your hand out and offer the food a bit further, that way he has to come up to you to so he can strike for it. Once he's on your hand gauge it from there. They associate you with food, which is good. Food is good haha

I want to warn you because I hear horror stories of chameleons being jumpers. Make sure he doesn't jump off your hands! Be careful and tell us how it goes.

 

[carol5208]

It took my first chameleon quite a few months for me to get him to comfortable with me handling him. I let him be for atleast the first two weeks and did not attempt. After that I used a branch and got him to climb on that to get him out of the cage. Then I would sit down with the branch on my lap to get him used to me. It took awhile and then little by little he learned I was not going to eat him or hurt him and he just became more and more friendly. I got rid of the branch and started using my hand.

 

[Preekoo]

It took my first chameleon quite a few months for me to get him to comfortable with me handling him. I let him be for atleast the first two weeks and did not attempt. After that I used a branch and got him to climb on that to get him out of the cage. Then I would sit down with the branch on my lap to get him used to me. It took awhile and then little by little he learned I was not going to eat him or hurt him and he just became more and more friendly. I got rid of the branch and started using my hand.

I tried doing the branch thing... It didnt work well. My guy had a freaken heart attack at the sight of a floating branch (shoulda used a shorter stick cuz i dont think he could see my hand) He did a leap of faith from his vines and onto the cage floor. Thank god I still have im in the smallest of reptibreezes still or else that coulda hurt him.