handling

[mgbaseball1918]

hey what do you guys reccommend doing if i need to change something in his cage. should i pick him up, or just touch his tail so he moves?

 

[chameleonneeds]

If hes a baby just tapping him should get him going but if hes and adult hes probably going to hold his ground
Holding him for something simple and will be a very short time should defenitely be ok.

 

[arkist]

I wouldn't suggest picking him up, if you can coax him to move, or bribe him with food, I would do that.

I never suggest picking up your cham. They can easily change their minds and put up a fight, and if you don't notice it right away then it can be your limbs vs. their limbs, and unfortunately you'll win

 

[BocaJan]

I know everyone has their own opinion about picking up chams. I don't have any trouble with all but one of mine. In fact, one is always trying to crawl up my arm anytime I open her door.

 

[SoCaliSon]

If you are cleaning out...Or re arranging the cage... I feel it is better to gently remove them either on a plant, or place them on a plant outside the cage while you move things around. You in there tearing around their domain is not only stress full for them...But dangerous as well. Most cages end up being kind of tight quarters with all the plants and what not, it could be easy to knock them or crush them with something accidentally while they are freaking out trying to stay away from what you are doing. Better just to carefully remove them when working on the cage.

~Joe

 

[bREW]

I think they are all differrent, some will gladly accept being handled and some find it very distressing. At first my little panther was slightly distressed when I tried to coax him onto me, the only reason I did this was he was very distressed if I left him in his viv when I misted, so I tried to get him out and put him back straight after misting his viv. He's now about 3.5 - 4 months old and seems reasonably happy to come onto my hand when I prescent it to him, if he runs off when I open the viv I leave him. I would hate to force it and cause them more stress than is necessary.

 

[OACham]

You know, we've always been able to handle both of our chams without a problem. I guess it just depends on how friendly their personality is? If at any point he shows any signs of stress for sure stick him in a plant or somewhere else he feels comfortable, I say.

 

[AndrewH]

Its best to slip your fingers and palm underneath them gently, coaxing them forwards. When you come from above, that is when they tend to run away or put up a fight. Just let him decide if he wants to play or not.

 

[dodolah]

my cham only get out on his term.
At least once a week, he will have the urge to get out of his cage and that's when he's easy to be taken out. During that moment, I put him outside and start cleaning his cage.

I tried all the method available, but once he hold his ground and refuse to get out, no matter what, he will stay inside the cage.

He signals me when he's ready to get out by hanging out at the cage door.
By then I just open the door and put a plant in front of his cage.
Within a minute or two, he usually jet to the plant. and voila, i took the plant and put him in his sunning cage.