Handling

stalincat

stalincat

Member
Is there any way to make your cham 'like' you?
I got mine just about a week ago, and she was fine with her previous owners, meaning she didn't mind being handled. She is really wary of me though, she even tried to bite me on the 1st day. I tried to take her out (wanted to clean the vivarium), but she got so frustrated that I decided to wait a bit.
What I do now is I would put my hand in and hold it near her, sometimes I'd gently touch her. I reckon she needs time to get used to me, but if anyone has any advice, it would be very welcome. Ta
 
I'm in the "chameleons are like fish" and meant to be observed and not touched camp. If you "must" handle your chameleon I think you should give it at least a month to acclimate to its new surroundings.

Many others handle their chameleons with great success but please don't try to force it. You'll just end up stressing it out which can cause health problems.

Health problems in chameleons are usually not immediately noticeable and by the time they are apparent it is usually in an advanced stage.

You should spend this time observing your cham and getting to know her behaviors. That way if something does go wrong you'll notice it before it's too late (and costly) to fix.
 
you have only had her a week so give her some time to adjust to her new surroundings and then work on getting her to be your friend! Some can take a liking to your right away and others take alot of work.
 
I won't force her to do anything, she's a wee queen in our house. If something happens to her, I will probably have a nervous break down. I tend to get very attached to my animals.
However, she lives in a glass vivarium, which will have to be cleaned at some point. So, I would very much like her to be able to come out without having a panic attack.
 
try using a branch for her to climb onto. Have you tried to hand feed her so she knows you are not going to hurt her?
 
When I first got my graceful (first chameleon ever) he didn't eat or appear to drink for the first week. I was frantic.

They just need time. I barely ever handle him. Usually only for cleaning the cage/trips to the vet for a checkup.

He's pretty chill -- doesn't puff up or hiss or bite (has never never done any of those) when I take him out.

Each one is different but it does take time! They aren't like humans but imagine how you'd feel with a complete stranger giving you a ride in their car... probably pretty apprehensive!
 
When I first got my cham I waited a couple weeks to hold him. After he adjusted I started to hold him everyday. He's 8ish months old now and I hold him everyday. I free range him and he's super adventurous and confident. When I'm too busy to hold him every day he sometimes will hiss at me the next time I pick him up. I think you just have to slowly get them used to being handled and they'll be fine with it. I've only had one cham though so maybe my guy is just friendly haha :D
 
what i do is get a tupperware rwady with worms in it let her see them and then i hold a stick right under her, try not to be shaky. if your lucky shell slowly inch out onto the branch. i let my cham eat one then i start to move her outside. it can take a while to get the hang of it but im a pro now cause my chams not too fond of me and i have to do the same to get her back in, so dont feed her anything else rhat day and sheell more than limely come out on the branch. oh yea green gardening or latex gloves help a lot:)
shell do a lot better too if you kind of just show no interest in interacting with her for a couple weeks.
good luck:)
-Mitch
 
stalincat said:
yeah, i hand feed her every day. I guess I'll just have to wait till she gets used to me
Click to expand...
Next step I took with my girl (after hand feeding her) I showed her a feeder I was holding and when she started to come to my hand, I took it further away and put my other hand so she could use it to get to the feeder. That way she voluntarily came to me. :cool:
 
She came out today!!! She saw me near the enclosure, run to the doors and started scratching. When I put the hand in, she run up my arm to my shoulder! I was walking around with her, and she didn't go dark and didn't hiss! Whoa!!! Success!!! :D
 
stalincat said:
Is there any way to make your cham 'like' you?
I got mine just about a week ago, and she was fine with her previous owners, meaning she didn't mind being handled. She is really wary of me though, she even tried to bite me on the 1st day. I tried to take her out (wanted to clean the vivarium), but she got so frustrated that I decided to wait a bit.
What I do now is I would put my hand in and hold it near her, sometimes I'd gently touch her. I reckon she needs time to get used to me, but if anyone has any advice, it would be very welcome. Ta
Click to expand...

To get mine out when he was a baby, I would place a tall silk plant next to his cage so that the branches would go in his cage enough for him to climb out on. I would close the doors and leave the room for half an hour or so, and he'd be on the plant. To handle him I just moved very slowly and always came from underneath and in the front of him with my hand and slide my hand under his front feet and then lift up until his back feet would climb up. When you first get them though, you have to only bother them a few minutes (or less) at a time, but they will eventually get used to you:) If you see she is getting stressed or trying to bite or hiss, just leave the room and let her calm down for a bit then come back and try again. You just have to be patient with them. She will start to associate you with coming out of her cage, and if you hand feed it helps too so she can associate you with food!
 
Sweet success!:D
 

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I've had my female veiled just over 4 months now, and she is just starting to climb onto my hand when i feed her! :) I'm getting there gently, without forcing her to come to me or hurting her.
 
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