Health checks and unwilling chams

[ChamOh]

How do you do a health check / administer medication such as ointments, etc. if your cham won't let you hold it?

Mine can be coaxed onto my hand with a superworm, but he's very uneasy about the experience and doesn't like to be taken out of his cage. I'd imagine if I had to give him some sort of treatment it would be nearly impossible.

 

[Carlton]

Is this a very small cham or an adult?

Sometimes you have to do what is needed. If you have a very stressy or aggressive cham you can turn the cage lights off for a while before you plan on handling him. Think out what you have to do, lay out everything you might need so you have to spend less time handling him. With the lights off and temp lowered he will cool down and be less reactive. Gently loosen his feet off the branches and wrap him in a thin towel.

 

[ChamOh]

i see. thanks!

 

[graydon]

How do you do a health check / administer medication such as ointments, etc. if your cham won't let you hold it?

Mine can be coaxed onto my hand with a superworm, but he's very uneasy about the experience and doesn't like to be taken out of his cage. I'd imagine if I had to give him some sort of treatment it would be nearly impossible.

Nothing is impossible. Give your cham a nice meal before you take him out, and go underneath him, not over the top. They think your hand is a predator.

 

[ChamOh]

cool.. what effect does the meal have? food coma Yes, I do my best to move slow and come from underneath, but he's still a shy guy. And without a treat, forget it. I typically hand feed though, and he readily accepts it.

 

[graydon]

cool.. what effect does the meal have? food coma Yes, I do my best to move slow and come from underneath, but he's still a shy guy. And without a treat, forget it. I typically hand feed though, and he readily accepts it.

I've just noticed when handling my panther that its the easiest when he has eaten. I've also read that other keepers typically do the same.

 

[pssh]

At least you can coax him onto your hand! Pan hisses agressively no matter how slow I move or how many superworms I have and 'Isis' just runs. Isis is calmer outside of the cage than Pan and she's easier to check over.

 

[ChamOh]

At least you can coax him onto your hand! Pan hisses agressively no matter how slow I move or how many superworms I have and 'Isis' just runs. Isis is calmer outside of the cage than Pan and she's easier to check over.

yeah i can coax him psssh, but it takes a long time and a mighty wiggly super wormy--and once he's on my hand he wants to bail as quick as possible if there is anything even remotely close by. the other day turned into quite a fiasco just trying to get him across the room for some natural light at the window.

I remember seeing a pic of you holding one of your chams that looked so calm (it must have been isis) and being jealous!