How aggressive are Chameleons? Have u been bitten? Which is the least aggressive??

[JoshuaTree]

I've heard some (like the Veiled) are very aggressive...is that true? Does the bite hurt?

Are some less aggressive?


What are your overall thoughts on the subject?


Sorry if this seems like a silly question. I dont own a cham yet...I just want to learn as much as possible. Talking to all of you is certainly the best way. Thanks.

 

[KrewElement394]

i have a veiled cham. he hates it when we try to handle him! when we first got him the breeder had a hard time getting him out of the cage... he opened his mouth but did not hiss...and no bites either. as of that day when i get him out of his cage to give him natural sunlight he hasnt opened his mouth like that day or at all! i have not yet gotten bitten either i hope i do not either.

 

[veiledchameleonyoshi]

My veiled didn't mind being handled too much when he was littler, but now that he's an adult, he absoultely HATES me. I actually had to buy gloves for when I want to take him out. The only way I can get him out without being bitten is if I lure him onto my hand with food. It's just natural behavior for chameleons to act this way though. They are really more of a display animal.

 

[KrewElement394]

have you ever gotten bitten? does it hurt? it worries me lol

 

[hemiram04]

Generally chameleons are all show and no go. I have never been bitten by a chameleon although they look like they might. They usually just puff up open their mouth and start rocking at you. If you pick them up from underneath instead of from their back they usually just come out.

 

[thealissa]

I have two veileds and have never been bitten. I find that they are more calm and "playful" when they are younger, and grow more aggressive as they age. Mine just hiss, puff up, and rock from side to side. Once I get them out though, they are happy to be out and I don't have any problems until I need them out again.

 

[sarah777]

I have 3 panthers and 2 Veileds. Only one of them doesn't want to take my finger off (male panther). I have a feeling the bite would hurt a lot more from the adult male Veiled than from the females. But yes I think it would hurt like hell!! Although I've never been bit. If you come up from behind them under their feet they usually don't have a chance to bite.

 

[kianna2118]

My cham is a lttle aggressive at times. I can tell he never had a good life before we adopted him from someone. When we first got him i remember he use to hiss at us now since we have had him for 3 months he got over that. Thank god. To be honest i use to be scared of holding him, i didn't want to get bitten from him. Now when he gets aggressive his throat pumps up.

 

[panthercham]

I have 4 panthers (I dont have any veileds) and I am lucky as I have never been bitten. They all have different personalities from complelely placid to more aggresive. 1 of my rescues would bite me if given half a chance. All chams have different personalities and its the luck of the draw to what you get.

There are a few threads on the forum about being bitten....I know Sancho has been bitten by his veiled and here is a thread that I remember that is a good reminder that they can be aggressive and that they are lizards and should be treated as such and some just not to be handled

https://www.chameleonforums.com/she-bit-crap-out-12332/

 

[tkilgour]

My panther chams are all really docile. Every now and again if you move to quickly around them they may puff up w/ air and rock towards you. The bite doesnt hurt and usually, they are just showing off. I have rarely been bitten, plus there is a cool thread above on how to handle and aggressive chameleon check that out it may help.

 

[Malicious]

Chameleons can be aggressive, and can bite.

I have a female Veiled, who is just over a year old, and is not very personable. She has bit me a few times, and has drawn blood. Some chameleons will tolerate ocassional handling, some will fight tooth and nail to stay as far away from human contact as possible. They are solitary animals, and don't get lonely or need company.

At this point it's really "luck of the draw" as to which catogory your animal will fall into. I have some that don't mind being held, some that I swear like to be held, and some that would like to eat my hand if I get to close.


You can take steps to lessen the chances of getting bit. I like to open the cage door and offer a treat before removing the animal. If done enough the animal will start to associate you and your hand entering the cage with a treat. They are not the brightest crayons in the box, but they do remember things.

Never reach over the top of an animal to pick them up, rather slide your hand beneath them and allow them to grip your hand, then gently left upwards to remove them. A prediator would attack them from the top, not the message we want to send.

In my opinion, and from my group, I feel that Panthers chameleons tolerate handling better then Veiled chameleons. They seam to be more relaxed in general.


-Jay

 

[tkilgour]

Chameleons can be aggressive, and can bite.

I have a female Veiled, who is just over a year old, and is not very personable. She has bit me a few times, and has drawn blood. Some chameleons will tolerate ocassional handling, some will fight tooth and nail to stay as far away from human contact as possible. They are solitary animals, and don't get lonely or need company.

At this point it's really "luck of the draw" as to which catogory your animal will fall into. I have some that don't mind being held, some that I swear like to be held, and some that would like to eat my hand if I get to close.


You can take steps to lessen the chances of getting bit. I like to open the cage door and offer a treat before removing the animal. If done enough the animal will start to associate you and your hand entering the cage with a treat. They are not the brightest crayons in the box, but they do remember things.

Never reach over the top of an animal to pick them up, rather slide your hand beneath them and allow them to grip your hand, then gently left upwards to remove them. A prediator would attack them from the top, not the message we want to send.

In my opinion, and from my group, I feel that Panthers chameleons tolerate handling better then Veiled chameleons. They seam to be more relaxed in general.


-Jay

Yes, I would agree w/ what he has just said....also panthers do tend to be more docile. I actually have some that rush off their perches to greet me when I show up in the morning. Others that would rather, watch me and not be handled. So it really depends on the little guy you get. One of my panthers is like a pet dog, he loves my yorkie and always wants to meet nose to nose w/ him. He always wants to rush out his enclosure when you open the door, then he climbs on my shoulder and hangs out there for long periods of time. I will take him outside and let him soak up some rays, and then take him back to his enclosure, he loves it.

 

[philanddeb818]

I was bitten twice in one go by one of our Panthers...The head lashing was more disturbing than the bite because it was so surprising. The bites were V shaped and bled very little. I did put Neosporin on the bites right away. I consider it part of our bonding because I've not been bitten since. But, and this is a very BIG butt!lol! Our male Ambilobe has a nasty mouth that I am very leary of! He's the next to endure the loving hand of Deb this week-end because we have to change out the soil in his plant! I will give an up-date if BLOOD is drawn!

Seriously, the bites don't even hurt even though they can draw a little blood. But they really can be scary when they smack their little face against your hand while you're trying to clean or whatever close to them! Yesterday we witnessed the most amazingly calm Cham ever! It was (I believe perhaps they said Don Quiote was their forum name) this was the most calm Cham I've ever seen! He let them pick him up upsidedown and sideways, kissing him, loving on him and he was totally enjoying the whole experience. He was calm around all the other Chams at the meeting, didn't even show violent colors, totally awake and sweet!

After seeing their Cham, I thought wow! We've got to handle ours more...but I know this will bring out a host of other thoughts! lol

 

[jannb]

Each chameleon is different. I have two veileds and they are both nice. My male is probably one of the sweetest chams ever.

 

[JoshuaTree]

Thanks for all the replys. I'm still not sure what type of cham to get. This helps with that decision.

It seems like Panthers are less aggressive than Veiled. Not sure how Jacksons compare against the two.

thx again....

 

[Pure]

Which is the least aggressive??

Well, of course Melleri are known for their docile temperament. But even with them it's luck of the draw. Some can be pretty nasty, and a cham of that size can cause a serious bite.

I don't recommend you get one as your first cham though. If you are worried about temperament go with a panther. It wouldn't hurt to email the vendor asking for one that shows the least amount of aggression. Just be warned no one can guarantee the cham will stay docile.

If after some time, if you are secure in your ability to keep up with the care of a panther, and want a Melleri, go for it.

 

[chameleonman57]

Veileds are one of the more aggressive chameleons but as you spend time with them they will start to enjoy your around. When I got my female veiled i couldn't even open her cage without her getting mad at me but now she comes right out to me when I take her outside.

 

[Jevin]

I have only just started with chameleons and the one i have is a female veiled that when i bought her was friendly from the get go and she still hasn't changed. Whe nyou want to handle her she will come out willingly even if its your first time holding her.

 

[Carlton]

I've been bitten by veileds, verrucosus, fischeri, deremensis and melleri. I was more startled than hurt except for the melleri. The bites did draw a little bit of blood, but nothing really terrible. A garter snake, bullfrog, or wild lizard can do as much. Considering that most chams will "warn" you with bluffing before they ever decide to bite, I find it isn't something to worry too much about. This may sound odd, but if you want to find out how bad a cham bite is, try to go meet one, pick it up wrong, and just let it bite...then you won't worry about it after that. They tend to bite and release as a display, not bite and hang on.

Now the melleri bite was very powerful, but I was trying to medicate her and she was upset. Blackened my thumbnail. I once gave a melleri CPR and have a little scar on my lip where she gave me a reflex bite when she started breathing again.

 

[Crazy Pet Lady]

My little baby [male veiled] was so funny today when I cleaned the cage. He got all fired up and started hissing and opening his mouth at me. LOL He's only 4-5 inches long! He was NOT happy about what I was doing. But he just ran away when I put my hand near him. Too cute!