Let her bite me?

[Progrmor]

Im in a need of checking my baby chameleon a bit to see if she is healthy and all that. But as soon as I get close with my hand she attempts to bite me.. I do come from underneath and not from above as I´ve been told but she will turn on her vine so that my hand will end up above her anyways ... And she strikes all the time.

Maybe I should just let her bite me? Or should I use any other technichs? I got no vine that is removable..¨

Thanks

 

[NosyBe15]

Try to start hand feeding. Try to get them to recognize you as a food source instead of a big thing trying to get them. Thats the best way to get them accustom to you. FOOD!! haha.

 

[Thegreatfonz]

I'd never let your chameleon bite you. You then give them the idea that the behavior is acceptable when it's probably the last thing you want your chameleon doing. Be patient with your chameleons people..

 

[Lpsouth1978]

I know people say not to, but I have a cham that I have to use gloves with. He is a rescue and does not like me being in his cage. I have to treat a prolapse daily and give him shots every 3 days. When I HAVE to get him out I put on the gloves (soft snow gloves) and reach in. He will try to bite, but he can't hurt me or himself. I will actually put one hand behind him and the other in front and somewhat around him. this way he can only go back, onto my hand, or forward, onto my hand. It only takes moments for him to climb onto one of my hands and out he comes. Once he's out, he is a sweetheart.

 

[Lpsouth1978]

I'd never let your chameleon bite you. You then give them the idea that the behavior is acceptable when it's probably the last thing you want your chameleon doing. Be patient with your chameleons people..

Unfortunately, there are times when being patient can mean having a sick cham. I agree that we do not want to teach them to bite, but sometimes they MUST come out!

 

[ridgebax1]

You could get a sturdy branch from outside and let your chameleon crawl onto the branch. Once on the branch you can take her out of the cage. I have used this method with Omar. Also I will put worms on the end of the branch and hold that where he can see it and he shoots the worm.

 

[Progrmor]

Okey. But even if I get both hands on each side of her she will like swing down on her vine and simple attack me from that direction. :/ She´s one hell of a acrobate.

 

[pssh]

Try a stick. And then use one hand to kind of scoot/scare her onto the stick. I would also start trying to hand feed and all that to get her used to you.

I've allowed babies to go ahead and bite me, and they all turned out fine. They all stopped biting once they got a little older and more comfy with me. I don't think they really have the capacity to "learn that biting is acceptable." It doesn't seem like it to me at least. Biting is also another way to make sure the babies are nice and strong and don't have MBD (jaw bones are not flexible.)

 

[Progrmor]

Try a stick. And then use one hand to kind of scoot/scare her onto the stick. I would also start trying to hand feed and all that to get her used to you.

I've allowed babies to go ahead and bite me, and they all turned out fine. They all stopped biting once they got a little older and more comfy with me. I don't think they really have the capacity to "learn that biting is acceptable." It doesn't seem like it to me at least. Biting is also another way to make sure the babies are nice and strong and don't have MBD (jaw bones are not flexible.)

She just started to go with the whole hand feeding thing. Im doing it as often as I can. Sitting in the same position for 40 min is not always something I love doing

 

[NosyBe15]

Sitting in the same position for 40 min is not always something I love doing

HAHAHHAAAAAAA.. that was a good one. They get faster once they start making the connection... The second my hand goes in my cage Clarence is looking at my fingers, cracking his mouth ready to strike for a worm.

Goodluck!!!!

 

[Progrmor]

HAHAHHAAAAAAA.. that was a good one. They get faster once they start making the connection... The second my hand goes in my cage Clarence is looking at my fingers, cracking his mouth ready to strike for a worm.

Goodluck!!!!

Haha it is the sad truth! My arm keep shaking for hours after one handfeeding session
Hopefully mine will be the same in the future! Otherwise im going to buy a armrest or something! haha

 

[pssh]

Try splitting a stick down the middle about 1" and stick the legs of the bug into the split (crickets and roaches work best for this.) Then feed her that way with your hand hidden. After she is used to this, start letting her see your hand. Eventually work your way up so that you are holding the stick closer and closer to the bug. Eventually she will take the bugs right from your hand with no hesitation. This is how I do it with the stubborn ones.

 

[pigglett79]

Haha it is the sad truth! My arm keep shaking for hours after one handfeeding session
Hopefully mine will be the same in the future! Otherwise im going to buy a armrest or something! haha

I had some seriously sore arms after my hand feeding sessions, but patience paid off. I now have a boy that knows a palm facing up means food and palm down means hand ride to free range. It takes time and patience and persistence.

 

[TreyLcham]

are you able to feed her by hand yet?

 

[Progrmor]

are you able to feed her by hand yet?

Kind of. She snaps mealworms but nothing else yet. And it can take up to 40 min before she takes the leap and eats it. And I dont want her to eat mealworms everyday since they are like butter.

 

[Psychobunny]

Does she actually bite into your skin, or just snapping her mouth and head slapping you?

If she is biting, don't pull away and show her that she is getting the upper hand on you.
I just let them bite me, and don't pay attention or give in.
After a while, they learn that biting does not scare me away, and they stop, but they continue to gape, snap, and head slap my hand.

Try to avoid getting her into a defensive mood, as it will just cause her stress.

The "stick" lure approach has not worked for me, I think the chams think it's a snake or something.
But if it has a few branches, and leaves on it, at least they are not afraid of it, but they can still see that my hand is at the other end, so they don't want to get on it, as they would have nowhere to go!!

LOL! I know what you mean, hand feed training takes TONS of patience, and your arm will go numb from holding it still for so long!!

 

[Progrmor]

Does she actually bite into your skin, or just snapping her mouth and head slapping you?

If she is biting, don't pull away and show her that she is getting the upper hand on you.
I just let them bite me, and don't pay attention or give in.
After a while, they learn that biting does not scare me away, and they stop, but they continue to gape, snap, and head slap my hand.

Try to avoid getting her into a defensive mood, as it will just cause her stress.

The "stick" lure approach has not worked for me, I think the chams think it's a snake or something.
But if it has a few branches, and leaves on it, at least they are not afraid of it, but they can still see that my hand is at the other end, so they don't want to get on it, as they would have nowhere to go!!

LOL! I know what you mean, hand feed training takes TONS of patience, and your arm will go numb from holding it still for so long!!

Im not sure since Im pulling my hand away each time. She might just head slap me. '

The branch thing has not worked for me either..

 

[laurie]

Everyone knows I am different! I let my cham bit me. But the cham has learned that he has always had the hand go further in his mouth every time she bites. After my hand gets in really far it is no longer comfortable for him, and he stops biting. Being the mean person I am, I start this as soon as I get a new cham. If it is an adult I start with a glove. After they have learned the glove is nasty, they don't bite the big monster. If you start with a baby it is a piece of cake.

 

[Progrmor]

Everyone knows I am different! I let my cham bit me. But the cham has learned that he has always had the hand go further in his mouth every time she bites. After my hand gets in really far it is no longer comfortable for him, and he stops biting. Being the mean person I am, I start this as soon as I get a new cham. If it is an adult I start with a glove. After they have learned the glove is nasty, they don't bite the big monster. If you start with a baby it is a piece of cake.

Thank you! I will try not pulling back!! I still got some bad experience with a snake bite so I do pull away by pure reflex!

 

[laurie]

Not pulling away is the hardest part for me. It helps if I am ready for them.