lunging madman

[zombiepixel]

Today was the second time I have handled Trogdor. He reluctantely climbed onto my hand and calmed down. I took him outside for some sun but after a few minutes he started getting restless so I put him back.

Right after he got back into his enclosure I gently brought my palm close to him and he starts lunging and hitting his open mouth against me, even half biting me. It was the cutest bite ever.

What should I do to help him try to become more docile? Hold him more or less? I don't want him to grow up to be this aggressive. Hopefully he is still settling in or something.

 

[cushcameleon]

Hold them less is always the answer. I never heard of any way to make your chameleon docile? That all depends on their personality, some are nice some and some are mean and remember that he is simply defending his territory, his natural instincts tell him to do so. My carpet can also become aggressive. During the first couple weeks he was very docile, but ever since he realized the cage is his domain, he no longer tolerates hands inside of it.

 

[dodolah]

why handling? The handling regiment imho is useless and only inflicting unnecessary stress. Let him decide when he will start to see you as a mobile tree rather than a big predator.

I only handle mine during cage cleaning and sunning.
Other than that, he is perfectly content inside the cage.
All logic dictates that he should be the nastiest chameleon (since he never been handled ever in his life..).
But, look:

 

[cushcameleon]

Let him decide when he will start to see you as a mobile tree rather than a big predator.

Perfect description of it . Great looking panther btw, has he always been that friendly?

 

[dodolah]

thank you.. he's quite angry when he was acclimating to the new environment under my care. But, to be honest, he adapt quite fast; and always curious and seems to be careless compared to my other chams. When he eat, he will eat regardless whether people are in the room or not.

He readily associate me coming into the room as feeding or sunning time.

my other chams are not as friendly as him; one was a really nasty cham.. but, over time, all of them learn to tolerate me and will climb on my hand occasionally when they want out.

 

[Gluuvan]

The key is time, don't try and force and chameleon to be held. They will come when they feel its time! Patience is virtue, even though you feel its right to hold them.

 

[dirrtybirdy]

why handling? The handling regiment imho is useless and only inflicting unnecessary stress. Let him decide when he will start to see you as a mobile tree rather than a big predator.

I only handle mine during cage cleaning and sunning.
Other than that, he is perfectly content inside the cage.
All logic dictates that he should be the nastiest chameleon (since he never been handled ever in his life..).
But, look:

how did you do thats????? lol

 

[dodolah]

how did you do thats????? lol

i told him he gonna get 200 dollar cash if he gets out and let me clean his cage.

Jk, dude.. The brevs are acclimating already. eating like crazy. and, the sowbugs came this morning! I ordered it last week.. I don't even know that i'm gonna get the pygs so soon.. what an uncanny timing! Everything fits.

Thanks again... If within 2 - 3 months, no one take your 30 gallons... I might seriously think of grabbing them from you.. I shall see if I can fit that aquarium under my panther's cage. But, if before that, someone wants it.. then lucky for them
hey dude, you should come to SBCK meeting once in a while. They are very close to your place. You'll enjoy it.

 

[zombiepixel]

alright, thanks guys, that's all I needed to know!

 

[zombiepixel]

Well...

I wanted to swap out the ficus in Trogdor's enclosure. He was really close to the door so thought I would make my move to take him out real quick. I also wanted to adjust his branches.

He quickly bit me 4 times...

Then as I was retreating I went to close the door and he lunged at me again...

I'm going to have to wait for another day and try to get him to come out on a stick or something.

 

[cushcameleon]

I have a feeling some leather gloves would come in handy

 

[JuAPple]

Yup what the first guy said :] the less you touch them the better, since they can become very stressed.

 

[PantherVeileD]

I guess I'm lucky... almost all my chams would allow me to hold them. Except for my nosy be male he is fiesty!!

Not all my chams came friendly... My first red bar ambilobe was fiesty but somehow he calmed down and doesn't mind me handling him.

My second red bar ambilobe I bought was a badass, mean, and he jumps!! After 2-3 months he adjusted to me and loves to be handled as well.

Again the nosy be male is one of my most troublesome chameleon right now. He is not mean... but he just doesn't like me handling him. He would jump or try to jump. I am slowly trying to hand feed him now so he can get use to me. Only time I handle him now is when I clean the cage or try to take pictures of him outside of his cage. I will slowly earn his trust one day...