mad cham

[FrankTheTank]

When my cham is mad should i leave him alone or try to take him out to calm him? I dont want to stress him out too much nor do i want to reinforce bad behavior. Hes about 4-5 months old right now and i'd like to nip it before he gets older and scarier

 

[Carlton]

When my cham is mad should i leave him alone or try to take him out to calm him? I dont want to stress him out too much nor do i want to reinforce bad behavior. Hes about 4-5 months old right now and i'd like to nip it before he gets older and scarier

First, many chams go through a "terrible teen" period at about this age. Many chill out again once their hormones settle after maturity, but not all. You aren't going to calm him by handling him. He's trying to warn you to leave him alone, or to leave his turf. Almost all of it is bluff, not bite. If you keep trying he's just going to get even more upset...either more afraid of you or angrier and frustrated when his act doesn't seem to work. He won't respond to behavioral "training" per se because he doesn't care what you want him to do or not do. Your opinion of his behavior means nothing.

However, you can teach him that you are not a threat or want to eat him (in his mind you are either a competitor, an intruder, or a predator) by becoming the magical source of good things like insect treats. You can teach him that you are predictable, that you will appear and do things to his territory each day and that the world won't end if you do. Use routine...chams like routine. Pay attention to the clothes he reacts more or less to...they are very concerned about color and visual details as it expresses their own emotions. You may find he reacts a lot more to certain colors.

 

[FrankTheTank]

That's exactly what I needed to know. Wasn't sure if they needed behavioral training like iguanas.