Making great progress with my 2 guys :)

[Psychobunny]

Yesterday, Smeagol climbed onto my hand and walked up my arm w/o me having to 'bait" him with food, completly voluntary, for the very first time
He also has stopped hissing at me when I have to gently pick him up when
it's late and time for him to go back to his cage.
He will puff up a little, then calm down without protest.

This is a HUGE improvement over a few weeks ago, and now he barely pays
any attention when I have my hand in his cage to clean, etc.

Also, my male jackson got on my hand willingly and I took him outside for the first time. It was cloudy and rainy, but it was a start and he climbed up to my shoulder and sat there, perfectly content

This doesnt sound like much, but it's just sooooo rewarding to me to have earned the trust of these wonderful "untameable" animals.
And this is just the start, I am sure they will get even more relaxed with me now.

It took a lot of time and patience, but I am getting there

Now, I hope I have as much luck with my new baby Ambilobe male I am expecting Wednesday from the Kammer's

 

[oldskoolmodder]

Reading posts like this make me feel as if I'm blessed. I only have one cham at the moment and I need to post pictures! I have only had him 2 weeks but I've taken him outside at least half a dozen times.

I have heard that panthers are a bit friendlier at first (Skittles being a 4 month old male Ambilobe). It's crazy how smart they are! Nothing like snakes or other lizards, I imagine that training should be easy!

Especially if you have more treats or trips outside (Where's the pics?!)

 

[Psychobunny]

It's such a great feeling to have that trust, but you do need to earn it

You start with just leaving them alone, then open their cage and talk to them (they cant hear you, but they can feel sound vibrations, they do have a inner eat, just no outer or middle), then you start hand feeding every day.
After a while, you can slowly try to stroke with a finger, but if he pulls away, retract it.
Then you can do the "bait" trick by placing a clear cup of cricks up close to your chest and making him climb your arm to get them.
It can take a long time, depending on your chams moods.

Its like baby steps, a little attention every day, and always offer them a treat.
They will know you are not a threat, then they will associate you with good stuff, like food, and being let out

 

[GarynTampa]

I was also in this situation when we first bought RANGO, our sub-adult Ambanja.

Another Ambanja at the store was a lot more friendly and liked to be handled, but didn't have the coloration of Rango. Rango was a little skiddish, puffed and gaped his mouth at first, but STILL, the coloration was the deciding factor. After getting him home, he was eating crickets from my fingers within 30 minutes.

I continued with this, inching my hands a little closer to the front of the enclosure. Now, after 1 month, he comes to the cage front in anticipation of feeding. I keep him outside in a second enclosure and he now, actually "knows" that I'm coming to get him out.

He "recognizes" the hand-mist bottle and is now drinking from the bottle tip, as I squeeze the handle...this is awsome!

He has TOTALLY changed his personality within the month. I think the key is to be gentle, make your movements SLOW and don't RUSH anything...take your time when trying to tame your cham.

Next, I will start letting him climb onto my shoulders and head, but that is the last "trick" I want him to learn.

He'll get there soon enough!

Gary
Tampa, FL

 

[Psychobunny]

I agree with u, move slowly, even when walking around their cages, be gentle and patient, and above all, loving and caring.

 

[Kibu]

Whereda get Rango?

 

[Calypso]

That is awesome I hope one day I'll be able to do the same. As of right now, she's been coming to the front of the cage for food eagerly enough, but instead of wanting to crawl on me in any way shed just snatch it with her tongue. Although, now that I started taking her outside instead of just letting her roam her room, she has become amazingly more friendly. She quit hissing more or less altogether. And doesn't seem to recede when I go to put my hand out. She's even eating out of one hand while sitting in the other. It's seems like when I make this clicking noise it calms her down. She seems really intersted of what is in the top of my head when sitti on my shoulder lol