Mornings: Panther turns black and hides
- Thread starter slamwise
- Start date
Syreptyon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Thats what my female used to do.
start doing things such as hand feeding and taking it out for some sun.
He'll eventually see you as a reliable object of trust and know your his food source to survive
let me know how it goes!!!!!!!!
I don't know if taking him out would be the best idea. If he's already really nervous around you, you should let him be. Forcing him out will only make him stress more than he already is. For the time being, I would leave him alone for the most part (obviously except for feeding, misting, etc.
) and he will likely become less nervous over time. It took my veiled a couple of months to get over his nerves. It's pretty natural for a cham to do that, especially a young one. Just give it some time, I say
ToniandGizmo
New Member
Gizmo did the same thing for the first couple of months that I had him (he was a baby too).
I'd say that it took him about 6 months to finally calm down around me. I did handle him from the get-go, but only to clean his cage and take him outside. That was it. He eventually figured out the "go outside in the sun" move and began to get on my hand when I opened his cage.
The hardest part with a young one (for me anyway), was learning not to hover over them. Pretty difficult. Give him some time and privacy. He should eventually get used to you and the good things associated with you, i.e, feedings and "sun time" etc.
I'd say that it took him about 6 months to finally calm down around me. I did handle him from the get-go, but only to clean his cage and take him outside. That was it. He eventually figured out the "go outside in the sun" move and began to get on my hand when I opened his cage.
The hardest part with a young one (for me anyway), was learning not to hover over them. Pretty difficult. Give him some time and privacy. He should eventually get used to you and the good things associated with you, i.e, feedings and "sun time" etc.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
A low stress way of habituating the chameleon to your presence:
Try sitting on the floor, well below him, and at a distance. Dont move. Be still and quiet. Just sit there. Dont even look directly at him. A good book and a pillow under your butt might help. Stay there for hours. Then leave, slowly, backing away.
Next day, repeat. Next day, repeat but sitting a little closer. repeat.
When feeding, always move exceptionally slowly. Try cup feeding most of the time (less risky than hand feeding), so that it associates you with putting food in the cup.
Most of all patience. sometimes they take a year to get used to the nearness of a human invader.
Try sitting on the floor, well below him, and at a distance. Dont move. Be still and quiet. Just sit there. Dont even look directly at him. A good book and a pillow under your butt might help. Stay there for hours. Then leave, slowly, backing away.
Next day, repeat. Next day, repeat but sitting a little closer. repeat.
When feeding, always move exceptionally slowly. Try cup feeding most of the time (less risky than hand feeding), so that it associates you with putting food in the cup.
Most of all patience. sometimes they take a year to get used to the nearness of a human invader.
