My baby veiled boy sleeps on my hand !! So sweet

[Poptartjake]

Hmmm, my female Jax Lilly does something similar but only after being out and stressed for a decent amount of time. If I take her out (which she hates) and handle her for any more then 10-20 minutes usually, she will go to sleep on me. Even upon returning her to her cage, she will continue sleeping if I do not intervene and wake her up/stimulate her enough to stop sleeping.

 

[fuzzhc]

Their should be getting 12 hours with the light on, then 12 hours with the light off. Can I ask why you are taking them out of their cages while they should be sleeping?

This. 3-4 hours sleep really isnt enough. Hes still tired in all probability

 

[carol5208]

Hmmm, my female Jax Lilly does something similar but only after being out and stressed for a decent amount of time. If I take her out (which she hates) and handle her for any more then 10-20 minutes usually, she will go to sleep on me. Even upon returning her to her cage, she will continue sleeping if I do not intervene and wake her up/stimulate her enough to stop sleeping.

This is not normal behavior.

 

[fluxlizard]

This is why it is sometimes tricky to interpret lizard behavior using human emotion.

Closed eyes is a stress response for most lizards. Example for you iguana lovers out there- you pet your iguana, he closes his eyes. That's not pleasure, that is how lizards "zone out" stress. Similarly- an iguana leaning in to petting similar to a cat- that's because iguanas push against each other to determine dominance, it is a social and stereotypical and instinctual behavior among iguanas- it isn't because he finds pleasure from the petting.

Iguanas aren't chameleons, but enough people have petted an iguana and made this mistake (myself as a kid included) that it makes a really good example of the dangers of anthropamorphism (interpreting non-human behavior through a human emotional filter).

Worst case I ever saw- One time I took in a big old iguana from an elderly lady who had raised him. This 14 lb lizard actually ate at the table with the lady off his own plate and she talked to him just like he was a big baby. Which is fine- I've been known to do that myself- been doing that a bit with some insects lately LOL. Anyway-

The iguana had bitten the lady on the finger and the result was surgery and a close call- she nearly lost the functional use of her finger. After the incident, her adult children begged me to take the iguana off her hands as I was the only home she would consent to give it up to.

OK so here's the kicker- when I went to pick up the lizard, the lady approached this huge iguana and it puffed up, flattened out, stood up on his toes, extended his dewlap- totally and completely typical threat posture. The lady melted, approached him cooing "ooooooh Edmund darling", then she turned to me and said "Look! He knows me! He loves his mommy!" She interpreted his threat posture not as a threat but as a sign of recognition and affection for her. I went away with the lizard amazed that the lady had not been injured sooner and more seriously.

When you hold a chameleon and he closes his eyes- it is not a good sign. It's a stress response. An attempt to pretend you aren't there and zone you out- hoping that you will go away and leave him alone because he is either dead or because he is clearly showing that you are dominant.

Sorry to be so blunt, but there it is.

Try hand feeding to develop a positive emotional response from your lizard and connection with your lizard over time instead.

 

[Deevo]

This is why it is sometimes tricky to interpret lizard behavior using human emotion.

Closed eyes is a stress response for most lizards. Example for you iguana lovers out there- you pet your iguana, he closes his eyes. That's not pleasure, that is how lizards "zone out" stress. Similarly- an iguana leaning in to petting similar to a cat- that's because iguanas push against each other to determine dominance, it is a social and stereotypical and instinctual behavior among iguanas- it isn't because he finds pleasure from the petting.

Iguanas aren't chameleons, but enough people have petted an iguana and made this mistake (myself as a kid included) that it makes a really good example of the dangers of anthropamorphism (interpreting non-human behavior through a human emotional filter).

Worst case I ever saw- One time I took in a big old iguana from an elderly lady who had raised him. This 14 lb lizard actually ate at the table with the lady off his own plate and she talked to him just like he was a big baby. Which is fine- I've been known to do that myself- been doing that a bit with some insects lately LOL. Anyway-

The iguana had bitten the lady on the finger and the result was surgery and a close call- she nearly lost the functional use of her finger. After the incident, her adult children begged me to take the iguana off her hands as I was the only home she would consent to give it up to.

OK so here's the kicker- when I went to pick up the lizard, the lady approached this huge iguana and it puffed up, flattened out, stood up on his toes, extended his dewlap- totally and completely typical threat posture. The lady melted, approached him cooing "ooooooh Edmund darling", then she turned to me and said "Look! He knows me! He loves his mommy!" She interpreted his threat posture not as a threat but as a sign of recognition and affection for her. I went away with the lizard amazed that the lady had not been injured sooner and more seriously.

When you hold a chameleon and he closes his eyes- it is not a good sign. It's a stress response. An attempt to pretend you aren't there and zone you out- hoping that you will go away and leave him alone because he is either dead or because he is clearly showing that you are dominant.

Sorry to be so blunt, but there it is.

Try hand feeding to develop a positive emotional response from your lizard and connection with your lizard over time instead.

Well said. This probably happens A LOT among reptile owners.

 

[camimom]

Around 3 inches big,, oh well that's really early in the morning so maybe he's still sleepy-3- that's around 6am and I switch off their light at 2 something am -3-

First, that male is at least 4 months old. Barring does not occur when a month old.

Second, your light schedule is WAY off.

12 on 12 off yes, but it should be closer to the times of the sun rising/setting.

if its dark outside, they will sleep, even if their lights are still on.

You should be changing your light schedule to lights on around the sun coming up, and lights off when the sun goes down.

Also, they need to be separated.

Females are always smaller so they are probably close to the same age.

Please read through our care sheet.