Nail clipping

[chameleoman]

does anyone here clip there chams nails? my males look to long and hurt when i hold him plus when hes walking on the screen it looks like his nail gets a little stuck and it looks like hell try to pull his nail out and its a little stuck but he eventually gets it out

 

[Seeco]

Problem is the screen not the nail. Don't do it (but if you do, do it while he is sleeping).

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Problem is the screen not the nail. Don't do it (but if you do, do it while he is sleeping).

No, they use their claws to grip, I wouldn't recommend doing it at all. Especially if you don't know how, you could hurt him.

 

[tkilgour]

I do not believe in nail clipping. They need them to climb and hold on to branches. Try adding more foliage and branches so you cham climbs on them and not the screen. That is my opinion any way.

 

[chameleoman]

I do not believe in nail clipping. They need them to climb and hold on to branches. Try adding more foliage and branches so you cham climbs on them and not the screen. That is my opinion any way.

thats what i was thinking i put a big fake palm tree in the cage but took it out because it was dirty i scrubbed it in soapy water still didnt work so im waiting for the next super show in Orange county fair grounds im problaly going to that one for a early birthday present i told my mom if we could go so i could get some stuff

 

[Seeco]

No, they use their claws to grip, I wouldn't recommend doing it at all. Especially if you don't know how, you could hurt him.

Why quoting me?

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Why quoting me?

You told him to do it while he was sleeping.

 

[Seeco]

No I told him not to do it.

 

[sdheli420]

im with karma on it...i wouldnt ever clip the nails on my chams..and anytime i noticed them screen climbing ied just add more branches and plants..usually keeps them on the "paths" rather than using the screen..and if you have sensitive skin, wear thin gloves when you handle your cham..

 

[JackP308]

I dont trim but I try to put a lot of bark/ rough stuff to climb on compared to say ropes and dowels that some keepers use. They seem to naturally trim when climbing on trees and rougher surfaces.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Also clipping in it's sleep is a bad idea, they sleep in the dark, so you wouldn't have any light and you could be clipping god knows what. If it woke up they can get all defensive and hurt themselves either by falling off where they're sleeping or moving and getting their toes clipped.

 

[Hoj]

i wouldnt be clipping the nails, i have acctually noticed my veiled scratching his claws on a branch before almost lke a cat and all i could assume is that he is doing nail maintience.

 

[Action Jackson]

Ahh. This is the problem with keeping large Chameleons in store bought screen cages. I learned this lesson years ago. Even if thier claws are worn down they can still get them stuck in the screen and they can lose them. 1/8" 1/4' and 1/2' screening is more suitable for larger Cham's imo.

 

[chameleoman]

oh no my dad built his 2x2x4 cage stained and sealed wood and everything look for the cage picture

http://s1119.photobucket.com/albums/k629/chameleoman/?action=view&current=IMG_20111002_145024.jpg

 

[Texas Panther Man]

An easy fix is to buy some 1/2 inch screen and line three sides of that the cage, he will climb on the larger screen & his nails wont get caught.

 

[Seeco]

jesus f'ing christ

 

[ChameleonNerd]

time for me to point out logic

you get used to chameleon nails, at least everybody i know does.

main logic point: chameleon nails at the base, connected to their hand, are extremely thick, as thick as the toe it comes out of. like a needle head, the further out the nail goes, the thinner it gets. so thick at the base, thin and sharp at the tip. if you cut the thin part, you will leave a piece that is most likely thin enough to be pushed into screen, but hard to get out. So your cham will either not be able to grip to screen, or his nails will get caught EXTREMELY easily

 

[Elizadolots]

jesus f'ing christ

I know!!!

time for me to point out logic

you get used to chameleon nails, at least everybody i know does.

main logic point: chameleon nails at the base, connected to their hand, are extremely thick, as thick as the toe it comes out of. like a needle head, the further out the nail goes, the thinner it gets. so thick at the base, thin and sharp at the tip. if you cut the thin part, you will leave a piece that is most likely thin enough to be pushed into screen, but hard to get out. So your cham will either not be able to grip to screen, or his nails will get caught EXTREMELY easily

Yeah...just leave their nails be. It's not like they're guinea pigs or something similar....their nails will not grow back into their palms to create problems.

I'm just happy that this is something we don't have to do! Cutting the guinea pigs' nails is always a trauma....

 

[DavidBuchan]

time for me to point out logic

you get used to chameleon nails, at least everybody i know does.

main logic point: chameleon nails at the base, connected to their hand, are extremely thick, as thick as the toe it comes out of. like a needle head, the further out the nail goes, the thinner it gets. so thick at the base, thin and sharp at the tip. if you cut the thin part, you will leave a piece that is most likely thin enough to be pushed into screen, but hard to get out. So your cham will either not be able to grip to screen, or his nails will get caught EXTREMELY easily

Yeah, there's no point in doing it, and it's difficult to do. Logic wins