Need help. Mean cham. Mom wants her gone...

[mychamtini112012]

My mother has officially said if she doesn't cut out the whole trying to bite thing I need to search for a friendlier cham. Not something to cuddle with by all means, but something won't bite either me or my sister. She is a eight month old veiled. Any ways to make her nicer.? She hisses, puffs up, flares up, and lunges at me whenever I open her cage or even get close to the cage. She's tries to bite and has bit once before. I need to calm her down a bit so I can keep her though. Any ideas.?

 

[CamiGirl89]

Veiled chameleons (especially the girls) can be very territorial about their cage. My best suggestion is to hold your hand completely flat when trying to get her out of the cage. This will make it harder for her to bite since she is working against a flat surface. Also, try hand feeding and see if that helps her warm up to your hand. My female still lunges and hisses when in her enclosure, but is very nice when not in her cage. This, however, is a hard thing to break. Veiled chams are territorial, it is just in their nature. Just keep working with her! You could have the same luck with another veiled! Just the luck of the draw!

 

[Elizadolots]

If you don't take her out of the cage, she won't bite.....

Sorry to state the obvious, but that's the deal. Just stop trying to take her out.

by the way, HI!

I'm not trying to be a bitch, but I rarely handle my chameleons. I view them as "almost" fish...I would never take a fish out to show it around...there are reasons to take your chameleon out, but there's no NEED to take it out regularly.

Some chameleons are open to being handled, many aren't. That does not make them less wonderful.

 

[patrickfraser]

How old was she when you got her? Has she always been this way? Maybe it's just her time of the month.

 

[mychamtini112012]

If you don't take her out of the cage, she won't bite.....

Sorry to state the obvious, but that's the deal. Just stop trying to take her out.

by the way, HI!

I'm not trying to be a bitch, but I rarely handle my chameleons. I view them as "almost" fish...I would never take a fish out to show it around...there are reasons to take your chameleon out, but there's no NEED to take it out regularly.

Some chameleons are open to being handled, many aren't. That does not make them less wonderful.

I've only handled her twice since i got her. Once to take her out and post pics to make sure she was in fact a girl. And second to move her from her tank I got her in to the screen enclosure she is in now. She's does all this when I simply open the cage to hand mist her, feed her, or clean her cage.

 

[mychamtini112012]

Ummmm...she would of been six months old. And yes, she's always been this way.

 

[CamiGirl89]

I've only handled her twice since i got her. Once to take her out and post pics to make sure she was in fact a girl. And second to move her from her tank I got her in to the screen enclosure she is in now. She's does all this when I simply open the cage to hand mist her, feed her, or clean her cage.

This could be it! She probably is just not used to you handling her. How long have you had her? If you've only handled her twice in several months timing, she probably has not thought often about something like you coming near her cage. Could just be a scary experience to her right now because she is not used to you trying to handle her!

 

[mychamtini112012]

I've had her for almost two months. I don't handle her because she's mean though. And I feel I extremely stress her out when I try. So I just let her chill there. But every day I feed and hand mist, she still tries these things. She has to get use to these things. She's on a schedule.

 

[CamiGirl89]

I'd just be patient with her. Don't force her to be handled, since you are right, it can stress her out. But 2 months is not very long, and she could still be a little nervous. Unfortunately, not all chams are meant to be held. They prefer being left alone. However, just keep working with her, maybe once or twice a week try to handle her just a little. If she becomes too stressed, just leave her alone. Keep hand feeding, she will eventually catch on to the idea that the huge, scaleless giant means food and water!

 

[italian chameleon]

are there enough plant in the vivarium? if she has a place to hide in the foliage where she feels safe she shouldn't be so grumpy. anyway you have to be very patient with chameleons, or wear tick gloves! you choose

 

[carol5208]

instead of trying to have you handle her to get her out, try letting her come out on her own terms. I would open the door, set a large potted plant infront of the door and see if she will climb onto that. Give her time and be patient, and if she does, I would maybe put on a glove(I used a green one in the beginning) and approach her slowly this way. Dont, go from behind. Let her see you and never grab her, but let her climb onto you instead You can also try a branch and see if you can get her to climb on that. If you do just go and sit somwhere with the branch on your lap and let her check you out and realize you are not going to eat her or harm her. I think she is still young enough where you can work with her and get her to handleable. There is always the chance that she may always just be mean though. Try all avenues and give it TIME, before you give up on her.

 

[EvilLost]

I think it is very important to ask yourself what exactly it is you are trying to accomplish.

Are you trying to get her to stop hissing when you do cage maintenance because it bothers you or because you think there is something wrong with the chameleon?

You shouldn't be handling your chameleon as a general rule, but this doesn't mean you should NEVER handle them (it is 100% ok to never handle them, don't get me wrong).


No handling -> territorial / hissy
Some handling (up to a limited point) -> they calm down
Too much handling -> other stress issues


Since she has become territorial of her cage, you can try leaving it open with a vine to climb out on and sit on the other side of the room watching her (but make sure to monitor don't get distracted if it takes her 1-2 hours to come out!). If she comes out of the cage on her own, let her get a few feet away before you approach her.


How do you "pick her up"?

When you do approach her to pick her up and return her to her cage, don't "pick her up". Instead put your hand in front of her and let her climb onto it. You may have to start further away and slowly move it towards her. This process will take (possibly long) time.

If she is as you describe very aggressive/defensive, then the first few times you may have to actually pick her up. Just pick her up and place her on your hand (stay near the ground just incase). If she bites, just let her but DO NOT show any reaction. Let her sit on your hand, biting you. After a few seconds she will realize that you are not doing anything to her DESPITE the fact that she is harming you and will likely stop at least long enough for you to put her back.

Rinse and repeat...and slowly make distances less and less until you don't need to wait for her to come out of the cage, and voila* she doesn't stress at you anymore

*will take dedication and time

EDIT: Derp, didn't see carol beat me to it on page 2 >.<

 

[Elizadolots]

Can I ask why you open the cage to mist her?

 

[BoopDoop]

Eight months old is the age that my male veiled chameleon started to get aggressive, he's now about a year old and has calmed down alot now that i spend time with him and let him free range for a couple hours every other day, I'm not saying that every chameleon will calm down after sometime but my chameleon has.

 

[ataraxia]

You have received some great advice so far..

Honestly, id like to see a video of her trying to bite you while you are misting, feeding or cleaning cage. You have to be getting way to close for the chameleons comfort. The feistiest chameleons i have come in contact with never came at me with aggression when misting. Some on here have great tempered chameleons but in general they are NOT a animal to be handled for pleasure. You may want to look into a bearded dragon or maybe a leopard gecko

 

[MamaD]

Okay...here's the thing. Some cham owners believe that you can train your cham to get used to being handled while others believe that whatever their personality is, it just is. I really don't know if either way is right or wrong and I have no intentions of disputing one or the other. All you can do is try. I tend to go with the latter. I have some that are just plain cranky while others are super friendly. They all have the same cage setup, same plants, low traffic areas, same everything. Sometimes the glove method works. Sometimes the plant or stick for them to crawl out on their own works. Sometimes the way you present your hand works. I'm sure this doesn't help at deciding how to deal with her.Sorry!LOL Just try them all and go from there.

 

[BoopDoop]

Its all personallity apperently we got very aggresive ones, and your chameleon will probaly not bite you, mine has opened his mouth and acted like he was going to bite me but never did, if your chameleon wont hand feed like mine won't then stay by her when she is eating this is a good way to start a bond with her if she let's.

 

[Mredhorse]

MamaD hit it right on...
I have had Veiled since they have been in the pet trade. Their temperments are all different and some, even treated the same in every way, are whom they are. I have had newborns of both sexes and some females are aggressive and other times it is the male. (my wife does not like the hissers and lungers, but we can't control what they are like) I on the other hand like the different behaviors. I have had a few large males that were given to me that bit like crazy. I put on a glove and let them bit and bit until they realized it did nothing and they would stop. (not that it always would work) short story:::I was picking a female from Lance (here on the forum) and he had the biggest male Veiled I had ever seen; awesome animal, it almost removed my knuckle. Ha ha ha He knew not to let go too and taught me a lesson. Lucky for me I can pretend it did not hurt but I am sure Lance knew from the shredded skin it hurt. Nothing is wrong with keeping animals for display only..JMHO

 

[BoopDoop]

Its all personallity apperently we got very aggresive ones, and your chameleon will probaly not bite you, mine has opened his mouth and acted like he was going to bite me but never did, if your chameleon wont hand feed like mine won't then stay by her when she is eating this is a good way to start a bond with her if she let's. I have only one chameleon and give all my attention to him. Like just a second ago my Chameleon ate from some forcepts for the first time, he has really changed! Sorry I posted this twice, my phone is acting up.

 

[sdheli420]

2 months is not long enough..my male panther took 6 months before he quit hiding or puffing and opening his mouth..now he rushes me to be held and hand fed..i think its just time and gaining trust..hand feed as much as possible (if at all possible) to gain trust over time, she will associate you with good things..but like others say, some are just plain ol' crankey