Really unsure about this now

[SaintJimmy]

Okay at first I thought my chameleon was just tolerating me (which he may be) but it seems EVERY time I walk to the cage to offer him food, he isn't interested, and instead he just crawls out onto my arm and to my head.

And when I try and put him back in, he runs away. As some may know it's kind of hard to carefully handle a chameleon off your head when you can't see it and when it does not want to be put back in the cage.

My chameleon I think KNOWS I will let him out so he kind of begs, and ignores the food (he still eats) and then crawls up my sleeve, then gets all nervous.

His cage is still a bit small for his age because we have been planning building a standard adult cage for a while and I think he just really wants to seize all the opportunities to escape.

Should I handle him more or not, because he is really itching to get out and I'm afraid he's gonna run all over the place. He isn't interested in staying on my hand at all and immediately crawls up top.

I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to this stuff, so I always have to go slow and make sure I'm holding him okay so it's really hard to get him off my head.
I always have to lay down on the bed, get him off my head and then pick him up again.

What should I do? Handle him more? Free range him? (he isn't interested in staying in one spot anyway, he just wants to explore all over the f-ing place) so that he isn't so antsy to get out until we finish the new cage.

 

[Carlton]

Sounds like he is preoccupied with getting out of his current cage. It is probably too small, down too low, or not have enough plant cover to let him feel comfortable. If he can see a place in the room he thinks is better than his cage, you are his transport method to get there.

I didn't see a description of his current cage?? Time to upgrade maybe.

 

[SaintJimmy]

Sounds like he is preoccupied with getting out of his current cage. It is probably too small, down too low, or not have enough plant cover to let him feel comfortable. If he can see a place in the room he thinks is better than his cage, you are his transport method to get there.

I didn't see a description of his current cage?? Time to upgrade maybe.

Oh no trust me I KNOW his cage is too small. He is around 6 mo (about to shed again, almost adult). Cage is only 16x16x30 something, maybe even 20 in high. Lemme go measure hold up.

Okay it's 16x16x20. Yeah I know it's too small.

Due to a stubborn dad and a very small budget we have not been able to start building a new cage, but we have been planning TONS of stuff.

He is not high enough for sure, I stand about 3 feet taller than his cage. But I have no where higher to ...

...Hm. I have a high dresser but I couldn't reach his cage from there, and it's too small to hold his cage. (plus no outlet for the lights)

He has SO much foliage to hide in so that's not the problem.

Main idea is

• i know the cage is too small
• i know he isnt happy with where he is

I want to know how I can cope with this (extra handling? freerange?) until the new cage is done.

 

[Barb]

I don't have much experience with chams. However, can you let him free range just while you are there to suppervise? Another idea, buy a fake tree, one with lots of foilage and set it outside is cage and see if he will come out onto that and stay there. Try to get as tall of one as possible. You can even make one probably fairly cheap with branches and staple on fake vine plants. Just a couple ideas that may help you out until the larger cage is built. Good luck.

 

[SaintJimmy]

I don't have much experience with chams. However, can you let him free range just while you are there to suppervise? Another idea, buy a fake tree, one with lots of foilage and set it outside is cage and see if he will come out onto that and stay there. Try to get as tall of one as possible. You can even make one probably fairly cheap with branches and staple on fake vine plants. Just a couple ideas that may help you out until the larger cage is built. Good luck.

Thank you for that idea

 

[ReptileLove18]

i think that free ranging him would be fun for both of you! what i would do is look at some of the other forum members free range set ups and get one made of your own for him
a couple things to remember when free ranging:
once he's out, you are going to have to put him back in when its time, he wont want to go back in by himself
feed him in the morning when you turn his lights on. leave him in for several hours so he has plenty of time to bask and digest properly, its said it takes about 4 hours of heat(basking) to digest
during this time he will also be getting his uvb which as you know is very important
make sure any other animals cant get near him, close the door to his room and supervise
and have fun with it! take lots of pics!!

 

[SaintJimmy]

i think that free ranging him would be fun for both of you! what i would do is look at some of the other forum members free range set ups and get one made of your own for him
a couple things to remember when free ranging:
once he's out, you are going to have to put him back in when its time, he wont want to go back in by himself
feed him in the morning when you turn his lights on. leave him in for several hours so he has plenty of time to bask and digest properly, its said it takes about 4 hours of heat(basking) to digest
during this time he will also be getting his uvb which as you know is very important
make sure any other animals cant get near him, close the door to his room and supervise
and have fun with it! take lots of pics!!

I should probably do this as well as leave a plant out there for him.

 

[ReptileLove18]

yes thats generally part of the free range set up, plants and vines for them to climb around on theres lots of cool set ups ive seen here on the forum

 

[ReptileLove18]

and make sure the water is warm not hot because they are cold blooded creatures they are more sensitive to heat then we are

 

[SaintJimmy]

and make sure the water is warm not hot because they are cold blooded creatures they are more sensitive to heat then we are

Yes definitely warm water. Once I forgot to heat up the misting water and little T-lee FREAKED OUT it was funny though

 

[ReptileLove18]

i did that one time too and poor Pablito hated misting every time after, wheither it was warm or not!!

 

[SaintJimmy]

i did that one time too and poor Pablito hated misting every time after, wheither it was warm or not!!

I know.. Sadly he used to like the water and would just sit there in the mist, but now he RUNS AWAY. He always thinks its gonna be cold.

I still warm it up for my baby though!

 

[DavidBuchan]

and make sure the water is warm not hot because they are cold blooded creatures they are more sensitive to heat then we are

To be annoyingly technical about it.........they are now known as 'Ectothermic' animals......
They have a low thermal insulation compared to endotherms such as mammals....


Imagine waking up really cold.....any water that hits you will feel much hotter than it is, due to your lower temp.
Temperature is all relative. When the cham is hot then warm water is cooling.
When the cham is cold, warm water will heat him up.....

As for your problem Sonny....I advise doing what you have been doing and while free ranging use extreme caution (either watch him at all times or make sure there is nothing harmful that he can possibly reach)
When he has a big enough enclosure for him, he should become more settled

 

[SaintJimmy]

To be annoyingly technical about it.........they are now known as 'Ectothermic' animals......
They have a low thermal insulation compared to endotherms such as mammals....


Imagine waking up really cold.....any water that hits you will feel much hotter than it is, due to your lower temp.
Temperature is all relative. When the cham is hot then warm water is cooling.
When the cham is cold, warm water will heat him up.....

As for your problem Sonny....I advise doing what you have been doing and while free ranging use extreme caution (either watch him at all times or make sure there is nothing harmful that he can possibly reach)
When he has a big enough enclosure for him, he should become more settled

Thank you so much David. I'm glad to see you back by the way