Scared Cham?

[shane pattimore]

When I walk into my spare room-the chameleons room-he stops what he's doing. He will stop eating a cricket mid-chew. He puffs up if we get close to his tank, even if we move slowly. Sometimes when we aren't even close to the cage, just in the room. He seems very timid. We can't get him on our hands, he puffs up, stands on his hind legs and hisses. My main concern is that we can't even go into the room without him puffing up. He's a six month old panther.

 

[Citizen Snips]

Tank?


Please, fill this out.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

 

[paigesc]

Hi, I'm sure you will get really good advice from the seasoned pros on the forum but from my limited knowledge as a new cham owner myself, I think it's fairly normal for the youngsters to be less than friendly while acclimating to their environment.

We've had our cham for about a little over a month and just recently started bringing him out for very brief periods once or twice a week (mainly due to necessary cage modifications, etc). The first three weeks we couldn't even walk by his cage with a bright colored shirt on without him hissing and puffing. With each passing week he seems to become more comfortable and tolerant of us, though. We can now get within a foot of his cage without him telling us to 'back off!" lol. Ours is also right at 6 months old.

 

[lisa h]

Chameleons are prey animals, and are solitary by nature. They are not animals that need be handled, except for cage cleaning and wellness exams. Some chameleons do become friendly, but this usually takes time. Take your time with him and eventually he will get the idea that "you = food", although he may never want to be handled. There's really very little need to handle them, and as for you being in the room -- he'll get more used to you as he gets more comfortable.

 

[shane pattimore]

Tank?


Please, fill this out.

Chameleon Info:

Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon. How long has it been in your care?
Handling - How often do you handle your chameleon?
Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What is the schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Supplements - What brand and type of calcium and vitamin products are you dusting your feeders with and what is the schedule?
Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? How often and how long to you mist? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings. Has this chameleon ever been tested for parasites?
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.


Cage Info:

Cage Type - Describe your cage (Glass, Screen, Combo?) What are the dimensions?
Lighting - What brand, model, and types of lighting are you using? What is your daily lighting schedule?
Temperature - What temp range have you created (cage floor to basking spot)? Lowest overnight temp? How do you measure these temps?
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels? What do you use to measure humidity?
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Placement - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas? At what height is the top of the cage relative to your room floor?
Location - Where are you geographically located?


Current Problem - The current problem you are concerned about.

- He is a male blue bar ambilobe 6 months old, We have had him for 2 months.
- I have tried to mandle him maybe a dozen times.
- He is eating 8-10 large crickets a day and maybe 12 butter or wax worms a week. Sundays i dust crickets with calcium with D3, Mon-Thurs calcium without d3, Fri vitamin. I am gutloading crickets with, Bug Burger, carrots and potatoes.
- supplements are Repti Calcium, and reptivite
- Misting is done every 3 hours for 1min 30 sec
- Fecal matter is a Brown log with some white . He has not been tested for
parasites.

- He is in a Mesh screen that is 16x16x30
-Lighting is
- Temperature is 70 on the floor and 87 in basking spot, with Humidity ranging from 70% on the floor and 50% at the top of the cage. I am using a digital thermometre/Hygrometre. Overnight temp is 68 degrees.
-I have one small hibiscus and then fake plants that are non toxic.
- Lighting is zoo med, Heat bulb is 50w and uvb light is also zoo med. i have the lighting on for 12.5 hours a day. They turn on at 7am and off at 730 pm.
-The cage is in a spare room where nobody enters with no fans air vents, There is a window in the room but the cage is located away from it. The cage is 3.5 feet off the floor with the top of the cage reaching about 6 feet.

Not really concerned about anything, I am Just wondering why he is scared when i enter the room at. Even if i enter slow he still puffs up and i am now not able to go near the cage without him puffing up. Also cant get him out of the cage now.

 

[Citizen Snips]

Thank you! Everything is in order, but I get cautious when I hear the word tank. I've seen chameleons in fish tanks and it makes me shiver. Anyways, they are solitary creatures and don't like to be bothered. It's hard to not handle and watch them so close because they are so la flare! He needs plenty of space. Like two to three weeks of no handling or gazing. Only contact him when misting and feeding. Some are natural beasts and others are sweet hearts. Mine would puff up and bite me when I had to clean his cage. You can try to lure him out with a cricket or set up a free range. Or take him out, sit on your bed, and place him in your lap. They will crawl all over you and eventually figure out your not trying to get 'em. Good luck.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

The very first time I held mine he took a dump on me. Guess he was comfortable. I have a very docile Senegal though. They can get used to you if you are patient though. How are you picking him up to try to handle him?

 

[mychamybilo]

The very first time I held mine he took a dump on me. Guess he was comfortable. I have a very docile Senegal though. They can get used to you if you are patient though. How are you picking him up to try to handle him?

Thats funny, I guess he was comfortable lol!

At OP: Yeah I would take small steps forward with handling, so you dont overwhelm him, and like some said above be patient with him, becoming friendly takes a little time.

 

[millerman6401]

- He is a male blue bar ambilobe 6 months old, We have had him for 2 months.
- I have tried to mandle him maybe a dozen times.
- He is eating 8-10 large crickets a day and maybe 12 butter or wax worms a week. Sundays i dust crickets with calcium with D3, Mon-Thurs calcium without d3, Fri vitamin. I am gutloading crickets with, Bug Burger, carrots and potatoes.
- supplements are Repti Calcium, and reptivite
- Misting is done every 3 hours for 1min 30 sec
- Fecal matter is a Brown log with some white . He has not been tested for
parasites.

- He is in a Mesh screen that is 16x16x30
-Lighting is
- Temperature is 70 on the floor and 87 in basking spot, with Humidity ranging from 70% on the floor and 50% at the top of the cage. I am using a digital thermometre/Hygrometre. Overnight temp is 68 degrees.
-I have one small hibiscus and then fake plants that are non toxic.
- Lighting is zoo med, Heat bulb is 50w and uvb light is also zoo med. i have the lighting on for 12.5 hours a day. They turn on at 7am and off at 730 pm.
-The cage is in a spare room where nobody enters with no fans air vents, There is a window in the room but the cage is located away from it. The cage is 3.5 feet off the floor with the top of the cage reaching about 6 feet.

Not really concerned about anything, I am Just wondering why he is scared when i enter the room at. Even if i enter slow he still puffs up and i am now not able to go near the cage without him puffing up. Also cant get him out of the cage now.

he should only be given calcium WITH d3 and his vitamins like twice a month, not every week

 

[shane pattimore]

Sorry he is in a Terrarium NOT a tank lol.
As for "trying" to pick him up, I reach in very slowly and he puffs up lol. Actually this week he has been MUCH better. I can walk into the room without him blowing up. A few times this week i was able to get 3 legs on my hand without him doing anything. I guess it all comes with time. I also hear they go through teenage years, maybe that is it too. Anyways Thanks all

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

Sorry he is in a Terrarium NOT a tank lol.
As for "trying" to pick him up, I reach in very slowly and he puffs up lol. Actually this week he has been MUCH better. I can walk into the room without him blowing up. A few times this week i was able to get 3 legs on my hand without him doing anything. I guess it all comes with time. I also hear they go through teenage years, maybe that is it too. Anyways Thanks all

I meant do you grab above him or reach below him.

 

[shane pattimore]

I meant do you grab above him or reach below him.

I stick my fingers below and only when he is facing me.

 

[Todnedo]

Male panthers at that age are fiesty, give him time he will calm down.