Smidget's first free range adventure.

[Psychobunny]

Smidget is the only un-tamed cham in my group and is not crazy about people in general.
I decided to let him out and spend the night on the free range.

It was is first time out of his cage, he moved really slow and careful like they do when they are avoiding preditors, the 'wavy leaf walk' LOL.

Anyway, he got to sleep up there and I had a bit of trouble getting him back into his warm home to recharge his 'batteries'.

He puffed and snapped at me, and I was afraid he to do the dreaded "suicide drop", but he finally got on my hand to be escorted home.

I am hoping a few more outings, along with hand feeding attempts, will get him tame at last

I don't expect him to love me and wag his tail, and slober all over my face, I just want him to be comfortable enough around me to climb on my hand for when I have to move him.

I was able to get one pic, he HATES my camera, and hide behind whatever he could find:

P.S. Smidget is a 8 month old male Nosy Be from FL Chams.

 

[Psychobunny]

Well, I think I spoiled another one!! LOL

I put Smidget back home, he eats a few silkies, basks fore a few hours, then starts scratching at the screen door again to be let out!!

What have I started!!??

He caught on really fast, I think I need to elevate his cage a few feet because
he likes to find places up high.

This time, he didn't run from the camera and snagged a crick which had just escaped Squee's cage:

 

[hayden]

He's so lucky! Haha I want to do the same for my Cham but I don't trust him enough to drop down from high up and make a break for it and never see him again maybe when lights out and see what he does? Cause I know when it's bed time they find a bed and stay there for the night but it makes me nervous

 

[midcoastchameleon]

Free range setups are always awesome!!

 

[PattyCake]

Oh that's great! I love how you always use the term "Suicide Drop" Go Smidget!

 

[Psychobunny]

Well, let him out the second time like I said and put him back home at dinner time.
We wolfs down some cricks, basks a little while, then wants back out AGAIN and it's past 4pm (lites go out at 6).

This is extremely odd behavoiur for him, that one time out to free range did it!!
Before, he would just hide in the back of the cage and stay pretty much in one place.
He was a lump on a stick!! LOL

Now he is acting like a little monkey. I guess he never knew that coming out of his cage was a possible option!!

He still hisses and puffs up at me, but I have learned it's all bluff and he gets on my hand anyway (he aint exactly digging it though!!)

 

[hayden]

Haha I will try that they are so cool to watch. Valcron is starting to get much more photogenic !!

 

[Psychobunny]

Oh that's great! I love how you always use the term "Suicide Drop" Go Smidget!

LOL!! I first saw a cham do that when I got Smeagie.

I let him out of his cage when he was little, and he climbed on top of his
cage and kinda, 'froze' there!! I didnt know what else to do but try to get him on my hand, slowly and carefully, but... clunk'....on the hardwood floor he goes, and scampers into the dinning room hissing like a snake the whole way!!

That's when I decided "suicide drop" was appropriate

 

[Psychobunny]

Haha I will try that they are so cool to watch. Valcron is starting to get much more photogenic !!

It was a little easier handling him to get him back home the second time out.
Way less hiss and puff effects!!

Maybe I finally found the 'secret' to taming Smidgie

Just keep letting him out on the free range every day (so he can poop on the floor!! )