Veiled Outta Control

[MandaRyan]

Our male veiled has gotten EXTREMELY mean in the last couple months. I know that most do and I guess we were just hoping he wouldn't? Wishful thinking I guess Now we can't get anywhere near him, without him trying to bite us. He doesn't even want us to look at him! Is there ANYTHING AT ALL you can do to make them not as aggressive? I noticed most ppl on the sites can hold their chams long enough to take a picture...we can't even do that anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated....if there ARE any.

 

[Justin Carl]

Just get used to it.
Veileds are aggresive chameleons. It's like they are born with a chip on there shoulder.
Chameleon are not supposed to be cuddly pets that you can hold.
They are should be kept as display/show animals.
The only time any of my chameleons are taken out of their cages is for;
1) Super cage cleaning
2) Routine monthly checks for health issues
3) Breeding/egg laying
4) The occasional photoshoot

You might want to invest in a pair of gloves if he scares you.
Veiled males can bite hard, and I've had my share of wounds.
I actually had a male panther bite me three times on Saturday, he actually drew blood.
He is usually calm and collect, but he had just finished breeding and was a bit upset when I pulled him from the cage.

Good luck!

 

[FOREVER ENDEAVOR]

Our male veiled has gotten EXTREMELY mean in the last couple months. I know that most do and I guess we were just hoping he wouldn't? Wishful thinking I guess Now we can't get anywhere near him, without him trying to bite us. He doesn't even want us to look at him! Is there ANYTHING AT ALL you can do to make them not as aggressive? I noticed most ppl on the sites can hold their chams long enough to take a picture...we can't even do that anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated....if there ARE any.

haha.. told you so! usually once you get them on your hand they will settle down.. getting them on your hand is the tricky part..

 

[MandaRyan]

Thanks for your input Chris. We knew from day one that chams aren't cuddly pets we just didn't expect it to get to this level. We were trying to change him over to the bigger cage and we couldn't even get him out of the cage. We have gloves and Ryan tried to get him out gently but we couldn't even coax (sp?) him out until about an hour later.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Everything Justin said is really right on. Most are just mean.

But I have tried to find a way to fix Chams with "People-phobia". I cup feed my chameleons... And whenever possible I hold the cup in my hand.. reach in and present the food that way. I found that if you continuously feed the cham this way... They begin to learn that when you are around that normally means food. After a time...It will get to where when you come around it will almost seem like they are staring you down asking for food. I found that even the chams who like to retreat to hide when the cage opens, over time, with cup feeding by hand, they will start to instead approach you for food when the cage opens. I imagine this may be hard to do with a cham that is a little more mature, and not used to feeding this way.

With my 5 month old veiled Lombardi, who started getting his "tough guy" Veiled attitude as well, I have offered him food like this since I got him at 2.5 months. Now I am at the point where every now and then I offer the cup of food by extending my arm up into the cage... and holding the cup next to my arm around the elbow, so that he can look into the cup and see the prey. He comes out of the cage, and about half way down my arm to nab the prey, and I sit very still and let him sit and enjoy it on my arm. I then allow him to crawl back into the cage to go bask. This is getting the cham used to my interaction... on his own terms, and I have found has boosted my Chams comfort level around me. I do not do this so that I can "play" with my cham... or have fun cuddling him. I have just found that with some display animals...If they are affraid of you...or uncomfortable around you... They end up pretty poor display animals, when they hide everytime you come in the room. Just a little tip I use that may work with some... and may not work for others, every cham is different.

~Joe

 

[gregdabender]

My veiled did that too... He went from crawling on my arm during feedings and cleanings to....I GONNA KEEEEEL YOU !!!! It kinda hurt my feelings a lil....but its a good sign for them yo mature like that.....your doing a good job =)

 

[ciafardo 4]

Everything Justin said is really right on. Most are just mean.

But I have tried to find a way to fix Chams with "People-phobia". I cup feed my chameleons... And whenever possible I hold the cup in my hand.. reach in and present the food that way. I found that if you continuously feed the cham this way... They begin to learn that when you are around that normally means food. After a time...It will get to where when you come around it will almost seem like they are staring you down asking for food. I found that even the chams who like to retreat to hide when the cage opens, over time, with cup feeding by hand, they will start to instead approach you for food when the cage opens. I imagine this may be hard to do with a cham that is a little more mature, and not used to feeding this way.

With my 5 month old veiled Lombardi, who started getting his "tough guy" Veiled attitude as well, I have offered him food like this since I got him at 2.5 months. Now I am at the point where every now and then I offer the cup of food by extending my arm up into the cage... and holding the cup next to my arm around the elbow, so that he can look into the cup and see the prey. He comes out of the cage, and about half way down my arm to nab the prey, and I sit very still and let him sit and enjoy it on my arm. I then allow him to crawl back into the cage to go bask. This is getting the cham used to my interaction... on his own terms, and I have found has boosted my Chams comfort level around me. I do not do this so that I can "play" with my cham... or have fun cuddling him. I have just found that with some display animals...If they are affraid of you...or uncomfortable around you... They end up pretty poor display animals, when they hide everytime you come in the room. Just a little tip I use that may work with some... and may not work for others, every cham is different.

~Joe

this is so true every time i open any of the mellers or veileds they will stare with their shooter cocked and ready but i didnt cup feed i just held the bugs but none of my other species do it

 

[ksau]

Our male veiled has gotten EXTREMELY mean in the last couple months. I know that most do and I guess we were just hoping he wouldn't? Wishful thinking I guess Now we can't get anywhere near him, without him trying to bite us. He doesn't even want us to look at him! Is there ANYTHING AT ALL you can do to make them not as aggressive? I noticed most ppl on the sites can hold their chams long enough to take a picture...we can't even do that anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated....if there ARE any.

My Chameleon is a huge jerk. He always puffs up and hisses at me, he also sometimes lunges to bite me. I built him a larger cage a few days ago. I started taking everything out of his cage...branches, leaves...ect till there was nothing left and he was clung to the wall. I then stuck my hand in and he crawled right on. I guess he realized there was nothing left for him in there and he might as well give it (and me) a shot. haha
I haven't had him out in ages cause he's become so aggressive, but once I had him out he was fine. So I guess it's just getting him out that is tough. I have not figured out how to get him out on a regular day, but at least I know he's ok once he's out.

 

[ksau]

Our male veiled has gotten EXTREMELY mean in the last couple months. I know that most do and I guess we were just hoping he wouldn't? Wishful thinking I guess Now we can't get anywhere near him, without him trying to bite us. He doesn't even want us to look at him! Is there ANYTHING AT ALL you can do to make them not as aggressive? I noticed most ppl on the sites can hold their chams long enough to take a picture...we can't even do that anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated....if there ARE any.

How big is your chameleons cage?
My chameleon used to puff up and hiss anytime I'd stick my hand in the cage. A few days ago I moved him in to a cage that is quite a bit bigger. He seems happier and I just put a gardening glove on one hand and a regular winter mit on the other hand. I used the winter mit hand to guide him on to the hand with the gardening glove. He didn't puff, hiss, or try to bit. I actually got him out for the first time in about 6 months (other than when I moved him into his new cage)

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I think you are experiencing the "teenage phase" You are lucky to have a male.
I think he will grow out of it and calm down, at least enough so that you are not afraid to clean his enclosure or feed him.
Just be patient, my prediction is: this will not last more than 2 or 3 months.

-Brad

 

[laurie]

rescued veil

I rescued an adult veil about a year ago. He would hiss and bite if anyone came near him. (wonder why- these young kids had him in a 12x12x12 cube)
anyway he was way under weight and dehydrated so I put on gloves and started feeding and showering him. Now a year later he "allows" me to pick him up occasionly. Sometimes he still hisses but he no longer tries to bite me. I don't use gloves now but with his grip I am not sure why I don't. I just want him to know it is me not a glove I guess. My husband names him "Lucky" because none of my reptile friends in Calif where I lived believed I could keep him alive. I do love the boy even if he isn't cuddly as some of my panthers are.

 

[summoner12]

I have found that gloves will upset them, even brown. My veiled Jake thinks a brown glove is the devil and attacks it anytime he sees it. He used to mate with it... but I think he had a falling out.

 

[kenya]

I have found that gloves will upset them, even brown. My veiled Jake thinks a brown glove is the devil and attacks it anytime he sees it. He used to mate with it... but I think he had a falling out.

Haha, that made my day. Nice to get an update on the estranged lovers.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I've never used a glove.

-Brad

 

[Grizz]

Screameleons has a video that helped me. my veiled is fast and mean. he has never that i know of liked to be handled. after seeing video, i had no problems. I only remove him to clean his cage or go to vet. last vet visit he bit the nurse. I warned her to go slow and keep his attention with other hand, but she didnt listen. I then showed her what i saw on screameleons video. worked like a charm. http://www.screameleons.com/How_To_Handle_Chameleons.htm

 

[jannb]

Have lots of patience and give him some time. Make sure he's in a very large cage. Move very slow when you are around him. Try hand feeding him some nice hornworms or silkworms. Wear light green colors around him. They seem to like green. When you are around to watch him leave his door open and put a tree in front of it and don't let him see you looking and see if he'll climb out on the tree. Don't rush him and he might come around. Jann

 

[summoner12]

Could have been done better

Screameleons has a video that helped me. my veiled is fast and mean. he has never that i know of liked to be handled. after seeing video, i had no problems. I only remove him to clean his cage or go to vet. last vet visit he bit the nurse. I warned her to go slow and keep his attention with other hand, but she didnt listen. I then showed her what i saw on screameleons video. worked like a charm. http://www.screameleons.com/How_To_Handle_Chameleons.htm

I don't agree with the way those chams were handled. The captions say one thing and the handler is doing something different.

The idea of moving slow is perfect but was not represented well in the vid.