When is the right time to hold my new veiled?

[AndrewWelch]

I just got my first chameleon last weekend and I want to know when is the right time to try and hold him and hand feed him? Right now everytime I put my hand in the cage to put more crickets or do something with the water he runs away from me to the top of the cage :/.

 

[lindawaz]

You can try by putting a stick in there instead of your hand. If they go on it slowly move it out of the cage. Sticks are their friends, big scary hand coming into cage- not so much!

You said doing something with the water. Do you have a water bowl in there? if so, please remove it. Chams don't usually drink from standing water bowls. They breed bacteria very well though. A dripper would be best because it will pool on the leaves and simulate rain drops

 

[DavidBuchan]

It's usually recommended to let a new Cham settle in for a week before handling him. Try to 'persuade' him to walk onto your hand (or branch), don't pick him up from the top and pull him off the branch. If you hold food in front of him when he's hungry and wait patiently then he''l probably come over to you.........

 

[AndrewWelch]

You can try by putting a stick in there instead of your hand. If they go on it slowly move it out of the cage. Sticks are their friends, big scary hand coming into cage- not so much!

You said doing something with the water. Do you have a water bowl in there? if so, please remove it. Chams don't usually drink from standing water bowls. They breed bacteria very well though. A dripper would be best because it will pool on the leaves and simulate rain drops

I have a water dish but I use it for vegetables. I have a water dripping system set up, and I spray his cage with warm water frequently.

 

[lindawaz]

what a perfect use for a water bowl! Wish I could get Lily to eat veggies