Why does my veiled chameleon hate me all of a sudden?

[Lissacampbell11]

So I got her in September and she last fully shed about two weeks ago. I take her out every couple days so she's used to me handling her. I noticed yesterday her nose looks like it's starting to shed but I don't know why because she last did so recently. Anyway starting last night she became super moody and she's never done that before. She turns pretty dark and gets all puffed up and kind of lunges at me like she's going to bite me. Why is she doing this?! this photo was taken around when I first got her a few months ago. Thank you!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Hate? That's a bit of a construct. Think more along the lines of what are you doing that is upsetting her and change your behavior.

 

[Lissacampbell11]

Yes but I don't really think I'm doing anything different than I always have. I generally leave her alone besides when I'm misting the terrarium and feeding her. Other than that she never minded before when I took her out and let her walk around on me.

 

[kwengkynator]

Why? Cause its a veiled cham!

Just kidding. These animals are generally tolerant of handling when young. I have 2 veileds I handled them everyday on their 1st few months but as time went on they became more and more demanding of independence. Rarely do I get to handle them. Just get used to it. Its not that bad

 

[jajeanpierre]

Yes but I don't really think I'm doing anything different than I always have. I generally leave her alone besides when I'm misting the terrarium and feeding her. Other than that she never minded before when I took her out and let her walk around on me.

She may be growing up and not tolerating what she tolerated when she was younger. I have a male veiled who will come running to the front of the cage and running up my arm. However, if he isn't interested in coming out, he'll puff up and if I push it, gape at me. Same chameleon, same day. Sometimes he's bothered by my invading his space, others times not so much. I suspect he's always bothered, but some days he's just desperate to get out.

Hate is such a loaded term. I don't think it is even an emotion they are capable of experiencing. Love is another emotion that just isn't likely a part of the inner workings of a chameleon's mind.

Much of the aggression chameleons exhibit--puffing and gaping--is a fear response. When faced with any undesirable behavior, think about what triggers that behavior and adjust so that you modify your behavior before you get that behavior. Behavior doesn't happen in a vacuum.

For example, if you want to take her out and you put your hand in her cage and she looks and starts to lean her body away, you have a pretty good idea she is going to puff up if you continue. You can move your hand back a bit to where she relaxes and try again more slowly or you can call it a day. Just know that your interaction with her on one day will set up the pattern of your future interactions.