Yemen male purring!!

[Psychobunny]

At about bedtime, Smeagie likes being pet. This actually puts him to sleep.
I gently stroke the sides of his tail and tummy, and esp, under his chin.
I know he loves it because now he is lifting up his head a bit so I can reach under his chin better, and he closes his eyes and PURRS like a cat!!

I can hear and feel the vibrations. I looked this up in one of my cham books and it said (male Yemen chams only) it's not known for sure why they purr, but it's believed to be connected with MATING!!

so now I wonder, is Smeagie getting 'turned on' by this??

I dont want to think I'm sexually arrousing my pet chams!!

 

[italian chameleon]

mine vibrated like a mobile phone when I was holding him to give him his worm medication. as far as i know it doesn't have anything to do with sex, it's a stress reaction! basically telling you to leave him alone!
I've been also told that even closing his eyes it's a stress reaction, it's like i don't see you so you're not there, iguanas do that too! sorry if that sounds mean but chameleons don't like human contact! at all!

P.s in what book did you read the mating thing?

 

[jannb]

I've heard Luie do this a few times and all my female veileds have vibrated quite a few times and Camille use to do it quite frequently. Ive even heard one of my male panthers do it a couple of times. I call it, they are talking to me. They always do in late in the evening right before bed time when they are all relaxed. I definitely don't think they are stressed. It seems more like that it's when they are feeling really good.

 

[Psychobunny]

I have also heard both of those theories, the eyes closing, and the purring being caused by stress and I dont totally believe it.

I believe I would know if I was putting him under stress, he would hiss, gape, puff up, or simply turn and walk away. That is how they react to stress and fear.
I have had him long enough to understand his body language.

My cham has given me several indications to support my theory that he does in fact, enjoy being pet (the lifting of his head is one of them).

With that said, I do believe that touching a cham may scare him and he will "freeze" like a rabbit in a car light, but that is not indicated in this case and I think people get the 2 reactions confused.

I have 3 cham books and dont remember the one I mentioned so I will have to wait till I get home to look it up

 

[italian chameleon]

I have also heard both of those theories, the eyes closing, and the purring being caused by stress and I dont totally believe it.

I believe I would know if I was putting him under stress, he would hiss, gape, puff up, or simply turn and walk away. That is how they react to stress and fear.
I have had him long enough to understand his body language.

My cham has given me several indications to support my theory that he does in fact, enjoy being pet (the lifting of his head is one of them).

With that said, I do believe that touching a cham may scare him and he will "freeze" like a rabbit in a car light, but that is not indicated in this case and I think people get the 2 reactions confused.

I have 3 cham books and dont remember the one I mentioned so I will have to wait till I get home to look it up

very interesting! never heard of chams enjoying being pet! it's always good to hear new theories and experiences!