Ok, give me some input please.

[gfisher2002]

Now that Lucy's tongue is ok, I've stopped feeding her as much as she wants everyday. She was eating 12 to 15 crix a day. Now I'm back to 10 to 12 every 2 days. The days she isn't getting fed she paws the glass on the front and follows me around her cage as I clean it BEGGING to be picked up and fed. This must be normal right. It's hard not to feed her. She is so friendly, and especially when she wants something. Will she give up on it or always beg for food. I'm sure she's fine and all, just thought the topic might bring up some interesting stories from everyone and give us something to talk about. (cough, cough, I might be a little worried too because she's my first cham and I've been through hell with the tonuge swallowing thing recently)
But mostly just to talk with everyone.(I'm a wuss) Because it's a good topic we can all relate too. (cough, I can't say no to my cham)(cough, she bosses me around)

[Trace]

As per discussions on other threads I'm glad you are cutting her back on the food, you don't want an overweight female chameleon. I meant to ask in the other thread too... has she laid eggs or been bred before you took her on? Any idea on her history?

As for the diet, basically you've cut her food intake in half. You could take it a bit more slowly if you want. You were at 12-15 a day, go to 10-12 a day for a few days or week, then 8-10 for a few days etc. Going on a gradual decrease in food is probably better for them anyways.

Unfortunately there are no rules persay about how many bugs you should feed a chameleon on a daily basis. I feed my adult females 6-8 bugs a day and that amount seems to keep them at a consistent weight. For Lucy, it might be 8-10 bugs a day? Every chameleon is different. I also don't have a set schedule for feeding my posse either. I usually do it everyday, but if I miss one here or there I don't panic.

She sure does boss you around. It's easy to tell who wears the pants in that household. All my females have some sort of permanent PMS issue. They are horrible, nasty little creatures that barely tolerate my existence. It's nice to see that someone out there has a friendly female. While I don't usually recommend people handle their chameleons, there are a few animals that don't mind it. If she wants out, take her out. Let her sit on your shoulder/hand and interact with her. She'll let you know when she's had enough.

I hope my random musings help in some way.

Trace

[Collide]

lol yea my females show me too they dont want to come out though they just watch me like a hawk when im in the room its funny. Not with there eyes though they move ther head to follow me as to grab my attention crazy little guys sometime they make me think they are smarter then i give them credit for. one of the girls will try and hit my hands when i open her cage she is so excited i might have food lol. ahhhh nice to have people who understand and sont think im crazy ....right?...lol

[gfisher2002]

Right!

[gfisher2002]

For some reason she loves being handled. I don't have much history on her but I know she went on a hunger strike before I got her and had a nasty disposition. My pet store dude took her in and told me about her since I was lookin for a cham. She tamed down for him alot and took a liking to me. So he gave her to me. he thouht her growth might end up stunted because of her previous neglect. She has never puffed up or hissed on me. He said hold her for 10 minutes and she will probably get pissed and want back in the cage. But from the get go she has loved my shoulder. I was scared of her falling so I sewed a vine on a sweater I got. I wear it when I take her out.

I've heard that some chams stressed with their home often reach to their keeper looking for higher ground. This is often mistaken for affection. But I sat on the floor and reached way up to her and she climbs onto my hand immediately and crawls down my arm to my shoulder. So that rules that out.

As soon as I get home she paws the glass on her cage (just the front is glass) and follows me around the room in her cage. So I pick her up and she'll sit on my shoulder for more than an hour. When I try to put her back it takes some effort to get her on her branch. I've watched a whole movie with her on my shoulder and after an hour my girlfriend said her eyes were closed and she was sleeping. When she's up there she wraps her tail around the back of my neck, puts one hand on my ear and leans against my neck. I was expecting a cham that would puff up everytime I took her out. She is soooooo strange. Not like anything I've read in a book.

Well I could ramber for hours about her so I'll stop myself. I've often wondered if her affection is a sign of something being wrong. I hope not. From my experience with reptile behaviour, I don't see any signs of distress or listlessness. I guess she's just happy I love her as much as I do.

'me looks over at Lucy and smiles who's, yes, sitting on my shoulder'

[Collide]

Iv heard lots of so called neglected chams that are the friendliest things interisting.... mabey she dosent like her inclosure lol just kidding... well enjoy her cuz one day she might decide to hate your guts...

[gfisher2002]

Collide, I've often wondered if she is unhappy with her home. When I post pics you all cab tell me. I'm sure it's perfect. I watch her humiditytemperature like a hawk. Loads of branches and plants for cover. 4 sides screen, front is glare reduction plexi. I've tried to test different things in her enclosure and try to make her enclosure seem safer than my hand and such but she always likes me to pick her up. When she has just ate and she's basking she won't climb onto my hand. She just looks at me like "what? I'm suntanning here!" But never gets mad. I hope she never changes. Doesn't matter, I'll love her anyway.