How often should i handle my baby veiled chameleon?

i have a cham04 · 03-13-04, 12:28 AM

I was wandering how often you all handle your chams because i was told that they are only suppose to be handled 2-3 times a week and thats it?? thank you for those who respond. ~i have a cham04~

kidchameleon · 03-13-04, 12:46 AM

usually, you shouldnt handle chameleons. it sometimes stresses them out. and also, veileds are known for being quite agressive.

if i were you, i would try holding him and see if he likes being held. in most of the things ive read it says chameleons dont like being handled, but my jackson loves being handled and climbing all over me or whoever else he can. but im sure all chameleons are not like this.

bborysow · 03-13-04, 12:52 AM

It is my humble opinion that Chams should not be handled. They stress so easily. You may not notice it, but it will affect the animal's health over time. I speak from many years of keeping and breeding chameleons.

i have a cham04 · 03-13-04, 12:54 AM

well my cham my 10 month old named him geck so for some reason my family thinks he is a gecko....but my geck loves to be held it seems he climbs on us and when he gets on my fiance he turns this pretty forest green color with green dots with yellowish whitish stripes and his outer lines turn brown? is tht mean he is stressed or whatever? he climbs elsewhere when he is on my fiance but stas still on me just likes the long hair.

bborysow · 03-13-04, 12:58 AM

Yes, those are stress colors you describe.

i have a cham04 · 03-13-04, 01:12 AM

but is it normal for it to get dtressed on one person and not its owner? i have only had him 2 days and he seems to like me he sleeps on me anyway....???

Collide · 03-13-04, 01:18 AM

I find that some veilds under a year old are more pleasent but once they hit adulthood they turn some times there are friendly ones, and soem times people can mastake a cham wanting higher or out of there cage as friendlieyness also. both my male veilds are very grumpy and shy. My female veild is extremly friendly (if i have food lol). I reallly onlu handle my chams if i need to inspect them or move them, asside from my male panther they all dont like to be fussed with.

i have a cham04 · 03-13-04, 01:50 AM

if you handle your cham alot but it doesnt show being streesed by colour how can you know he is stressed he still eats good, and does he only change colors when stressed or does he also change just whenever?

meow_mix450 · 03-13-04, 03:02 AM

change it colour moving to a higher spot to find saftey, thats all i can think of, but you shouldnt be handling it to much. But if you want more trust hand feed the chameleon

Meow

i have a cham04 · 03-13-04, 03:07 AM

you man like actually touch the bugs to feed him or does it eat diffrent crap...

meow_mix450 · 03-13-04, 03:13 AM

lol wut do you meen??? i hold the criket and he would eat it off my hand. Some people cup feed, and some just throw them in his cage, they eat crikets, meal worms, buttter worms, silk worms etc.

Meow

i have a cham04 · 03-13-04, 03:27 AM

eah i knew they eat that stuff....but no i wont touch htme if they are any bigger than pin-heads......they get dumped out of their bucket nto the cage as i feed him...i have my boyfriend touch them ifthey have to be touched but i love the little critter so who knows i might hand feed him tomorrow morning

JeffT · 03-17-04, 11:46 PM

What size crickets are you feeding the cham? Hand feeding the cham is a great was to get it used to you, I hand feed lots of my geckos. By the way, chameleons eat lots of different "crap" so hopefully you wont make its entire diet just crickets.

meow_mix450 · 03-18-04, 01:10 AM

ya JeffT has a good point, one in a while feed it something different if you can, try and find baby mealies, so it woul dbe easyer to digest. But if its realyl dont feed it mealies cause its gonna be hard for the little guy.

Meow

choriona · 03-18-04, 11:28 AM

In reference to those colors you describe, I call them the walking stripes. They all seem to get that when they are cruising in the unknown.

If he is sleeping on you and it is not night time, he is closing his eyes and wishing he wasn't there any more. In this instance I'd say he is stressed.

For hand feeding and trust - if you are like me, you will never get used to touching bugs. I use tweezers for the worms things. But to build trust in my chams, I put the food in a empty margarine container and hold it up to them above your head. Let the cham be in its cage so it feels safe. Then make the bucket shield your veiw of each other. If they can't see your eyes, they are a bit more comfortable. Also, crix tend not to jump out of a container this big, so you don't have to worry about them touching you.