If you are housing a chameleon then you would for sure think about the ways to tame it. Also, while you are trying to tame your pet you first need to do dome research on the same. This is because the chameleons are not like the other reptiles and will require a little more effort for handling. They get easily stressed and therefore it is important for you to take note of the things and treat the chameleons with care.
Well, we find that there might be some people that will advise you that you don’t need to touch them and should check from the outside of their cage. You need to make efforts to know your pet more.
Also, every animal or pet has a different personality and it plays a very important part in their behavior for how you handle them.
Well, with short handling sessions you will get to know your pet even more and no matter how scare or aggressive your pet might feel they will turn out to be better after some time. So in general it is necessary that you carry out the handling sessions well.
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How to tame your chameleon! Fast and simple
You need to go through the following set of steps to know how to tame the pet and how to do it properly.
Take time
When you bring the chameleon home for the first time, no matter what the age you have to see that it will take some time to adjust as per your surroundings and till it adjusts you should not start with the taming process.
These pets are sensitive and take time to adjust to new surroundings. If they do not eat for some days it is absolutely normal, because they time to adjust and may even take time to adapt to the things you provide them. So make sure that you give your chameleon enough time to adjust and should not do the taming for at least two weeks.
Hand feeding
These pets are like men when it comes to feeding. If you feed them with hand then it will respond to it very positively and will not fear your presence. Now, after your pet has acclimated in the surroundings for about 2-3 weeks, you can now try to feed it with your hands. Now while feeding you can hold a prey or you can even hold it with pair of tweezers.
Now, when you do so wait for some time until your pet notices the food and catches it from your hand. Now, after you do it for a couple of times, it will wait for you to bring the food and will be willing that you feed it to them.
Also, while you do so make sure that you do not place your hand very near to it. This might make your pet nervous and it might even bite you. Also, do not stare at your pet, this is because it gets uncomfortable. Also, when you begin to feed your pet with hand it might not catch it for the first time so you need to try a couple of times for it.
Try holding the food for a while and if you feel that your pet is not interested then you can stop. It might even take long for your pet to know that your trying to feed it and it is ok. You should try some tasty treats like the hornworms or the butterworms.
More: How to Care for Jackson’s Chameleons?
Do not force
It is important that you let your pet out for sometime but you don’t have to force this upon them. Wait for them to come out on their own. They stay in the corner of the cage because they are new to the surroundings and they feel scared as well. So, if you want to know why it does not come when you place your hand, it is because it is scared. So, the best thing you can do is that let it take time and come out of its own and do not force anything on it.
Some owners mention that they used to keep the door of the cage open for a lot of time. It might even take hours sometimes but your pet will come out eventually. The next time you do it, it will take less time and the next time even less.
Once your chameleon gets comfortable with the environment and knows that there is nothing to scare him, it will come out if its own. After this you can even try placing your hand in the cage. Make sure you place it a little down so that your pet does not feel scared on seeing it. It will take time to get used to it too.
So you will have to try it a couple of times, it would take time but it will help you in developing trust with your pet. After some days when your pet will get used to your presence as well as your taming sessions it would stay on your hands for a little longer.
Also, the things you need to note are that start with letting your pet out occasionally and also make it used to your hand. This way it would become much easier for you to tame it.
Tame with good things
If you want your taming experience to be good and that it should be positive for your pet as well it is necessary that you do things that they will like. For example you can take the chameleon out in natural light. Or you can even try to let them roam around the house and the plants.
This is the thing that your pet will like the most and enjoy. It will therefore respond o you in a good manner. So by doing this you will make them know that whenever you are around, you are either going to bring food or you are going to take it out.
How often the taming sessions should be done?
You might be thinking for how long the taming sessions should be done and after what intervals, so you should know that every chameleon would be different and would react in a different way.
These pets are not so much domesticated so they are not used to seeing people around them.
These are shy animals and if you try to over-tame them during the first weeks it might get scared.
They will for sure make actions or signals that will help you know that they are not happy, they would turn there color or they will move away. So, if you are willing for constantly hold onto you, then this would not be the right choice of pet for you.
They will definitely learn to be around you, but it does not mean that they will always give you the attention.
Things you should not do:-
We have talked about the handling sessions as well as bringing them out of the cage. Now, we will see what things will make your pet stressful and what you should avoid.
Grabbing
One of the most important things that you have to keep in mind while taming your pet is that you do not have to hold it from the above. This is because the predators usually grab from above and it will mislead your pet.
The chameleons have stayed in the wild and are not used to people around them, so this action of yours will not be helpful. They may even bite you to defend themselves.
Keep them above the head
Another thing that you are required to take care of is that never stay above your pet. This is because if you do so your pet will see you as a predator.
Keep the cage above or somewhere at height. This will help it feel elevated and will not feel as if you are a predator.
Move slowly
If you are in the same place as of the cage then you should try moving slowly and avoid making noises or running. This s because if you make such actions your pet will feel nervous and might even feel you as a threat.
They will not see that they are in the cage and you are moving around in the room, they will only notice your fast movements.
So if you move slowly, your chameleon will feel that it is comfortable and the surroundings are safe. Also, if you provide them the comfortable surroundings they will feel more likely to be around you.
Conclusion
Taming process is not easy and will take time. This may vary from chameleon to chameleon. Every chameleon is different and might see things differently. Do some research before you tame them and respect if they don’t want to be around in the first few weeks.
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