Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, after months and months of Squiggy really not approving of my presence around, near, in the general vicinity of his cage, we have had a breakthrough.

It seems that he has finally made the ultimate association....

I AM THE KEEPER OF THE FOOD!!!!!!

When ever I walk by now, he runs to the front of the cage and starts the "little flick of the tounge". Today he thought that the mister was food. He has eaten from my hand about 6 times now! But when he's had enough, he's had enough and goes right back to hissing at me!

I love positive steps. Will post some new pics soon.

Kris
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2.1 Black Labs Tucker, Raider and Lacey
1.0 Lepoard Gecko Kumar (Another lost pet RIP and party on with Harold!)
2.0 Horses Smoothie and Rocky
1.0 Husbands (he puts up with me)
1.2 Kids-Trevor (congrats c/o 2006), Logan and Rylie
1.1 Ferrets Tank and Ellie (The fun fuzzies)
1.1 Veiled Chams Squiggy and Pudge (may she RIP)
0.1 Snowflake Cornsnake Lucky

Heh, my female Veiled was the same way. Once she associated me with food, the second she saw me get up in the morning or walk by, she'd be at the door waiting. When I came without food, she'd promptly turn to 'angry colors' and walk off to her favorite perch. She was so mean...but I loved her to death. Once I got her to eat out of my hand she calmed down a great deal. She just hated anyone else that came near.

Good luck and keep some patience in reserve

Its amazing how the "little things" make cham keepers happy! I remember when my first melleri strolled across the carpet and voluntarily climbed up my leg and onto my shoulder to get where she wanted to go. I was so thrilled I called my friends and bored my work colleagues for a week. I got more than the usual funny looks. Even now it is still a shining moment in my memory. To know that your antisocial little beauties accept you is worth a lot! Of course we also know that no respectable cham will ever appreciate all the hard work and worry we shower on them or bother to say so!

Cyrus has adjusted so well to our routine. He has even been a little less demanding about getting out and always gives in when it is time to get ready for bed (a good bask and drink). I don't think I've sen angry colors on him since...ever! Well, maybe when I first got him.

He will only eat waxworms from my hand and I think it is only b/c he gets so excited about them! lol!

Congrats on your breakthrough, Kris!!
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
1.1.1 Side-blotched lizards - Ana and Stan and Stan Jr.!
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skippy
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh, Died 4/21/06
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha, donated to science 4/4/06
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Good for you! These little chameleons have soo many surprises don't they? I've just had the same thing happen with my little panther. He's always been so afraid of me and of hands coming close to him freaked him out. Eventually almost out of nowhere he ate a bug from my hand, and he's been doing it ever since without hesitating. Once he realize that hands give him food I think he sortof realized that they aren't a threat. He still gets a little hissy when I try to take him out, but one he has came out he sortof relaxes. I've now been trying to get him more relaxed and enjoy coming out of his cage without getting scared so I try to make it worth his while to come out. I take him on a houseplant/tree outside in the sun if its hot enough and not windy and he's alwaysed liked that. And I've got him to eat out of his cage too, which was a really really big deal maybe this can work for you also, to socialize yours. I'm hoping that next time I see if he wants to come out of his cage, he remembers how much fun he had and all the bugs he got to eat the last time he left home. If he has a good time he will like to come out. So hopefuly he will start to enjoy the freedom outside the cage and stop getting frightened of me. But if he likes the cage better than that's ok too. Its his home.
-ashley