Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A couple of weeks ago we added a Panther to our collection and he is so amazing that I am thinking about adding more. My question is how long does it take for them to get hand tame? He doesn't like getting taken out of his cage he puffs up, bites, hides behind his perch and runs away if I reach for him. But once he is out he does pretty good as long as I stay fairly still - I usually just sit down with him for about 10 minutes and then move him to his outdoor cage. But - if I start moving about or if someone else comes into the room while I'm holding him he gets all panicky and tries to jump. I know people who have Chams that just hang out on them all cool like all day long - how much handling does it take to break them in? Or is it just a temperament they are born with? Also does it help to handle more or could my daily handling be stressing him out?

Thanks!
-----
Tosha
JET Pythons

As I've read on care sheets and reading threads on this site and on another sites forums chams are the handleing type of reptile...should only handle them when cleaning their cage or moving them to another cage...Though there are a few exceptions to this when the chams will tolerate/mildy like being handled...like my female Werner's i open her cage and shes right there..and is willing to come out for a short handling session before going back into her cage to get her daily crickets and misting of her cage.

Try to keep your handlings to maybe 5mins a session so that maybe your cham will end up atleast tolerateing being handled.

regards,
7DeadlySins
-----
1.0 Ambilobe Panther Chameleon- Shadi

If you wanted an animal you could play with you got the wrong one. They do not like to be handled. Some will tolerate it a bit better than others, in that some bite less than others. But in all cases handling will stress them out. That's what all that puffing up, biting, probably dark vertical colour bands and maybe hissing is about. They don't like fast movements around them either, so move slowly.
Enjoy looking at him and leave him alone as much as possible.
-----
SandraChameleon@gmail.com
BC Canada