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Every morning my daughter turns on Zoe's lights, around 7AM. When I get home from work at 7:30, I fill his dripper, and every other day, get his repta-aide ready to feed him, which usually works out to be around 8am. This gives him a good hour to wake up, bask for bit to warm up, and have a drink.
This morning when I got home from work, I got Zoe's "breakfast" prepared as usual.
Lately it's been getting more and more difficult to get him to come out of his cage. He grabs onto to anything and everything to not have to leave. So rather than getting into a wrestling match with him, lately I've just been feeding him right inside his home. It's more awkward for me, reaching in, and up to his height, but for awhile it seemed to be much easier on Zoe.

Well, this morning, Zoe was in FOUL humour!! As soon as I reached inside his cage, he began hissing at me, louder than I remember hearing before. He flattened right out, and was, it appeared quite ready to bite me. My son could hear him hissing across the room, over top of the volume of the T.V.
I decided to be brave, and not let him intimidate me, so I did what I usually do, and layed my hand gently on his back. Usually he settles down when I do this. I don't know if it's from the heat of my hand, or if it's just a signal to him that food is on it's way.

He did stop hissing for a moment...but kept his mouth open, so I squirted a little repta-aide in. He attacked the syringe! He lunged at it, and clamped his mouth shut! Thankfully it wasn't my FINGER!
Then he got a taste of the repta-aide, and it was almost as if you could see him thinking "hmmmm....food...". He seemed to calm down a tiny bit, but every time I moved my hands, which I have to a lot, as he's up high, and at the back of his cage, he'd hiss like crazy, and turn his "I'm an angry cham" colours.

It looks as though I might have to go back to taking him out of his cage to feed him, so it's on MY turf, and not his. Maybe he will be less territorial.
But...the challenge will be getting him out in the first place!
Anyway...here's some pics of Zoe the big, grumpy, cham! Complete with his breakfast all over his face.

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Kim

This is one gutsy cham. I am always amazed at how well he's done in your care. Of course the typical cham would never appreciate or thank a keeper for their dedication. That would be too much to expect. I think he's one spoiled and very lucky little boy.

I'm sure in his own grouchy way, Zoe loves me....or at least appreciates me a little bit.

I can't believe that it hasn't even been a year that I've had him.
It seems like he's ALWAYS been with me, but in reality it's only been 8 months.
I just love him SO much!!
I actually take his grouchiness as a good sign, as we all know, that's what chams DO. Be grouchy. Considering how docile he was when I first got him, and while he was battling to get healthy again...I try to take it as his way of showing me that he's feeling good, and is "happy", in his own backward chameleon way.
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Kim

>>Every morning my daughter turns on Zoe's lights, around 7AM. When I get home from work at 7:30, I fill his dripper, and every other day, get his repta-aide ready to feed him, which usually works out to be around 8am. This gives him a good hour to wake up, bask for bit to warm up, and have a drink.
>>This morning when I got home from work, I got Zoe's "breakfast" prepared as usual.
>>Lately it's been getting more and more difficult to get him to come out of his cage. He grabs onto to anything and everything to not have to leave. So rather than getting into a wrestling match with him, lately I've just been feeding him right inside his home. It's more awkward for me, reaching in, and up to his height, but for awhile it seemed to be much easier on Zoe.
>>
>>Well, this morning, Zoe was in FOUL humour!! As soon as I reached inside his cage, he began hissing at me, louder than I remember hearing before. He flattened right out, and was, it appeared quite ready to bite me. My son could hear him hissing across the room, over top of the volume of the T.V.
>>I decided to be brave, and not let him intimidate me, so I did what I usually do, and layed my hand gently on his back. Usually he settles down when I do this. I don't know if it's from the heat of my hand, or if it's just a signal to him that food is on it's way.
>>
>>He did stop hissing for a moment...but kept his mouth open, so I squirted a little repta-aide in. He attacked the syringe! He lunged at it, and clamped his mouth shut! Thankfully it wasn't my FINGER!
>>Then he got a taste of the repta-aide, and it was almost as if you could see him thinking "hmmmm....food...". He seemed to calm down a tiny bit, but every time I moved my hands, which I have to a lot, as he's up high, and at the back of his cage, he'd hiss like crazy, and turn his "I'm an angry cham" colours.
>>
>>It looks as though I might have to go back to taking him out of his cage to feed him, so it's on MY turf, and not his. Maybe he will be less territorial.
>>But...the challenge will be getting him out in the first place!
>>Anyway...here's some pics of Zoe the big, grumpy, cham! Complete with his breakfast all over his face.
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>>
>>
>>-----
>>Kim
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles (Jaida, no name)
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - (still no names)