Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have figured out the Bender hates rotating ceiling fans with a passion. If it happens to be on when he's out on my hand (moving to clean or take outside), he'll wrap his tail around my hand, stand up on his hind legs so he's totally vetical and "box" at the fan. Little front arms spread out, waving at the fan. lol Very funny to see!

P.S. Now I make sure the fan is off so he doesn't get stressed at it.

that is too funny! Maybe he thinks it is some pterodactyl-like predator! ha-ha! You must get some pix (video?) of this - well, maybe not. Too bad some of the "funniest" things they do (in our human determination) involve them being stressed.

>>I have figured out the Bender hates rotating ceiling fans with a passion. If it happens to be on when he's out on my hand (moving to clean or take outside), he'll wrap his tail around my hand, stand up on his hind legs so he's totally vetical and "box" at the fan. Little front arms spread out, waving at the fan. lol Very funny to see!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>P.S. Now I make sure the fan is off so he doesn't get stressed at it.
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

I'll try to get some video of him doing it! It makes me laugh when he does it. He's just so focused on "killing" the fan. lol

Your chameleon is demonstrating a flight response. He is stressed by you and the rotating action of the fan. He does not understand you or the moving fan, and these may be "predators" in his primitive mind. He is frightened and trying to flee to safety (chameleons flee upward when scared; the "boxing" action seemingly at the fan is his unsuccessful attempt to find a branch to flee from the stressing objects). Please do not subject your scared chameleon to videotaping just for the mere entertainment of us humans. It is unnecessary and unfair to the frightened and stressed chameleon.

I can see how you misunderstood my post... I am well aware that this was stressing him. Hense my postmessage stating that I have since been careful to make sure the fan is off. But as any human, I know I'm bound to forget one day and since I have both digial and video cameras always on hand, I'd get a shot. I'm not so heartless as to subject my chameleon to stress on purpose. I never force him to come out, he come willingly and when he does, I stay very near his cage in case he wants back in at any moment. I'm sorry I gave the impression that I would stress him on purpose.

Obviously this poster does not know just how much some of us on this forum love our chams. hehe if he/she sticks around I'm sure they will quickly learn.

My old male ambanja boxes every time he gets held... I rarly ever touch him for fear he'll bite a piece of my ear off(lame attempt at a joke)
-----
From Sunny Florida
Jovana's kids listed below
1.1 Veileds
1.0 Ambanja Panther
1.1 Tamatave Panther

My sincere apologies for mistaking your love of your chameleon for naivete. I am not a new poster, and I've read this forum long enough to know its often the first step for beginner-level cham keepers to gain advice. I was only looking out for the welfare of the chameleon populace as a whole, and I felt that prompting a chameleon's seemingly "funny" behavior for videotaping and sharing purposes might be setting a bad example for newbies reading this forum. That was my only intention, and I apologize again for assuming the worst on your behalf.

~Kerry

I totally understand your concern. Very valid.

Same here. When I suggested pix/video I then said "maybe not" and then my comment about our human perspective.

I understand where you're coming from as I believe many keepers intentionally stress their cham (especially males) to show "their colors" and other behavior. I know you were only looking out for the cham's welfare

lele

>>I can see how you misunderstood my post... I am well aware that this was stressing him. Hense my postmessage stating that I have since been careful to make sure the fan is off. But as any human, I know I'm bound to forget one day and since I have both digial and video cameras always on hand, I'd get a shot. I'm not so heartless as to subject my chameleon to stress on purpose. I never force him to come out, he come willingly and when he does, I stay very near his cage in case he wants back in at any moment. I'm sorry I gave the impression that I would stress him on purpose.
-----
0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta