Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all you cham gurus, I have a question about dragging my cham, kicking and screaming, out his cage (joke!).

I would like to take my cham outside occasionally (fresh air, sunlight etc.) but I can't get near him. I've tried coaxing him onto a stick; he attacked it. I've tried to get him on my hand; he attempted to attack that as well. In fact, when I open the cage door he freaks and I really hate the anxiety I'm placing on him. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips?

Oh, I should mention that in a couple of weeks I have to move him to the chamsitters (there's no way he can be looked after at home) and I'm really worried about that too. I'll transport him in a dark box etc. but how to I GET him in the box?

Thanks for ideas anyone can throw my way.

Meemee

Can you move the whole cage outside? It is strongly advised that chams not be handled. I know some people have had good luck with the handling of milder species like Jacksons, but, even though the SEEM to like it, they really dont.

The less you handle your cham the longer they live and the healthier they are. If your cham is THAT aggressive and that set against being handle...take the clue and leave him/her alone. Transport the WHOLE cage outside (be sure it has a shady part so they cham doesnt burn up)and to the chamsitters. Use a damp towel over the cage to help with humidity and privacy for the cham.

Good luck.

PS - even though my jacksons are very tame (maybe not tame per se, but they sure dont attack my hand like my panther male does), I still do not handle them unless I have to clean the cage.
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty 2, Lucille)
0.0.17 Jacksons babies
1.1 Nosy Be's (Mars and Roja)
1.1 Bearded Dragons (Diego and Consuelo)
1.1 Adult Sulcattas (POOPIE and George)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY)
0.0.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis)
1.0 Yellow Footed Tortoise (Alfred)
1.1 3 toed turtles
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

Hey Raf - how are ya?

OK - moving chams. Due to logistics, moving a whole cage outside may be impossible. I know I could never do it with Luna. She is on the 2nd floor in a 4x2x2 with huge plant, etc. in my ancient house with low ceilings and very tricky stairs

But, what I do if she is being pissy (yes, my sweet Luna is getting pissy!) is I hang her jungle gym rope dangling along the open door and then just ignore her. Sometimes (not always) she will climb along the screen and then up the rope. I take the rope down from the ceiling - with her on it - and bring her outside to her already setup cage and leave her for several hours. If she doesn't come out on her own and won't get onto my hand then she just doesn't go out that day.

I find the rope set up a good change for her even indoors. If I am going to be in the office and can let her wander along it, while keeping an eye on her, it gives her some freedom and "independence" - something all chams desire, she told me that

lele & Luna
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately my cham is in quite a large cage (6x2x2), so moving it isn't an option. I'm definitely going to try the rope idea Lele, I'll let you know if it works. I've also thought about putting my smaller Reptarium in the door of the big cage and seeing if he'll go in, so that may be another option. I'm not totally hung up on getting him outside but he has to go to the sitters in a couple of weeks and the smoother the move is - the better.

Anyway, if I stumble across a brilliant idea for this problem I'll let you know. In the mean time I'm going to go get some rope.

Thanks again for your replies.

Meemee

There are a couple of other ideas for handling a nasty one. One, turn his lights off and cover the cage a few minutes before you want to move him. His temp will drop, including the ol' brain, and he'll be less reactive. If he will back away from a gloved hand you can "steer" him onto a convenient perch or into another cage. If nothing else works drop a pillowcase or small towel over him and pick him up. If he can't see he may freeze, and you can gently release his toes from the perch.

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't even thought about lowering the temp. I'm certainly going to give it a try on 'moving' day.

Would it be distressing to him if I moved him after he's settled in for the night? He's usually in his sleeping spot by 8; what if I moved him around 8:30? He doesn't really go to sleep 'til after 9 because it's still so light out. Somehow that seems like a really mean thing to do, but if it reduces his anxiety it may be worth it.

Thanks,
Meemee

Well, it would basically be the same thing, to wait for his metabolism to drop after lights out. I wouldn't wait too long though.

here are some pix of her "gym" I dangle the rope in her door and then she can get all the way to the window if she wants

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Thanks for the pics Lele. You have quite the setup! I wish I had the room to do that. Does Luna ever try to crawl onto the top of the cage instead of the rope? That would be one of my concerns with my cham. Right now the only way he would come out would be if I wasn't in the room and I'm not too sure he would go directly on to the rope or try to roam (I always worry about him jumping, which he's done before).

Thanks again and I'll let you know if the rope works or not.

Meemee

I think it just looks like a lot of room! It's in my home office with lots of ceiling space! LOL!

As for her cruising around, yes, she could, and will sometimes try, but I never let her out if I am not going to be in the offcie working. Once she is on the rope I undo one piece and then she has no choice but to be up there! LOL!!

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia (MIA
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta