Reptile & Amphibian Forums

geeeeeze...has Zoe ever been in BAD humour the last couple days! It's SO unlike him to be acting this way.
He actually seemed as though he might bite yesterday and today!

He goes from mild mannered, unassuming, cute little Zoe:

to being this foul tempered miserable chameleon I don't recognize:

Each time he's done this little transformation, he's been up toasting himself under his basking lamp, or "sunning" under his uv light...and either my daughter (who, if you recall, Zoe just LOVED!) or myself have reached into his home to get him, to feed him, or offer him water...and he flares up, hisses at us, swings his head around FAST with his mouth open like he's going to take a chomp out of our hand!
This behaviour is so unusual from him. He's usually so docile, and will walk right onto your hand, down your arm, and out of his cage.
So, needless to say he hasn't eaten in two days! I hope this doesn't continue on too long, or he's going to be one hungry lizard!
I was hoping with these shows of aggression he would be more motivated to hunt on his own...but...no.
What could cause the sudden change in personality? Nothing has changed for him in the last few weeks...yes, he moved into his new home, but that was at least two or three weeks ago...and not a single thing has been changed or altered in there since then.
I would think by now he would associate our hands with good things...food, water...trips outside, especially since we have to hand feed and give him his water through a syringe.
He has never shown this level of aggression to us since we've had him!
I don't know...maybe the heat is getting to him too...
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Kim

You may be seeing the "real" Zoe. He may now have enough spare energy to show his territorial self. He's been down healthwise for a long time and his docility may have been a byproduct. Are you wearing a different color than usual? Some chams are really irritated by bright colors such as red or orange. Try wearing cool greens/blues when you need to handle him. It could also be that his hormones are coming back on line after his long recovery. At least, if he's being pissy it will be easier to get food in his mouth!

Zoe is feeling much better now. Also the height of his new cage is making him feel more dominant. Like a good healthy male chameleon should. Make sure you keep feeding him now so his health keeps going in the right direction. He is more apt to bite if your hands get in his strike zone, to the sides of his head and near his sides. If you come from directly in front or slightly under him you are less likely to get bit. If you need to wear a pair of leather gloves to feed him do so but keep feeding him no matter how pissy he gets. This is a good sign healthwise and he is just doing what comes naturally so just view it as a positive thing and don't take it personally. Just remember if he can reach you to take a chomp out of you when he is like this, he probably will.