Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my chameleon for two months now, he is about a year old, two or three times a week I make him clim to my finger to take him out of his cage to a hibiscus tree in the backyard, I leave him there all day and at sunset he climbs back to my finger to put im inside his cage. I have never had any problems with him about being scared or anything. (He eats from my hand.

Today I left him in his hibiscus tree and since today was a warmer day I called my husband who was at home to ask him to bring him inside. He had never even touched him before(he has seen me picking him up tough). The thing is that he had to call me to my cellphone and I had to leave work because he couln´t get closer to my cham. As soon as my husband was near the tree my cham dropped to the ground (to the grass from about 30 inches) and started running. He actually had to chase him. Do chameleons recognize people? Is he used to me who feeds him and waters him and thats why he is not THAT scare of me, or was just a coincidence? What do you think?

Hi and welcome to cham world If he has not dealt with your husband before he could very well have seen him as predator. Some of us have noticed that clothing seems to affect them as well. Luna will slide behind her branch and become a "leaf" when I have a sweater on. I go put on a t-shirt and she is fine! Others have reported colors to make a difference, too. But if your hubby will ocassionally deal with him you may want to slowly acclimate him (cham and hubby! lol!). So that is my 2 cents.

I do have to ask you about allowing him to sit in a tree all day. Unless he is somehow screened in and protected you are really putting him at risk. There have been a few sad stories on here of people who "only looked away for a minute" and their cham disappeared! There was a real heartbreaker a year or so ago as the keeper watched a bird fly off with his cham They can also scramble away and become lost. All it would take is something to frighten him (like your husband, but not one who has his best interest in mind!) and off he will go. So be careful with the new little guy.

lele
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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta
1.0 African Clawed Frog - Skipper
0.5 Mad. Hissers
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (no name yet)
?.? Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula (no name yet)

I think they can recognize and/or know who to associate with food or as a non-threat.

My chams don't seem to mind me at all reaching in their cage or doing anything else around them. Though if someone else gets near them, some of them freak out really bad.

Also don't wear bright color's around them, I notice wearing bright red or yellow really bothers them, even the ones that are normally really calm. At least in my experience's they don't like the bright colors.