Pet owners love to hold and cuddle with their pets. Chameleons are beautiful pets, and their mythical ability to change colors makes the urge to hold them even stronger. Common house pets such as cats and dogs love to be held, but some pets do not like any physical contact with their owner.
So, do chameleons like to be held? Chameleons do not like to be held, nor do they find petting enjoyable. You can pick one up and hold it, but it will try to get away from you. Some are aggressive, and if you try to touch them, they will try to defend themselves by hissing and biting. Some chameleons can develop a tolerance to humans touching them, but it does not last long. It is best to leave them alone in their habitat and enjoy their presence from a distance.
Holding and cuddling your pets is one way of showing affection. Some pets such as chameleons don’t like being touched, and you might be wondering how you will interact physically without scaring them. Read on to find out if chameleons like to cuddle, if they can bond with their owners, and what kind of chameleons like to be held.
Cuddling with your pet is a sweet moment because it shows your pet trusts you. Chameleons have beautiful physical traits that make them cute. It is common for human beings to cuddle with something cute; therefore, once you get a chameleon as a pet, it understandable if you try to cuddle with it.
Chameleons do not like to cuddle. Most of them hate physical contact with human beings. Chameleons are solitary animals. In fact, in the wild, chameleons spend the majority of their time alone except during mating season. In captivity, chameleons would rather spend most of their time in their cage than cuddle with you. If you are looking for a pet to cuddle with, a chameleon should not be on top of your list.
Chameleons are territorial, and they hate it when another animal or human being intrudes into their territory. Cuddling means sharing space, and most chameleons will not allow it. If you try to cuddle, they will move away from you or defend their space.
Chameleons are not very aggressive, but some might get angry if provoked. If you want your chameleon to be relaxed around, keep the cage in a place where there is less human traffic and walk slowly when approaching the cage.
You might see videos on the internet of people cuddling and petting their chameleons and wonder why yours does not want you near it. It is all down to luck. When you choose a chameleon at the pet store, you might be lucky enough to pick a friendly chameleon that will let you cuddle and hold it. However, there are ways you can make your chameleon cuddle with you.
The first thing you can try is hand feeding your chameleon. Hand-feeding is the most common trick pet owners use to gain the trust of their pets. Hand-feeding your chameleon may be hard at first but try it as much as possible. Instead of dropping the insects in the chameleon’s cage, you can hold an insect in your hand and let the chameleon pick it with its tongue. Hand-feeding each meal makes it easier for the chameleon to get used to your presence.
Another way is to always be around your chameleon. If your chameleon sees you only once or twice a week, there is zero chance it will cuddle with you. Keep the cage in a place where your chameleon can see you often, either in your living room or on your desk at work. The chameleon will get used to your presence and will stop seeing you as a threat. Keep trying to create a bond with it, and it will make it easier for the chameleon to cuddle with you if it can trust you.
You should be careful when cuddling your chameleon. Be on the look for signs that show your chameleon is not enjoying the moment. If you pick up your chameleon and it starts to open its mouth, that means it does not want you near it.
The chameleon will keep its mouth open until you put it down and move away. If your chameleon starts to puff its chin, it is trying to show you that you are intruding on its territory, and it is time to step back.
Do Chameleons Bond With Their Owners?
Forming bonds with pets is important for both the pet and the owner. Pets have been known to provide comfort to people with stress. However, due to their personality differences, some chameleons provide a challenge when it comes to forming bonds with their owners.
Chameleons can form bonds with their owners, but it is not going to be an easy task. Chameleons are not affectionate creatures, you will come back from work, and your chameleon will not even bother to look at you. After you get the chameleon from the pet store, it could take you a long time to form a meaningful bond with it. In some cases, the chameleons will pass away from old age without forming bonds with their owners.
Chameleons prefer to coexist with their owners. You provide them with shelter, food, and water, and you can enjoy its presence. Some chameleons are shy and like to exercise caution. Your size can be intimidating, and it will take a while for the chameleon to understand that you do not mean harm. Your continuous presence near its cage might help reduce its fear and increase the chances of you forming a bond with it.
There are a few ways to try and form a bond with your chameleon. You should give your chameleon time to adapt to its new environment. A sudden change of environment can be stressful, and you need not add more stress by touching and petting your chameleon. Put your chameleon in its cage and approach during feeding time only. You can try touching or petting it after a week or two. You can also try hand-feeding your chameleon.
You should also avoid picking your chameleon from above. All predators that hunt chameleons attack from above, so every time you stretch your hand from above, your chameleon thinks it is under attack.
Chameleons do not lose this instinct; even those born and raised in captivity need not be picked from above. If you continue picking your chameleon from above, you will never form a bond with it. Keep its cage in a place above your head. If you pick them from their cage, they will not be afraid of you.
What Kind of Chameleons Like to Be Held?
There are several kinds of chameleons you can keep in your home as pets. However, different kinds of chameleons have different personalities. This explains why some are social and will interact with their owners, while others do not like interacting with human beings.
The Jackson chameleon is the most docile chameleon that can be domesticated. Jackson chameleons are slow and do not have any aggressive tendencies. Jackson chameleons are more likely to fear you rather than be aggressive towards you. However, it does not mean that they like held every time. A Jackson chameleon will start to act out if there is too much physical contact.
The panther chameleon is also less active, but it loves to be territorial. Chameleons prefer to be left alone and will hiss if you approach their territory. It can take some time for a panther chameleon to let you hold and pet it.
The most aggressive chameleon is the veiled chameleon. They are very territorial and are quick to bite anyone that sticks their hand in their cage. If you want a chameleon that you can easily handle, you should choose the Jackson chameleon.
There are no friendly chameleons. It all depends on the individual. Other factors will affect the chameleon’s personality, such as age, bred by humans or captured in the wild, and steps taken to make it more friendly. Some chameleons will still hiss and puff when approached even after trying to make them friendly, and it is in their nature they are cautious.
Chameleons Do Not Like To Be Held
Chameleons are great pets, but you should not choose them if you want a cuddly pet. Chameleons are loners, and even in captivity, they will try their best to live their life away from others. But not all hope is lost; there are ways to make your chameleon friendly and cuddly.
However, you cannot fully bond with a chameleon. One wrong move, and it is back to treating you as a threat. If you want a friendly chameleon, consult a breeder who can select you a docile chameleon, like the Jackson chameleon. Be considerate, and if your chameleon remains unfriendly even after trying to bond with it for some time, do not pet it or force it to cuddle with you.
