Chameleons need a lot of attention and care to get used to their new home. Handle them gently and slowly to help them feel comfortable in their reptile enclosures. Many factors affect how long a chameleon takes to adjust and get used to its owner, such as the time you spend with it.
Patience and planning are key to a smooth first 30 days with your chameleon. This can reduce the chances of it getting stressed. Here is the time length it takes for a chameleon to get used to its enclosure:
Setting Up the Reptile Enclosures Before Bringing Your Chameleon Home
If you want to keep your chameleon in good health, consider how large the cage will be. Chameleons prefer the warmth of natural sunlight and do not like draughts. The reptile enclosures should be 2 x 2 x 4 feet or bigger. These enclosures should provide a secure area where the chameleon feels safe. They should be able to produce adequate ventilation.
For these exotic reptiles to thrive, they need an advanced setup with the right temperature, humidity, and environment. Spend time setting up the habitat before bringing your chameleon home. Test the technical equipment to make sure that it works.
The temperature and humidity in the habitat are raised to the desired level by running heat lamps and misters or drip systems. If a chameleon is placed in a cage that doesn’t meet its health needs, it develops health problems. Chameleons are friendly, easy to take care of, and get used to their owner in a short time.
Day 1 in the Reptile Enclosures
Once you are prepared to bring your reptile home, make sure the reptile enclosures are misted, and fresh, gut-loaded foods are available. This eliminates the need to disturb the surroundings until your chameleon adjusts.
When you get your chameleon, give it a few days for adjustment while it’s in the reptile enclosure. They feel comfortable in their new environment and adapt faster when interacting with them consistently.
Spend time with your chameleon every day. This makes it get used to you and your voice. Do not be alarmed if your chameleon starts to hide or loses its color.
Chameleons do not adapt well to change. Give them time to familiarize themselves with the environment. They sleep for long periods of time and their color can seem faint and dull. This does not mean that the chameleon is sick.
Keep the surroundings adjusted to the proper conditions. Reduce any sounds and major activities around the house and resist the temptation to attempt to touch them.
Day 10 With Your Chameleon
By day 10, your chameleon should have adapted to their reptile enclosure and the environment. They are cautious animals. Any interaction should be done cautiously and gently.
Begin handfeeding and touching at this point to create trust. To avoid making your chameleon uneasy, keep your hand a short distance from them. The chameleons will choose whether or not they want to come closer. If you don’t want to carry an insect in your hand, a set of tweezers and forceps works.
Do not be upset if your reptile initially hesitates to take the insect. Creating trust with the chameleon takes time. Leave it for a day and come back the following morning. Your chameleon will begin to understand that your presence is associated with food, not a threat.
Avoid touching your reptile frequently during this period. Chameleons are observant creatures. Avoid unnecessary distractions in their enclosures for the first month.
Pressuring your chameleon to come to you or let you hold it might destroy the trust you are attempting to develop. This can appear as a predatory move.
Day 30 With Your Reptile
Your chameleon will be more comfortable exploring its surroundings after spending a month in its new home. With little effort, your chameleon might eat from your hands.
You do not need to handle a chameleon regularly, and you should never force it. If they show confidence and are actively approaching you, try more contact. The chameleon should approach you at its own pace.
Leaving the door open and placing a branch near the opening is easy to start taming it. Once your chameleon is comfortable with this, place your hand near the branch. Allow it to explore outside when it is ready.
Do not grab or force your chameleon onto your hand in the beginning. It takes a few tries for your chameleon to be confident to climb onto your hand. They will need to be the one to initiate the action.
Why Keep a Chameleon as a Pet?
Are you interested in keeping a chameleon as a pet? Bringing a chameleon into your house is a wonderful experience, but it will take some time to adapt. These wonderful creatures make amazing pets. You can make this process as stress-free as possible by planning ahead of time and being patient. You will need to research reptile enclosures and behavior. Make sure you purchase your chameleon and supplies from a reputable store.
