Chameleons can be very cute and some people wonder if they are cuddly. It is very common for us to want to cuddle something this cute. Are chameleons cuddly though? Based on my experience and doing some research online, here is what I’ve found.
Most chameleons aren’t cuddly. In fact, most of them hate cuddling unless there is some sort of bond with the owner. Even with some bonds, chameleons don’t exactly “love” cuddling, they just get less defensive.
Do not force any chameleons to cuddle with you if they show signs that they don’t want to. They have their own reasons why they don’t want to cuddle so remember to respect them. If not, it can cause some serious problems for your pet chameleon.
Why Aren’t Chameleons Cuddly?
Most chameleons aren’t cuddly because they are solitary animals and love being alone. They don’t need any companion be it human or other chameleons.
On top of that, they are also very territorial which means they hate it when anyone or anything goes near their territories.
Most of the time, chameleons like to be left alone, especially if there is no bond with the owner.
Are There Chameleons That Like to Cuddle?
Even though most chameleons don’t like to cuddle, there are some exceptions. You see… each chameleon has a different personality.
Some will love to be social but most will not. This will be down to luck as to what personality your chameleon has. Over the years, I have seen a few chameleons that like to cuddle.
However, you should not have such high hopes because chances are, the chameleon you get will hate your guts, at least at first.
Ways to Make Your Chameleon Excited to Cuddle With You
Just because your chameleon doesn’t like to cuddle with you the very first time you got it, doesn’t mean there’s no hope. Most chameleons are very defensive in nature and hate everyone.
Even though chameleons are not capable of love, there are certain things you can do to make your chameleon more inclined to cuddle with you.
Here are some of the most effective things you can do to achieve that.
Hand Feeding – Try to hand feed your chameleon as much as possible. This way, your chameleon will get used to your touch and presence.
Always Be Around Your Chameleon – It’s best if you can put your chameleon enclosure close to a place where you will be most of the time (i.e work station, living room, etc). By doing that, your chameleon will know that you exist and start to see as you a friend rather than a foe.
Slow Your Movement Down – Chameleons hate fast, jerky movements, it makes them feel unsafe. Whenever approaching your chameleon, slow down.
Basically, to make your chameleon more fond of cuddling with you, you need to get a bond with it. Chameleons are usually quite aggressive but by following some of the actions above, you can lower that aggression. This will make cuddling with it much easier.
Be Cautious When Cuddling Your Chameleon
Like I’ve mentioned many times in this article, most chameleons don’t like to cuddle. You should not force your chameleon to cuddle with you if it doesn’t want to.
Doing so will stress it out and potentially cause unwanted health problems. Here are some signs that your chameleon doesn’t want to cuddle with you.
Opened Mouth – If you go near and your chameleon starts to open its mouth, it means that it doesn’t want you near it. Simply walk away and try again next time.
Chin Puffed – Chin puffing up is usually paired with an opened mouth. Your chameleon is trying to show signs of dominance on its territory and wants you to go away.
Even if you get your chameleon to cuddle with you, you need to be cautious. Sometimes, chameleons will close their eyes when they are cuddling with their owners.
This doesn’t mean that they like cuddling and are relaxing, this is actually a bad sign. If you see this happening, there is most likely some underlying health issues with your chameleon.
If you don’t know what’s wrong, fix an appointment with your vet as soon as you can.
How Often Should I Cuddle with My Chameleon?
If you’ve got to a point where your chameleon is willing to cuddle with you, you still shouldn’t do it too often. Remember to respect your chameleon and give it space and time alone.
Cuddling or handling your chameleon too often can stress it out even if there is already a bond between the two of you. My advice is to try to handle or cuddle with your chameleon as little as possible.
Depending on your chameleon, 3 times a week could be plenty. I personally cuddle and handle my chameleon around 2 to 3 times a week. Other times, I just let it do what it wants to do without disturbing it.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a cuddly pet, chameleons aren’t one of them. Chameleons are solitary animals and most of them like to be alone and untouched.
However, there are ways you can make your chameleons more inclined to cuddle with you. Just follow the actions stated above in this article.
Also, be careful when cuddling your chameleon, you don’t want to force it to cuddle when it doesn’t want to, learn to look at signs your chameleon is giving.
Lastly, you should not cuddle with your chameleon too much even if it starts to get comfortable with you.
