Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a desert chameleon from a reptile show. I cant find any information on it though, and also, it looks more like a vieled chameleon, ill try to post a picture later, so if someone could show me a caresheet for these typse of chameleons, it would be greatly appreciated

Yeah, posting pictures would help a lot- then we could determine which species of cham it is, how to care for it and all that good stuff.
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Michele

i hope this works, idk if i did it right lol so this is my chameleon

First off, yes it appears to be a Veiled (Yemen) Chameleon. Secondly, it is in very bad health and requires veteranarian council. Underfed, severly dehydrated, and possible Metabolic bone disease.

If you just boguht this chameleon, I suggest returning to the store with this information, demanding a refund, and reporting the store for selling unhealthy andimals, and not providing adequate care to their animals.

The reason I am not telling you to just work through the problems is because with chameleons, once you finally notice the problem, it is often too late to reverse the problem, let alone halt it. If you had previous chameleon experience then maybe, but then you would not have bought this chameleon. In the future, read up on what a healthy species of the reptile you are looking to buy will look like. Research and have a habitat set up already before buying. Good luck, you'll need it.
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CANADIAN SILKWORMS

are you sure? Hes only a few inches big, so that picture might be a little confusing. I'm not questioning your expertise, just trying to get as much information as possible.

Everything from the body and ribs, the arm thinness, boney hands, to the obviousness of very dehydrated sunken eyes and concave skull, and the sunken, fat-depleted casque, to suggestions as simple as the appearance of the dry skin, with possible sores, and posture of the chameleon.

It may be young, but thats no reason for it to look like this.
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CANADIAN SILKWORMS

He is in very bad shape.

i just called the guy and he said that it was a Giant Desert Chameleon definately not a Vieled chameleon. I bought it at a Reptile swat meet. Im guessing he thinks its the Chamaeleo namaquensis http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Chamaeleo_namaquensis/GES015412.html?size=large

>>i just called the guy and he said that it was a Giant Desert Chameleon definately not a Vieled chameleon. I bought it at a Reptile swat meet. Im guessing he thinks its the Chamaeleo namaquensis http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Chamaeleo_namaquensis/GES015412.html?size=large

If you can post a better photo, I might be able to identify it for you for sure. It could be a very sick Chamaeleo africanus. It is absolutely not Ch. namaquensis but it is definitely knocking on death's door. Which show did you get it at?

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

Ah well there you go, Thanks for clarifying that Chris. As I had said it appeared to be a Veiled Chameleon, but given the age, I wasn't sure how well formed the casque would be.
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CANADIAN SILKWORMS

Hehehe, sorry, trying not to laugh.

You might as well tell this guy hes an idiot. Namaqua Chameleons are listed on Appendix II of CITES, which means they are restricted from importation. When they were, not many were able to keep them, let alone breed them because of their radically different care requirements compared to other chameleon species. They havent been imported for years and years now, not any joe blow is going to have them, and they aren't going to be selling them for the (hopefully incredibly low) price you paid.
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CANADIAN SILKWORMS

As Chris just informed me;

Ch. namaquensis is not imported, under the control of the SA & Namibian govt, not CITES (Although it appears on the CITES Apendix 2, along with countless other chameleon species) which restricts the amount of exports and advises on if they should be exported or not at all.

He also said that they have been banned, except for scientific permits, and this was how many of the ones that came to the US and Europe way back when.

I'll just keep watching the video and dreaming of seeing them.
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CANADIAN SILKWORMS

oh and i didnt mean that type of chameleon, i just meant i htink he means that kind lol, so that one was my bad, but he said it is a Giant Desert Chameleon, but his buddy that knows the scientific name is in asia and he doesnt know the scientific name

it was the pittsburgh reptile and bird show in cheswich PA. i switched him and my leopard gecko's cages, so hes in a deserty cage, and he is actually moving around now and chasing after the crickets. I can tell hes dehydrated though because when he tries to catch the crickets, his toung isnt sticky enough to stick to them

>>it was the pittsburgh reptile and bird show in cheswich PA. i switched him and my leopard gecko's cages, so hes in a deserty cage, and he is actually moving around now and chasing after the crickets. I can tell hes dehydrated though because when he tries to catch the crickets, his toung isnt sticky enough to stick to them

Bad move. This animal should not be kept in a desert environment, thats how it got into the condition it is already in. These animals actually come from a tropical environment and right now, it needs misting, humidity and good nutrition. The person you bought the cham from is a dunce, stop taking any semblance of advice from him, he doesn't know what he's talking about. You should try to shower the chameleon to increase its hydration (info on showering: http://www.[url ban]/forums/showthread.php?t=10326 )

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

(info on showering: http://www.[url ban]/forums/showthread.php?t=10326 )

Its sad that a forum has to stoop to blocking the URLs of other information sources during times where that information is critical to the survival of the animal's the forum is designed to help...

Go to this link and read the section on hydration: http://www.chameleonnews.com/acclimation.html

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

Chamaeleo calyptratus is the scientific name, im pretty sure i found it. If that helps, he told me that since its in the desert, it needs no humidity, just spraying every now and then

>>Chamaeleo calyptratus is the scientific name, im pretty sure i found it. If that helps, he told me that since its in the desert, it needs no humidity, just spraying every now and then

As I said, he's clueless and doesn't know what he's talking about. Chamaeleo calyptratus is the scientific name for the Veiled Chameleon and they are a tropical species. The desert thing is an old wives tale. your cham is extremely dehydrated. it needs to be taken out of a desert enclosure and its hydration addressed immediately.

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

he said that he gets them from south africa, and when i search for desert chameleon, i keep coming up with the Chamaeleo namaquensis, but u guys say that they cant sell these

>>he said that he gets them from south africa, and when i search for desert chameleon, i keep coming up with the Chamaeleo namaquensis, but u guys say that they cant sell these

It is illegal to export any chameleons from South Africa except under scientific permits and this is absolutely not a species that comes from South Africa to start with. No species from South Africa looks ANYTHING like the animal in your photograph and the common name he gave you is as bogus as the rest of his information, don't bother trying to validate his recommendation on humidity and hydration, it should be obvious from the animal's condition that its wrong.

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

so what type of setting do you suggest?

>>so what type of setting do you suggest?

First, I recommend you read this article: http://www.chameleonnews.com/chamcare.html and then this article: http://www.chameleonnews.com/myths.html . You'll then need to set up an arboreal enclosure with live plants, appropriate lighting and misting multiple times a day for a minimum of 5 minutes each time. Have you showered your chameleon yet as I recommended in one of my previous posts? I don't mean to be critical but you're wasting a lot of time trying to validate the seller that your chameleon doesn't have so its time to jump on doing this right.

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

first off, i would like to thank all of you gentlemen for your help, second, he is still not doing very well, constantly sleepin, barely opening his eyes, i think he actually looks worse. I dont have a potted plant so i have him outside on a nother plant and i am using the spray setting of a nozzle on a hose, i hope this can somehow get him more rehydrated if he drinks the droplets. He tried to eat yesterday, but hasnt tried much today.

he did say that he gets them from south africa, maybe it is that namiquin type and he gets them illegally, i gave him the mist shower, and hes still looking bad, not that i was expecting that to be the recovery factor, but he doesnt even open his eyes much at all. Im really sad, im trying to think of how to handle this with the guy.

Notice the spines/spikes on the back of the Namaqua chameleon....the one in your picture DOES NOT HAVE THEM....therefore it CAN NOT BE ONE.
http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Chamaeleo_namaquensis/
http://www.gateway-africa.com/fuanaflora/Reptiles/chameleon1.html
http://www.pbase.com/wildnature/image/51018195
http://adcham.com/images/images-species/Ch.Namaquensis/ChamaeleoNamaquensisF1.jpg
http://adcham.com/images/images-species/Ch.Namaquensis/namaq.JPG

Here are some pictures of C. africanus...
http://www.herp.it/indexjs.htm?SpeciesPages/ChamaAfric.htm
http://www.adcham.com/images/images-species/Ch.africanus/AFRICA-1.jpg
http://www.flpa-images.co.uk/bin/flpa.dll/go?a=disp&pt=1&t=ussr-loadersearch.html&si=&tc=&usp=0&_spb=0&_spe=0&_spw=0&mw=2&se=&_collection=&_filterori=&searchtext=00056877

C. calyptratus...
http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/english/chameleo-calyptratus-id194.html
http://www.fishtanksandponds.info/photopages/herps/reptiles/veiled-chameleon1-29-11-05.htm

In the condition that this chameleon is in, you don't have a lot of time to help it. It needs to be helped now if its to have even a slim chance of surviving. It won't matter what species it is if it dies. Chris has given you good advice on how to keep it.

well, thanks for all the help guys, but she just died about an hour ago i tried all day both days to keep her alive but i failed. I called the guy, he said he was going to give me a full refund, i still wish it couldnt have gone to that though
but thanks for your guys's help, you were all extremely helpful.

>>well, thanks for all the help guys, but she just died about an hour ago i tried all day both days to keep her alive but i failed. I called the guy, he said he was going to give me a full refund, i still wish it couldnt have gone to that though
>>but thanks for your guys's help, you were all extremely helpful.

Sorry to hear it died. I would recommend three things, however. 1) If you decide to get another chameleon, prepare before hand and know the correct way to care for them. 2) Don't buy from this seller ever again. 3) Try not to buy into everything someone with a monetary motive tells you.

Chris
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Chris Anderson
parsonii_hoehnelii@hotmail.com
Co-Founder: ChameleonInfo.com-http://www.chameleoninfo.com/
Editor: Chameleons! Online E-zine- http://www.chameleonnews.com/
Admin: Captive Chameleon Bloodline Tracking Database (CCBTD)- http://www.chameleondatabase.com/
Founder: Chameleon Care and Information Center (CCIC)- http://www.chamaeleonidae.com/

I just read this entire thread and am really sorry you got so badly duped by this idiot at this show. Frankly, even with the great advice I do not think s/he could have been saved. My guess is that Will, Chris & Kinyonga all had the same thought but tried to steer you in the right direction.

Chams takes specific care depending on species and are very different from geckos, beardies, snakes, frogs...you get the idea.

Got to all the sites recommended, do your reading, ask questions here and other forums and decide if you even want to take on the care and expense of a chameleon. Also, I STRONGLY recommend you find a vet who has some cham (not just lizard) experience BEFORE you get one. You will probably need one sooner or later - even just for the 2x/year fecal checks.

I hope this guy comes thru with your refund.

check out the link below for websites (many already suggested) as well as vet listing by state. Good luck to you and maybe we'll see you around
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Chameleon Help & Resource Info
1.0 Nosy Be Panther Chameleon - Cyrus
0.1 Veiled Chameleon - Luna. She's now hanging from her big jungle gym in the sky
1.0 Beardie - Darwin
1.1.1 Side-blotched lizards - Ana and Stan
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Lita
0.1 African Clawed Frog - Skippy
0.1 Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula - Rosa Leigh, Died 4/21/06
0.1 Goliath Bird-Eater Tarantula - Natasha, donated to science 4/4/06
?.? Pinktoe Tarantula - no name yet

Sorry about the chameleon. I hope that the guy will come through with the refund too.

There was little hope that you could have saved that chameleon...so don't kick yourself too hard.

lele and Chris gave you some good advice to follow before you get another one.

Try listening to the people here that know what they are talking about. I dont even own a Cham, but know who posts here all the time with knowledgable information.

This reminds me of people that buy Green Tree Pythons for $100 that are wild caught, all full of parasites, and are dehydrated. Then they go back to the pet store that has after-school teenagers working there that tell them all the incorrect information that they want to hear.

Reseach the animal you want to keep and the seller before you buy. This was just as much your fault as the a-hole that sold it to you.