Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i know we only like to talk about the "deals" we have goten on stuff but i was wondering what the most you have paid for a chameleon. the resson i ask this is becuase you USUALLY fine chameleons from $39 with no shipping to $300 depending on WHAT you are looking for. in the last couple weeks i have seen a couple places/individuals selling their chameleons from $450 to $900. they don't look any better then the "usuals". do these animals actually sell for that much?

i have bought things for top dollar that i said i would NEVER pay "that much for that". only to find out if i really wanted quality or that particular speciality item i HAD to spend the cash. i just can't see paying that much for an animal, especially when it has such a short life span(it's relative).

dennis
-----
compasscreek backcountry adventures

please correct me if I am wrong here, but there are several factors that affect the price of a cham(or any animal). First and foremost is the breed in question, and the availability of that particular breed at that time. Particular morphs then come into play...some bloodlines cost more than others. The the age of the animal can affect price dramatically as older(not too old) animals are usually more stable and a "sure thing", as well as more of an investment(time and money)for the breeder. Other factors include whether or not the animal is endangered and how long it's incubation time/clutch size is(parsonii).
Well now that I have talked out of my butt for a while, I will answer your question....$50 bucks

How do I sound when I act like I know what I am talking about??
-----
Matt

The most that i have paid is $2500 for a male c.parsonii. as well as about $650 for a male panther chameleon. You have to realize that alot of people are willing to pay this amount of money for a breeder animal, because in comparison to what they could be making from that animal, the initial costs are minute. For example Amilobe panther chameleons have been quite popular lately ranging from from 900-1200/pair, but after one succesful clutch, they can double or triple there initial investment, and considering that panther chameleons can lay up to 4 clutches a year(over 100 hatchlings per female), alot of money can be made off of that animal. Its just simple business investing. The same goes for other chameleon species while the $39 chameleons you see, are usually wild caught animals. While the same animal can be sold by someone else, but had 3 times the amount of work gone into it for 3 times the price.

I hope this helps.

Nick Mole
First Choice Reptiles

the most that i have spent so far is 225 for a captive hatched 6 month old ch. melleri.

-----
groups.msn.com/JEChameleons
2.1 Chameleo Calyptratus
1 Chameleo Melleri

I spent $200 on Orion, but that's in CDN $. I am looking to get a male soon, but I want it for breeding so I'm probably going to spend about $400 on him. It's like with dogs I think. If you get a purebred from a long line of pedigree dogs you are goin to have to spend lots of$. But, if you get a purebred who's grandparents are unknown, or who has an unknown health history, it won't cost as much. And then there are ones who have one purebred parent, but the other may only be halfbred. And etc etc. Buying from a breeder that deals with high quality bloodlines costs more, but you are pretty well sure what kind of an animal you are going to get. Buying from a pet store (like I did) is a lot less b/c you don't have any guarentees about the animal, besides a 30 day money back if it dies. (I bought Orion as a male blue bar ambanja.. drove 2 hours to get her, and she's a female! That's another reason petstores cost less, half the time they don't know what htey are selling!).