Reptile & Amphibian Forums

All this talk about pygmy chams, I just can't take it anymore. They are so damn cool, but so hard to come by over here in British Columbia. I have 2 adult veileds who I just bred for the first time yesterday, that was interesting. Their names are Cenarius and Inka. I had a trio of Brookesia decaryi offered to me a while back, but I felt that they were too advanced for my expertise. I'd like to start off with some Rhampholean brevicaudatus, or something hardier like that. Lately, I've really been in to making vivariums which would be perfect for any pygmy chams. Unfortunately, I can't find them ANYWHERE, not even web-sites, nevermind stores. If anyone has any leads on where to find some pygmy chams in Canada, I would very much appreciate it if you could tell me.

-Brock

are you sure that lllreptile.com doesn't ship there?

try searching on sreach engines for chameleon sites that have forums and ask people to e-mail you if they know someone selling them.

have you talked with the kammers?

they won't ship live animals across the borders will they?

I've tried contacting "reptile direct" because they are listed on Kingsnake canada, AND it says that shipping "outside the u.s.a" will be more expensive (which is fine with me)

I've emailed them a bunch of times inquiring about purchasing from them...just supplies, not live animals...and they won't even answer the frickin' emails...so I can imagine what it would be like to try and get them to actually SHIP something across the border!

Even with the ridiculous exchange rate, it would still be cheaper to order from an american store, than to purchase locally.

I've been looking and looking for Canadian breeders of uro's and they are next to impossible to come by as well.
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Kim

Maybe i should come to Canada and start breeding reptiles up there. Sounds like there is a market

I wish there was more of a market. The problem is that there's just not enough big herp enthusiasts on the West Coast. They are more concentrated near Toronto, and that's about it. It's really sad to see that we only really have anoles and leopard geckos around here. The only chameleons I have ever seen for sale are veileds and really gray Nosy Be panthers; aside from when I went to Craig Goldie's house (some of you probably know him) and he showed me his huge collection, that was the day I fell in love with chameleons, simply amazing. But he has since gotten out of the hobby and now all there are are veiled breeders, including myself since I just bred my pair for the first time the other day. I would really like to see a bigger reptile market in general, specifically chameleons, but there is just a lack of interest due to lack of exposure to them. I know that I didn't even know chameleons were even available in North America until I saw my first one 2 years ago, and I've since been obsessed with them. If only we had people like the Kammers around here, then I would die a happy man.

I know that down in the States jacksonii go for like 20$-60$ each, or even 60$ for a pair. I was almost in tears of envy when I saw a classified ad for 12 jacksonii for 200$. Jacksonii sell for minimum 150$ EACH up here, but average 200$ (that's what I paid for mine, but he died with a heat wave in the summer). And, that's direct from a breeder. I couldn't even imagine what they'd charge in a pet store.

-Brock

>>I wish there was more of a market. The problem is that there's just not enough big herp enthusiasts on the West Coast. They are more concentrated near Toronto, and that's about it. It's really sad to see that we only really have anoles and leopard geckos around here. The only chameleons I have ever seen for sale are veileds and really gray Nosy Be panthers; aside from when I went to Craig Goldie's house (some of you probably know him) and he showed me his huge collection, that was the day I fell in love with chameleons, simply amazing. But he has since gotten out of the hobby and now all there are are veiled breeders, including myself since I just bred my pair for the first time the other day. I would really like to see a bigger reptile market in general, specifically chameleons, but there is just a lack of interest due to lack of exposure to them. I know that I didn't even know chameleons were even available in North America until I saw my first one 2 years ago, and I've since been obsessed with them. If only we had people like the Kammers around here, then I would die a happy man.
>>
>>I know that down in the States jacksonii go for like 20$-60$ each, or even 60$ for a pair. I was almost in tears of envy when I saw a classified ad for 12 jacksonii for 200$. Jacksonii sell for minimum 150$ EACH up here, but average 200$ (that's what I paid for mine, but he died with a heat wave in the summer). And, that's direct from a breeder. I couldn't even imagine what they'd charge in a pet store.
>>
>>-Brock

I looked a little into it, and it sounds like you have to get a permit which is quite costly if you are just doing a small order of a few chameleons. Or, the seller could have permits and it would cost you nothing, just the shipping costs which would be a hell of a lot. Plus, to my knowledge, they have to inspect the animals or look at certificates for a few days at the border, and in that time I'm sure problems can arise for a stressed out chameleon. I don't really think it's worth it if you are just a private collector, if you are doing mass orders from say the Kammers or other big breeders for re-sale, then I can see it happening. Otherwise, it's not worth it.

-Brock

...to see if they have any experience in this? Maybe they can help. I full understand your frustration and I hope you find a breeder and a way to get one/some!

lele

>>I looked a little into it, and it sounds like you have to get a permit which is quite costly if you are just doing a small order of a few chameleons. Or, the seller could have permits and it would cost you nothing, just the shipping costs which would be a hell of a lot. Plus, to my knowledge, they have to inspect the animals or look at certificates for a few days at the border, and in that time I'm sure problems can arise for a stressed out chameleon. I don't really think it's worth it if you are just a private collector, if you are doing mass orders from say the Kammers or other big breeders for re-sale, then I can see it happening. Otherwise, it's not worth it.
>>
>>-Brock