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Friend wants to sell me his Veiled Chameleon... good deal?

owen13 Mar 21, 2004 03:34 PM

1 veiled, fake plant, uv bulb and hood, basking light and fixture, water bowl, glass jar, screen cage (2'x1'x1.5'(hxdxw))
Is this a good deal, I've never had a chameleon but I have 3 leopard geckos, 1 red eared slider, 1 ball python. I have held it and he seems nice, A little skiny but I'll fatten him up.

So all this for 50 dollars... Is that a great price? I think it is. Once I find the money he is mine.

Just wanted to share, glad you read it...

Owen
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Replies (10)

Demon_Hunter Mar 21, 2004 04:10 PM

Water Bowl? Glass jar? Plus the cage is too small... the rest seems fine, remember that chameleons don't drink water from bowls, they lap up droplets in leaves and stuff.

Tony

lele Mar 21, 2004 05:58 PM

yeah, I was wondering the same thing. How old is he? Why is your friend getting rid of him? Get a copy of his vet records.

As for "holding him and he seems nice" you really need to do your homework while you are gathering your money. And remember, $50 may seem like a good deal but they are not cheap animals to keep. You will have to replace the cage pronto and that will set you back some more $$. Here is a link to a great article and while you're there check out other issues and articles - it will be helpful to you.

Please don't misunderstand - I am not trying to dissuade you from getting him just trying to point out what you have to look forward to. They are definitely neat creatures to have but be ready for a high maintenance pet. And of course, you can always ask here

lele
Link

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0.1 veiled - Luna
0.2 green anoles Jaida & Jetta
0.1 brown anole - Jamaica
0.2 house geckos - Gaia & Tia
0.2 felines - Kyndra and Líta

Tarentola Mar 21, 2004 08:39 PM

Actally I have a book that says Veileds can be trained to drink from a water bowl.In Canada that is a very good deal(even if it was just the Chameleon)so if you live in Canada you save some money..................even after you buy the cage.Chameleons are just as exspensive to keep as any other lizard.
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Geckos
1.1.0 Gecko gekko(Geico and Gekko)
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(male Blizzard and Hi-yellow female)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(striped and banded phase)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica(light phase)
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus basiliscus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana(Rex)
Boidae
1.0.0 Python regius
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

JonPCab Mar 21, 2004 11:10 PM

No offense, but it sounds like you should seriously research this before you by it. Before I bought my cham I researched for over month, reading books, online articles, talking to vets, etc. because I was so freaked out that I'd kill the poor guy after hearing what my vet told me about them.

My Chameleon is the most expensive reptile I've kept. I've had my veiled since January and have spent over 300 on him alone already. That 100 bucks a month. They are a very demanding pet.

And as for that book . . . Chameleons, 99.9% of them, will never ever EVER drink standing water! They can't recognize water unless it's flowing (A direct quote from Dr. Gary, my herp vet with about 10 years of chameleon keeping under his belt). And the only time I've seen one drink from a dish is at a corporate pet store, and that was only because he was so dehydrated and desperate for water.

Please do your research before you get the little guy killed.

JonPCab Mar 21, 2004 11:13 PM

Chameleons can't be "trained" to do anything, they're not like dogs or circus seals.

Tarentola Mar 22, 2004 06:59 PM

The word "trained" is used by many keepers.The chameleon can be "trained"to eat from your hand.I have never saw you post on this forum..................................so please don't be rude.You can ask politley.....................because all animals have different personalities and such.I'm not trying to start a fight so don't bother being rude.
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Geckos
1.1.0 Gecko gekko(Geico and Gekko)
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(male Blizzard and Hi-yellow female)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(striped and banded phase)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica(light phase)
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus basiliscus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana(Rex)
Boidae
1.0.0 Python regius
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

Tarentola Mar 22, 2004 07:01 PM

And my Chameleon is much smarter than and average Veiled.
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Geckos
1.1.0 Gecko gekko(Geico and Gekko)
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(male Blizzard and Hi-yellow female)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(striped and banded phase)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica(light phase)
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus basiliscus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana(Rex)
Boidae
1.0.0 Python regius
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

BigChappy Mar 22, 2004 09:25 AM

Shaaaaa right. First of all, chameleons can be stimulated to drink out of a water bowl by moving the water (i.e. dripping into the water bowl) but this method is discouraged for many reasons as it is not a natural instinct and also standing water harbors bacteria. Chameleons should be kept and cared for just as they live in the wild.
Also chameleons are vastly more demanding than most lizards and much more expensive to care for. So if you're thinking they don't cost more than any other lizard you're cheating both yourself and your cham's health.
I'm not meaning to start anything but chameleons should be given the utmost care and should be allowed to thrive..Not given the bare minimum so that they struggle in captivity.
-Cory

Tarentola Mar 22, 2004 07:03 PM

For example what do Chameleons need that other lizards don't?In all my books and magazines it says chameleons have thought to been hard to keep but are not.
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Geckos
1.1.0 Gecko gekko(Geico and Gekko)
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(male Blizzard and Hi-yellow female)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(striped and banded phase)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica(light phase)
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus basiliscus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana(Rex)
Boidae
1.0.0 Python regius
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

jacksonsrule Mar 22, 2004 08:52 AM

Sounds like you might be heading for an impulse buy. Chameleons are delicate, expensive pets. They require A LOT of time and attention. You should do as much research as possible before buying one.

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