Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm planning on going to a reptile show this weekend. I'm gonna bring about $150 with me. If i want to get about a 2 month old panther, depending on the breeder, will this be about enough for a young one?

you could get lucky, but on average ive found them to be between 225 - 275. it depends on what locale and age though, i got a b grade panther for $85, the dude thought it was a female but it ended up being one of the best colored male nosy be ive ever seen. he had a nasty bite out of his back tho from a cage fight..... I just got lucky, some of the best babies i ever got

>>you could get lucky, but on average ive found them to be between 225 - 275. it depends on what locale and age though, i got a b grade panther for $85, the dude thought it was a female but it ended up being one of the best colored male nosy be ive ever seen. he had a nasty bite out of his back tho from a cage fight..... I just got lucky, some of the best babies i ever got

Unfortunately, 150 dollars might not. When(and if) I breed my panther who is only a baby, the price will not exceed 150 dollars for a baby. Sadly, while some companies(like screameleons and) seem to have AWESOME colored chams and therefore can justify a 400 dollar baby, some I have seen are just price gouging. Panthers really do seem to been plentiful and yet they still hold a high price tag. The reptile business ebbs and flows. You can now get a baby Argentine Tegu for 70 bux. One year ago, It was alot more. I got my baby panther for 100 bux at reptile depot(which was a steal) a couple weeks ago. Look on the kingsnake classifieds for Reptile Haven. He has some started young panthers for around 150 bux(and some REALLY young ones for 85). It's kind of hard to say which is better: an adult couple might breed and then you can really start making some money but a baby will cost considerably less to buy. Adults go anywhere from 200 to 600(which in my opinion is crazy unless you have money to burn).
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A truly wise man will always be humbled.

I'd say your chance are going to be pretty slim. Unless there is someone there like LLL or Reptile Depot you probably will not find a panther for your price range.
In my opinion the difference in quality between a private breeder(like Screameleons and Chameleon Paradise)and a shop like Reptile Depot is night and day! Sure you'll get a chameleon for alot less from a shop but the chameleons from a private breeder are normally taken care much better and the all mighty dollar isn't a factor in moving them out(private breeders work hard to esablishing themselves as reputable and are not likely to sell a sick or "sub-standard" chameleon). A shop has to sell them sick or not to make a buck and are probably less likely to work with you if there are problems. After all they don't want the sick animal back and sure don't want to give you a replacement. It really comes down to what YOU are looking for in a chameleon. If you just want a cheap panther you'll probably be happy with one bought from a shop. If you want a little more color or even just a better chance of your chameleon coloring up like you'd like, you'll be better off saving a little longer and getting exactly what you want from a private breeder. As far as money is concerned that's all relative to what you want and are willing to spend. When I first got into chameleons I thoght $100 was crazy for a "lizard". Now though, depending on what it is and WHO it's from $100 could be a steal. If it were me looking to buy right now I would wait and get exactly what you want. You'll be much happier in the long run!

Dennis

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www.californiasilkworms.com
www.projectpardalis.com

The price of a chameleon is dependent on a couple of things.

One important factor is quality. Quality refers to the caliber of the chameleon. Some breeders carefully select their breeding stock to produce breathtaking animals. Some breeders do not discriminate when it comes to selecting their breeding stock. The two types of breeders make it possible for buyers to select their chameleon based on their preference and budget. Both types of breeders have much to offer to the chameleon hobby. We simply want to offer the highest quality animals that we possibly can. We do not hype up our animals, as they speak for themselves.

Health is another factor that every breeder or retailer should be paying attention to. Keeping a panther chameleon happy and healthy for the first 3 months is not a cheap task. Sure, you can take shortcuts, but some breeders go all out for their animals. We do everything possible to make the chameleon’s transition to their new home as painless as possible for both the chameleon and buyer. The cost of keeping them healthy is rolled into the price of the chameleon.

Age also reflects the price. Younger panther chameleons sell for much less, because the cost to maintain them is less. However, there is such thing as selling them too young. We don’t sell chameleons until they are about 3 months old, or until they are able to eat food items that are readily available. Imagine bringing home a 5 week old panther and realizing that no pet store in your city carries pinhead crickets. Again, the maintenance cost is rolled into the price of a chameleon.

Although I believe you will have a difficult time, I do believe you can obtain a panther chameleon for $150. But do consider the things mentioned above. If you are attending a show, inspect the animal carefully. Ask the breeder to feed the one you are interested in. Not all will eat in a stressful environment, but it is always a good sign to get a feeding response. If you walk past the display and the chameleons are sleeping, keep walking. A healthy juvenile should be active and their eyes should be open. Check that their eyes are full, not sunken. And ask the breeder plenty of questions. If he isn’t willing to help you out at the show, chances are he/she is not going to be helpful after the sale. Constant communication with the breeder is very important.

Good Luck!

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Farrah & Vincent
Email: Screameleons@yahoo.com
Phone: (571) 437-0642
Website: http://www.Screameleons.com