Breeder question on the age you sell your chameleons

[Rocky]

I have been reading around and see everyone selling their chameleons at 3 months and older, but recently I went to Austin Tx and saw a baby chameleon in a petsmart that was no bigger than 2 inches and when I went back to Lubbock I saw one that was even smaller. It looked like he was no more than a week old.

Why do some breeders sell these chameleons right out of the egg? I asked my girlfriend and she said she thought that the baby veiled was there when she went 5 days ago. So the cham couldnt of been more than a week old when it got there.

What I thought was even worse was that I asked about their crickets and the crickets they had for sell were half the size of the baby and they didnt have fruit flies, so they had nothing there for sell that he could eat....what are they feeding him???

Sorry for the rant but I dont understand why people are irresponsible in selling animals at such a young age especially if the petsmart were to sell the baby to someone then they wouldnt be able to find it an appropriate feeder.

 

[chequepoint]

Because feeders cost money, and babies take up space and time. The quicker you can sell them, the greater the profit. Not saying its right, I'm saying its why it happens.

 

[Rocky]

just seems wrong imho.... a 1-2 week old veiled chameleon being sold for $100 then after someone buys it they wouldnt be able to find it food

 

[chequepoint]

Of course its wrong, but try and find someone along that path that cares. The breeder gets his money, the pet store gets paid, and if the animal dies, and the person tries again, they all get paid twice.

 

[jernlee]

These people same people would sell there mother if the price was right.
How sad.
jerry

 

[jannb]

This is so sad. I bought mine at 7 months and 5 1/2 months and they were still like little babies to me. No wonder we see them dying on here all the time. Jann

 

[viaje]

As far as I know, petsmart gets all it's reptiles from sandfire ranch- I've been trying to figure out what sandfire breeds so I can decide whats WC.
The managers at petsmart just get a list of what's available when they go to place their orders, and they select on the list what they have room for.
I'm not saying that it's okay for them to have the young chameleon, and sadly they may not have anything to feed it- but I think sandfire is the one to blame here, they shouldn't be sending out the young chams.

 

[alhickabee]

What store in LBK was the chameleon at? I used to go to TTU and was just out there to visit my GF this past weekend. I checked a couple of stores for grins and didn't find any. It is sad that stores sell babies that young. I was under the impression 2-3 months or basically when they are eating 1/4"-1/2" crickets would be the ideal age.

 

[Dsignrguy]

two words...GREED and LAZYNESS!!!


I've also seen a couple posts HERE(in for sale section) from people selling animals that were too young (the latest being someone selling nosy mitsio babies too young because "winter is coming, so it will be too cold to ship them when they get old enough"......TUFF $#!& PAL, you made the choice to breed them, now do the right thing!!!! hold them the extra few months and adjust the sale price to reflect the extra work and feeder cost.


I've also read several "HELP, BABY DIEING" posts here from unsuspecting/unknowing people who purchased animals that were too young to be sold. The buyer is not at fault(unless they actually know what they are getting in to).


IMHO, a beginner should NEVER NEVER NEVER purchase or be sold an animal under 3 mo. old, and even an experienced keeper should either NOT PURCHACE, or ACCEPT 100% RISK for animals purchased that are under 2-2.5 months.

I also feel it's the dealers responsibility to know/learn the experience of the buyer before selling a sub-3mo old animal.

 

[ChromaChameleons]

I breed chams. I sell them to newbs at 12 -14 weeks of age or older. I will sell babies to experienced chameleon keepers at 8 - 10 weeks of age , but they pretty much get grilled until I'm convinced that they know what they are doing.

Selling chameleons at 12 -14 weeks accomplishes several things. It ensures a well started cham , that is growing and is independantly eating , it also will ship well and it ensures that my reputation stays intact.

No chameleon should need to die of inappropriate care, conditions or age at time of sale , for the sake of a quick buck.

I have actually taken emails and phone calls from other breeder's customers seeking help or advice for their aquisitions that are not fairing well. I also get the emails and phone calls from other breeder's customers that have lost their chams at ridiculously young ages.

To my knowledge , no breeder has ever taken a call or email in regards to my chameleons.

In order for me to sell a panther chameleon at 10 -14 weeks of age . It requires space, food and time. I then , price tha cham accordingly . Generally at the $300+ price point . Competitors and pet stores regularly sell Panthers at younger ages for $175 - $200. Their overhead is far lower than mine. Does a customer really think that a $200 cham is a better deal than a $300 cham, considering all things are NOT equal. Definitely an apple and oranges comparison.

I don't condone selling chameleons at a young age , but I don't understand why the buying public supports it by purchasing these young chams. If the demand for 6 week old chams exists, some unscrupulous breeder will capitulate.

If the buyer is unaware of a cham's age and the importance of obtaining an appropriately aged cham , then I would question the customer's research.

It takes 2 to Tango....

 

[crazychamzoo]

I breed chams. I sell them to newbs at 12 -14 weeks of age or older. I will sell babies to experienced chameleon keepers at 8 - 10 weeks of age , but they pretty much get grilled until I'm convinced that they know what they are doing.

Selling chameleons at 12 -14 weeks accomplishes several things. It ensures a well started cham , that is growing and is independantly eating , it also will ship well and it ensures that my reputation stays intact.

No chameleon should need to die of inappropriate care, conditions or age at time of sale , for the sake of a quick buck.

I have actually taken emails and phone calls from other breeder's customers seeking help or advice for their aquisitions that are not fairing well. I also get the emails and phone calls from other breeder's customers that have lost their chams at ridiculously young ages.

To my knowledge , no breeder has ever taken a call or email in regards to my chameleons.

In order for me to sell a panther chameleon at 10 -14 weeks of age . It requires space, food and time. I then , price tha cham accordingly . Generally at the $300+ price point . Competitors and pet stores regularly sell Panthers at younger ages for $175 - $200. Their overhead is far lower than mine. Does a customer really think that a $200 cham is a better deal than a $300 cham, considering all things are NOT equal. Definitely an apple and oranges comparison.

I don't condone selling chameleons at a young age , but I don't understand why the buying public supports it by purchasing these young chams. If the demand for 6 week old chams exists, some unscrupulous breeder will capitulate.

If the buyer is unaware of a cham's age and the importance of obtaining an appropriately aged cham , then I would question the customer's research.

It takes 2 to Tango....

Unfortunately you are correct about the buyers that support the sale of the young chams, mostly lack of research and understanding, and hugely on price, they want the deal and don't understand the money it takes to bring up a clutch in good health, and to insure in time that the Cham gets the loving care that they need to start off with, it's 100% to the benefit of the Cham to insure optimal health, but the buyer equally share in that benefit when they by from a breeder who pours there heart and soul into what they do.