Chameleon Size (2 Inches)

[NewOwner]

Hi, i just got back from the pet store, i was getting crickets, and seen they have another veiled chameleon there, that is priced at 179.99 And is about 2 inches including the head, not including the tail... Just wondering how old it is

Info:

#1 ~ 2 - 2.5 inches long

#2 ~ Female Veiled

#3 ~ Was in a glass aquarium, with a huge water dish

#4 ~ A bunch of crickets in its aquarium

This was very sad.. i really dont beleive they should be able to sell the at this young... he was barely walking and looked dehydrated, and to me the crickets they were feeding it were way to big, and i believe they should have had clipped legs and put in a container for her.

BTW This was at Paws & Jaws, at the Zellers mall, in nanaimo, Vancouver island, British columbia Canada.

My question is

How old would you geuss she is?

When should they be sold? (Ive read, 3 mo)

 

[Syn]

Poor baby.. I would think about 2-3 months?

EDIT:i read that wrong. I'd probably agree with Kenya.

 

[kenya]

My baby veileds are a bit bigger than that and are a little over a month old. Also, that price is ludicrous.

 

[NewOwner]

I was so sad.. I wanted to put it in my pocket and leave, when he let me hold it... give it a better home then that, And give it smaller crickets, and mist its cage, this one looked dehydrated

 

[kenya]

Stealing isn't good.

Buying it from them is worse, though, because they will figure they sell well and bring in more. One dying can save hundreds of others from the same fate. I don't consider buying an animal from a petstore who is improperly caring for it "rescuing". You are still buying it and reinforcing that they can sell them with that kind of care.

Just my two cents.

 

[Chase]

Geez. Definatly not in good condition. That price is too high!

 

[NewOwner]

Yeah, i was kidding bout putting the lil guy in my pocket.. Was just saying it like.. a "Figure of speech" i geuss id call it, just saying it was sad seeing it like that..

But yes, you are right, it is very wrong there doing that, and the high price, and i definatley agree with you on buying it, its just promoting it, and saying that it is alright to treat them as such, and put them at such rediculous prices

Thanks For posting

 

[sandrachameleon]

If the store manager is willing to listen, you might be able to share with them some of your new knowledge regarding chameleons and perhaps get them to improve its living conditions.

 

[kenya]

If the store manager is willing to listen, you might be able to share with them some of your new knowledge regarding chameleons and perhaps get them to improve its living conditions.

This is true and worth a try. Just be very nice about it- they tend to shut down to you quickly if you are patronizing or preachy. It would help to have a good care sheet written up to take with you and leave for them. Maybe highlight the important, brief parts such as what type of bulb to use, how many times a day to water, how to gutload insects, etc.

 

[zelink14]

I got Ridley from the LLL Reptile booth at an exotic pet show and at the time s/he was about that size... the smallest one in the cage, in fact. Ridley has turned out okay and is currently 4 months (if s/he was about a month old when I got him/her) but I wasn't sure how young was too young at the time...

That is sad, though. I won't buy pets from chain stores anymore after losing a beardie. Everytime I go there I look at the beardies and hope they end up okay.

I got a really good deal on my chameleon... they were on sale for $35 -- unbelievable price! They usually -- REASONABLY -- run for about $90-$100, I think. $179.00 for a chameleon, and a sick one at that? That's ridiculous.

 

[rachelk]

i was just at petland last weekend and i was just checking out the pygmies they had, there were 3 in the cage but one appeared dead to me, i told the "reptile" petstore guy and once he opened up the cage and got a better look it was definately dead...poor little thing, he was just like oh well and threw it away, i can't stress enough how much i hate that place...especially since they support puppy mills...

 

[kenya]

.

I got a really good deal on my chameleon... they were on sale for $35 -- unbelievable price! They usually -- REASONABLY -- run for about $90-$100, I think. $179.00 for a chameleon, and a sick one at that? That's ridiculous.

Actually, a well bred normal veiled is usually $35-$45 from a breeder. Pet stores buy them for $15-$25 usually and mark them up into the hundreds. Horrible, isn't it?

 

[zelink14]

i was just at petland last weekend and i was just checking out the pygmies they had, there were 3 in the cage but one appeared dead to me, i told the "reptile" petstore guy and once he opened up the cage and got a better look it was definately dead...poor little thing, he was just like oh well and threw it away, i can't stress enough how much i hate that place...especially since they support puppy mills...

Oh my gosh, that's just plain disgusting. (morally and hygienically) D: I'm always paranoid of the lethargic-looking reptiles actually being dead behind the glass. I saw a baby leopard gecko the other day that, I worried, wasn't just sleeping...

To kenya: Wow, I didn't know that. I guess I've pretty much ONLY seen chameleons (very rarely, I might add) on sale for about $100. I guess that's comforting, but not about the pet stores jacking up the price...

 

[jojackson]

Also, that price is ludicrous

Oh you think? try $450~ for a 3 week old !! (well worth it btw)

Now that I think about it, why is any price for a living creature 'ludicrous'? What value a unique life?

For that matter, I think any price a buyer is more than willing to pay is by definition, reasonable.

A non-living thing's 'value' is ofcourse another thing altogether in my book, but again the above applies!

As for the conditions these poor critters are kept in, What do you expect, its a petstore. Its hardly a new 'phenomena', Its not folk online that need educating, go back and educate the store owner/workers!

Sad yes, but boringly commonplace im afraid.

 

[BocaJan]

$35 for a baby veiled is correct. The older they get the more they cost just because of the cost of feeding them and that you know they are healthy.

 

[jojackson]

$35 for a baby veiled is correct.

Lol, it may be 'the standard price' where you are (see my last post) but this does not mean its only 'worth' $35.......Just my thoughts