ewbie.Picking up a Veil Chameleon on Craigslist. Does he look healthy?

edwok

New Member
Hello people of Chameleons Forums. First time poster, long-time Chameleon fan. I was looking at this 1 year old male veil chameleon on craigslist, and was wondering if you guys think he looks healthy or not! What should I look for when I go check him out tomorrow that will tell me if he's healthy or not? I'm getting a good deal on him ($100 for chameleon, cage, and lights) and just wanted to make sure that I'm getting a healthy chameleon. He says he is friendly, but when he is in his cage he is territorial.

Thanks for reading!


http://imgur.com/Kj71J,OI60F

http://imgur.com/Kj71J,OI60F#1
 
Hello, welcome to the forum :) I've seen lots of Chameleon pictures.... I make no guarantees but that looks exactly like what the advert says :).....
He should have clear bright eyes, no discharge from any orifice, you should check for broken spines or nails, anything obvious like a burn. A bit of white crust on his nose would be nothing to worry about. If he seems sleepy during the day theat is a very bad sign. His eyes should always be open except for occasional blinking. Wheezing or coughing is bad, a hiss is just telling you to get out of his territory. There should be no sign of mucus.
If he looks like that though, he looks good.
Here is a great all round caresheet I recommend to all new people with Veileds - https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/chameleonsinmyhouse/395-veiled-chameleon-care-sheet.html
 
Like said above, he looks good in the photo (a nice amount of yellow too!)

What to look for:
-Should be holding himself above the branch (its bad if he cannot lift himself off the branch)
-Clear, alert eyes with no swelling or discharge
-No burns, cuts, or scrapes
-Feet should have a strong grip (adult males usually squeeze the crap out of your hand until they settle down)
-Arms and legs should be straight with good joints (look for breaks and signs of MBD)
-Check for broken nails. Adults may loose some from the screen, but make sure it is healed and looks alright
-Spines should all be there
-Tail should be strong and able to curl
-Check in the mouth. There should be no discoloration, bubbles, or mucus.
-Hissing is fine, popping noises or wheezing sounds are not


Also ask about how he was supplemented, what he was fed, his lighting schedule and when the lights were last changed. If the UVB bulb is more than 6 months old, you should get a new one. Ask about if he has ever had a fecal test done, and any problems he has had in the past.
 
Thanks everybody. My Veiled Chameleon is doing great. I'm really enjoying this forum as a resource for all my chameleon info!
 
Back
Top Bottom