Help. How to tell if WC
- Thread starter Vidgee
- Start date
zlew
Member
There is no way whatsoever to tel if a chameleon was wild caught, unless you have been told so by the person you bought it from that it was. There are some indicators, but they are far from conclusive or a credible way to tell: parasite load, temperament. But both of those can be in the extremes even with captive bred animals.
carol5208
Chameleon Enthusiast
If they are wild caught, sometimes they are banged up from shipping and some will have scars sometimes from just living in the wild or possibly fighting with other chameleons. But as Zlew said, there is really no way to just look at one by size, color, etc and say it is wild caught. Not to my knowledge anyways.
OldChamKeeper
Chameleon Enthusiast
How about telling us the species? Most people on these forums know what types are being bred in captivity and which are not. Also tell us who or where you got it from since sometimes that can be an indicator.
Vidgee,
Don't take this wrong, but I would suggest you don't buy wild-caught chameleons to start a new line. The wild-caught mortality rate is high, even with experienced chameleon keepers, and unless you have a lot more experience than your post leads me to believe, it would be better to buy captive bred male and female, and try your hand at 1) learning to keep the 2 captive bred chameleons alive, and if that works, 2) try to breed them.
As a side note, there really is no money to be made by a new breeder from experienced buyers, as those on this forum and on chameleon Facebook groups; we go to those who have years of experience typically, not to new breeders that appear on the scene quickly, and then put animals in the market which often have myriad of health problems.
Another major issue is the amount of time and cost is involved with chameleons; feeders, light fixtures, bulbs, caging. watering, vet bills will make your first clutches a payback for your initial investment, and rarely does it pay the all the bills…
Not being harsh, but trying to be realistic, you are not ready to even think about breeding, either WC or CB. Get a male, raise him to 2-3 years or so successfully, and then see if you want to continue.
CHEERS!
Nick
Don't take this wrong, but I would suggest you don't buy wild-caught chameleons to start a new line. The wild-caught mortality rate is high, even with experienced chameleon keepers, and unless you have a lot more experience than your post leads me to believe, it would be better to buy captive bred male and female, and try your hand at 1) learning to keep the 2 captive bred chameleons alive, and if that works, 2) try to breed them.
As a side note, there really is no money to be made by a new breeder from experienced buyers, as those on this forum and on chameleon Facebook groups; we go to those who have years of experience typically, not to new breeders that appear on the scene quickly, and then put animals in the market which often have myriad of health problems.
Another major issue is the amount of time and cost is involved with chameleons; feeders, light fixtures, bulbs, caging. watering, vet bills will make your first clutches a payback for your initial investment, and rarely does it pay the all the bills…
Not being harsh, but trying to be realistic, you are not ready to even think about breeding, either WC or CB. Get a male, raise him to 2-3 years or so successfully, and then see if you want to continue.
CHEERS!
Nick
@nick barta
Thanks for your honest opinion. Howevere, regardless of our experience we are very committed and passionate. Don't get me wrong I haven't killed any chams yet. Hoping to God that I don ever. But we aren't just going to jump the gun and start breeding. This is why I posted this thread. We are still learning and doing all the research we need. I'm a nurse, I've dealt with lives, the young and the old. Now chameleons are different. But that's just to say one thing about myself n my partners. We are responsible adults.
Like I said regardless the time we've had with chameleons. We are very committed and passionate. If we don't start now when? Gotta start somewhere sometime right? We're not expecting to be top names on the marker/community. But the best way to learn is by doing it. Not waiting 2 years as u say. WC or CB, we are going for it. Its already in motion. Preparing our equipments m, cages, inquiring on some nice Panther chams that we would like to breed.
Also I know a few breeder that didn't have experience all he had was love for the animal and his passion about them. He is now breeding yearly and has learned from it. And his breeders are alive and well. Offsprings are healthy and very active.
All I can say to you is. You never til you know. Who knows we might just produce something that everyone will want. Except we won't see to you. Lol jk.
Ps. It isn't all about the money were gna make or the fame. It's to satisfy our obsession as well. we love chams
Thanks for your honest opinion. Howevere, regardless of our experience we are very committed and passionate. Don't get me wrong I haven't killed any chams yet. Hoping to God that I don ever. But we aren't just going to jump the gun and start breeding. This is why I posted this thread. We are still learning and doing all the research we need. I'm a nurse, I've dealt with lives, the young and the old. Now chameleons are different. But that's just to say one thing about myself n my partners. We are responsible adults.
Like I said regardless the time we've had with chameleons. We are very committed and passionate. If we don't start now when? Gotta start somewhere sometime right? We're not expecting to be top names on the marker/community. But the best way to learn is by doing it. Not waiting 2 years as u say. WC or CB, we are going for it. Its already in motion. Preparing our equipments m, cages, inquiring on some nice Panther chams that we would like to breed.
Also I know a few breeder that didn't have experience all he had was love for the animal and his passion about them. He is now breeding yearly and has learned from it. And his breeders are alive and well. Offsprings are healthy and very active.
All I can say to you is. You never til you know. Who knows we might just produce something that everyone will want. Except we won't see to you. Lol jk.
Ps. It isn't all about the money were gna make or the fame. It's to satisfy our obsession as well. we love chams
You sound like you have a plan…go forth!
CHEERS!
Nick
CHEERS!
Nick
You sound like you have a plan…go forth!
CHEERS!
Nick
Appreciate the passion and concern nick.
We're going for it. Glucks to us!
ChameLIonLover
Member
You could go to Madagascar and get some if that is legal. I'm sure you'd need certain permissions but if you are as serious and passionate as you suggest you are, I'm sure it's possible. If you truly want wild chameleons, you need to study them before taking them from their homeland, and diagnose any problems they may have before even beginning to breed. if the mommy and daddy chams are sick in any way, there's no way babies will last long in a completely different environment. Good skill in your endeavor chap
