I bought what I thought was a mellers chameleon baby and I was very busy with wedding stuff that weekend but I was reassured by the "breeder" that it was a mellers but they look like veileds. Now that my schedule has settled I'm looking at it and I think it is a female veiled. Attached is a picture of it. Please tell me I didn't get ripped off. Please don't be too harsh I feel like an idiot and I have many other reptiles I was just in a bit of a stress haze that weekend.
Mellers?
- Thread starter Hiller
- Start date
Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
Unfortunately you are correct. That is a juvenile female Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) based on the shape of the head, color/pattern, and lack of a tarsal spur.
Was this an online purchase or a local one?
Chris
Was this an online purchase or a local one?
Chris
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
I'm sorry that you were lied to like that! This isn't a mistake that any reputable vendor/breeder would ever make (not like confusing a baby male panther with a female, for example, which sometimes happens to the best of people) but confusing these two species?
Just for future reference, here is what a baby melleri should look like at 1-2 months of age:
The most obvious difference is the white and black/pale green banding, which they have for some time as they grow, and the scalloping along their back. The banding in particular is very distinctive.
Just for future reference, here is what a baby melleri should look like at 1-2 months of age:
The most obvious difference is the white and black/pale green banding, which they have for some time as they grow, and the scalloping along their back. The banding in particular is very distinctive.
Ya I was supposed to get an adult male and I know what they look like but was told at the last minute that it wasn't a possibility due to its condition so I was offered a male baby. With all the running around and stuff I didn't do my research and payed for it. Honestly I'm not an idiot I always do research but I was not prepared for the quick twist. I feel like an idiot but at least it wasn't like I saved for months to be able to afford it but the thing that pisses me off the most is I used my adult male veiled for part for the trade to lower the cost and I didn't have room for both
Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
No, I'm believe you that you didn't go into it blindly, but baby Meller's are fairly rare here (it seems like someone only hatches them out about every 2-3 years) so I wouldn't have been surprised if you'd never seen a very small one. It's too late now, but that's also a good reason to suspect someone who says they have CB hatchlings.
So was this an online breeder/vendor? Are you familiar with Faunaclassifieds.com? They have a Board of Inquiry (BOI) where you can post a negative (or positive) review of a breeder or vendor depending on your experience. So if you contact this person and they do not offer to refund your money, return your other veiled, send you a Meller's, etc., whatever it is you would like to resolve the situation, I would post up a thread on them and send them the link to it.
The thread itself may not solve anything (sometimes breeders to save face will correct a situation once it's been made public but not all of them) but at the very least it may help someone else who is thinking about purchasing from the same people. A quick search and your thread would pop up.
Again, I'm sorry someone tried to trick you like this.
So was this an online breeder/vendor? Are you familiar with Faunaclassifieds.com? They have a Board of Inquiry (BOI) where you can post a negative (or positive) review of a breeder or vendor depending on your experience. So if you contact this person and they do not offer to refund your money, return your other veiled, send you a Meller's, etc., whatever it is you would like to resolve the situation, I would post up a thread on them and send them the link to it.
The thread itself may not solve anything (sometimes breeders to save face will correct a situation once it's been made public but not all of them) but at the very least it may help someone else who is thinking about purchasing from the same people. A quick search and your thread would pop up.
Again, I'm sorry someone tried to trick you like this.
Ya they are rare in the states. I live in Canada and they are even rarer. I love the mellers and will some day have them and I can't post a thing on the person I get it from as I only have his email and he sells privately. If you think the reptile community is small in the us come to Canada ha ha ha. But if one of you fine people feel like shipping a mellers or a parsons lol to Canada for me I won't say no. Ps I have not heard of anyone in Canada owning a parsons.
CLP
New Member
That's awful that you were taken advantage of like that! I am also from Canada so know what you mean about the lack of available reptiles - especially chameleons. I'm in Nova Scotia, and we rarely see anything other than veileds here. That being said, one of the local stores brought in two adult mellers about a month ago. I nearly had a fit!! They are my dream species. If I had the money and the room...
So, what that does say, is they can be brought in. I cringe saying this, but have you tried speaking with a local reptile store to see if they can get you one?
So, what that does say, is they can be brought in. I cringe saying this, but have you tried speaking with a local reptile store to see if they can get you one?
CLP
New Member
Yes, I am aware that the ones in my local shop would be WC, and the issues that come with that. I have read and re-read the melleri discovery site so many times, you'd think I'd have it memorized by now 
However, as that may be my only option for getting this species, I will take the risk when I have the time, space and money to manage it. I am hoping to make this species my focus and successfully breed them. Very long term project, even if I acquired a pair today, but it's where I've set my sights. Who knows, maybe some day, years from now, you'll see me advertising CB babies!
Good luck if you do get a meller's, and please keep us posted! I love looking at and reading about these guys!
However, as that may be my only option for getting this species, I will take the risk when I have the time, space and money to manage it. I am hoping to make this species my focus and successfully breed them. Very long term project, even if I acquired a pair today, but it's where I've set my sights. Who knows, maybe some day, years from now, you'll see me advertising CB babies!
Good luck if you do get a meller's, and please keep us posted! I love looking at and reading about these guys!
