Is something wrong with this chameleon? (found at petstore)

[Charms]

Hi friends, is something wrong with this chameleon I found at a petstore yesterday?
Her coloring is very strange to me, but I'm colorblind so I can't really be sure.
My wife says the chameleon does not have those red spots on her back; it's just the heat lamp she's sitting under.
The petcare manager says she has a great appetite and eats a lot. But she just looks like a weird color to me?

If this is a condition, can it be fixed with better care or is it too late? I'm building a bioactive terrarium for my very first chameleon (haven't found a chameleon yet btw). So if this one could be nursed back to health I'd take her.

 

[Beman]

She is under a red lamp so it makes her look red... And they have stupid decor in with her that is not suitable... Could be health issues no way to tell that though.

 

[ERKleRose]

Welcome on here! I will add that you should either not do bioactive yet or have a separate quarantine enclosure for whatever chameleon you get. If there’s parasites you’ll have to trash everything in the bioactive enclosure, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry! If you want, we can help you go over your husbandry to make sure you’ve got everything in tip-top shape before a chameleon (best to make sure you have the correct info and everything is dialed in beforehand)! We can also help you find a vet experienced in chameleons, too, if you don’t have one already! I will caution you away from any pet store chameleons, as they’re usually in rough shape, even if you can’t see it. Getting a cham from a reputable breeder results in a much healthier cham straight from the start, along with knowing their genetic history and being able to reach the breeder anytime! If you do decide to go with this little girl, she will lay eggs and need specific care to make egg laying less taxing to her and help prolong her life. Whatever you decide to do, we’re here for you anytime!

 

[Charms]

Welcome on here! I will add that you should either not do bioactive yet or have a separate quarantine enclosure for whatever chameleon you get. If there’s parasites you’ll have to trash everything in the bioactive enclosure, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry! If you want, we can help you go over your husbandry to make sure you’ve got everything in tip-top shape before a chameleon (best to make sure you have the correct info and everything is dialed in beforehand)! We can also help you find a vet experienced in chameleons, too, if you don’t have one already! I will caution you away from any pet store chameleons, as they’re usually in rough shape, even if you can’t see it. Getting a cham from a reputable breeder results in a much healthier cham straight from the start, along with knowing their genetic history and being able to reach the breeder anytime! If you do decide to go with this little girl, she will lay eggs and need specific care to make egg laying less taxing to her and help prolong her life. Whatever you decide to do, we’re here for you anytime!

Thank you for the info. We've got a reptile vet, and my wife is actually a zoo biologist with reptile experience, so we're very carefully following Chameleon Academy's guides on bioactive enclosures! We've spent quite a lot of money on this project because we're very serious about providing the finest care possible.

We're also reading a few books as well. Thank you for your advice. We also tend to adopt animals that are sick / injured / disabled. If there's an animal stuck in a pet store experiencing less than optimal care, that's the one we want.

 

[kinyonga]

My big concern would be that she may be predisposed to follicular stasis or dystocia from her care up to this point…which would mean that she may need to be spayed to prevent her premature death. If cared for properly for a female veiled, this can all be avoided. You want to control her diet, ensure that vitamins…especially fat soluble ones, calcium, phosphorus levels are all right, UVB, etc are all spot on to keep her from developing huge numbers of follicles and eggs, to limit the risks of the reproductive issues. They can live over 7 years if things are
done right but will often die in the first year or two if not kept right.