Need Advice!

[MalibuHarlee]

I bought a 6 month old female vieled chameleon a couple weeks ago from a pet store. I ordered a Flexarium so I have been waiting these past couple of weeks for that to come in before I pick her up from the pet store.

Well, the petstore just called to say my Flexarium is in AND that my chameleon has broken her leg! So, I can either wait 6-8 weeks for the cast to come off and the break to heal. Or... they have offered me an older vieled female (3 months older) who has ALSO broken her leg but her cast came off a week ago. There is now a bump on her leg from where it was broken and healed. This older chameleon is also not nearly as tamed as the baby I got.

When I was in the petstore last week, I overheard one of the store clerks say my baby was "shaking" when she went to pick her up but I didn't think anything about it. Now reading up here since I've heard the news and it sounds like MBD. I also asked why these 2 critters have broken legs (from a fall?) and the clerk said that the vet who saw them said they were gutloaded too much so they grew too quickly for the bones? I didn't really understand completely what she was saying with that... but it sounds more like some kind of deficiency here?

What should I do? Wait the 8 weeks for the girl that I wanted? Take the other female? Or find somewhere else (which I have called around and noone else seems to have chameleons).... I have been waiting very impatient for this Flexarium and now this happens!

 

[lisa h]

I'd think about looking somewhere else. Pet stores aren't always the best places to buy chameleons. Their knowledge and care is often lacking (not all, but some). I'm not sure where you live, but some of our sponsors might have something for you (look on the top right of the screen. "View our sponsers"). Maybe one of the forum members has something.

 

[Elizadolots]

I would not wait for this chameleon. You might want to check the "chameleons for sale" classifieds here.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleons-sale/

That's where forum members are likely to put information about available chameleons.

 

[MalibuHarlee]

I live in Canada (Kelowna, British Columbia) - if that makes a difference for locating breeders

 

[laurie]

I am sure that we have some forum members in canada who breed veileds. You need to hold out for a good healthy chameleon. I know you want one now, but the heartbreak of losing one due to poor care before you received it, is something you don't want to start out with your first chameleon. Take the time to get a healthy chameleon, that is the best advice we can offer you. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Elizadolots]

It probably does. There are loads of Canadians on this board. I suggest you look around to see if any has put an ad in the classified and also, look to see if someone seems like a good candidate for a private message to ask for a Canadian breeder to recommend (I know there are Canadian breeders, I remember I've read threads discussing this).