Need some Quick Advice Please...

[SoCaliSon]

Please Help... Dilema!

I am thinking of Purchasing a 6 month female Ambilobe...from a breeder that I really havn't really heard of but I was impressed with his website and breeding stock(my secret for right no until i decide if I am going to get her... so she doesn't get snagged up from under me with all you cham hunters out there )... That and he is the only person I can find who has females that that are almost breeding age for sale. He said he wanted to warn me that this cluch has been eating funny... While they do eat the crickets that get put in... she runs right up on the cricket and does a short range shot every time. He guarantees that she is eating... and even offered to extended the health gurantee from 7 to 14 days to make me feel more comfortable.. and he assures me that the way they eat is not affecting their health and wont affect their abilty to breed.

What do you think about this... Is she still worth the $300 as a Pure Ambilobe that is beggining to show pink? Or should I not take the risk and keep shopping. I am thinking of doing this tonight so please chime in with your thoughts.

 

[SoCaliSon]

I was very impressed with the fact that he was upfront with me on this issue and didn't want to just sell to me letting me find out on my own.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Wow 1 view in over an hour in the buisiest room on the forum... Should have thought of a more eye catching title... Please... I would really like some advice on this... I'm not sure what to do. He sent me a pic and she looks great.

 

[Julirs]

I just wouldn't pay $300 for a female that is less than perfect. If he is willing to disclose the issue, he should be willing to drop the price.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Thnks Julirs... I am confused as to why an enitre clutch would have this issue... Very strange. In one Cham I would think it is a vision or tounge issue... or maybe just a personal prefernce on feeding method for the cham... But the whole clutch

 

[SoCaliSon]

oops... cant figure out how to delete a post. Made A Dup

 

[Dean Pulcini]

Your taking a chance on a less then 100% chameleon why buy trouble? Save yourself a vet bill and get a healthy female this problem could effect egg production.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

The animal is already offered at a discount.

Adult and subadult animals go for more cash than 3 month olds pain and simple
with young ones the customer risks individual coloration and greater
sensitivity to requirements with greater risk of death.
3 month old females from a good line are selling for over that amount listed.
IF you've seen pictures of the female and she looks healthy
then I would get her.
the choice is yours.

The behavior may be due to a supplement issue and can be corrected if caught in time. (lack of bioavailable vitamin A in the supplements?)
The extended guarantee helps a lot.

Don't penalize a seller if he tells you something that he is being honest about
that only motivates people to omit things and or lie about clear defects (another thread).
A two week refund window is great to show the sellers confidence with the animals health.

but I warn you... breeding isn't "easy" and it's full of problems along the way.

 

[KevinA]

I dont think thats a geat deal by any means. But I've been pretty luck to find some chams for good deals.

I think from prior discussions with you that you want to breed soon. A 6 month female is further away from breeding than the one you have know right?

You may just consider holding out on your female you have now and wait the month or two(may be a little more) till she is ready, because a 6 month old will probably have an even longer wait. That is if you don't have your heart set on an amilobe.

 

[Jeweledchameleons]

I also got the idea that his motivation was to breed
in that case getting good stock is all important.
IF the female is of a good line, age makes a big difference
in getting the ball rolling.
300 isn't that bad at all.

if it's just for someone who wants to go cheap
you'll never survive in my opinion and shouldn't bother trying.

KevinA
While there are some diamonds out there to be found
On average the people I've dealt with at the shows
sell 2.5 month olds at that price.
factor in individual traits and the risk of getting something
that just isn't the top 10% of the clutch
then the price makes sense because he can get a good idea
as to the traits he's really buying.
On top of that:
I do believe that the price is lower due to the fact that she's not shooting properly.

 

[SoCaliSon]

Thanks for the advice guys... I do happen to feel confident in the deal... And she is healthy looking in the pic... and is showing some nice pink like she is becoming receptive. My current female is 9 months but is yet to show any real receptive colors. She is a Nosy Be and he is a Ambilobe/Nosy cross... I am more interested in trying to keep bloodlines as true as possible and trying to keep away from crossing anymore. Since she is a True Nosy Be I am considering waiting a couple months while I acquire an impressive Nosy Male and try to produce some nice Blue Babies. Since he shows more Ambilobe I feel... I am leaning towards wanting to breed him to a true ambilobe girl... and slowly breeding back to as close to true ambilobe as I can get. Saying that I would like to know what you guys think as far as this strategy. I know that nothing down the line from him will be true Ambilobe...But is it better to try to reach a "truer" bloodline? I am not doing this for profit... Just the next step in expanding my hobby... But I would still like to produce as quality animals as possible.

I know breeding is not easy as I have assisted in the process before. I appreciate the words of caution Jeweled, please know I am by no means jumping in over my head... I have done years of Herping and research before I even let myself consider getting to this point. I am now at the point where I feel confident that I have the knowledge and experience necessary to produce some quality animals in the outdoor habitat I have bee working on. I know that breeding is not something for the inexperienced and unprepared... No ego involved when I say that when I do something... I like to do it right. Thanks guys...

 

[Eric Adrignola]

Probably not genetic, as it affects all of the clutch. Variation in the genes will rarely result in every oen of them having the same problem. It can happen, but it's rare.

Supplementing, not likely if it's been that way since day one. IF they were eatign normally, then started this after a few weeks, it's likely.

My guess is some problem with incubation. Too warm, too cold, fluctuations, maybe the female was not healthy. IF it affects all the eggs, it's likely something that affected ALL the eggs.

 

[dodolah]

it's good that the breeder is up front.
but, i don't know, man...
the whole thing about the chameleon going right at the food to eat (short range shooting thing).
that's a bit worrisome.
How much you trust this guy?

If it turn out to be health problem, would he be willing to compensate you anyhow?

 

[SoCaliSon]

it's good that the breeder is up front.
but, i don't know, man...
the whole thing about the chameleon going right at the food to eat (short range shooting thing).
that's a bit worrisome.
How much you trust this guy?

If it turn out to be health problem, would he be willing to compensate you anyhow?

Yeah I was impressed that he was willing to disclose that... says that the dollar isn't the actual bottom line for him. I personally had never heard of him, and have asked around in his state and have the same result.... Like I said the website and pics of the stock look great. He did send me a pic of the girl who looked healthy and offered a 2 week health guarantee, and he says he has never had an unsatisfied customer. So I'd say as much as I know him ...I do trust that he is a honest dealer who is doing things right. But personally I think I will pass on this girl. I am trying to get some healthy breeders.. .and would prefer to not take any kind of gambles whatsoever. But I can say that I will be contacting him some some of his other clutches come up a little. I feel he would be a good person to buy from.

 

[nightcrawler]

Since he shows more Ambilobe I feel... I am leaning towards wanting to breed him to a true ambilobe girl... and slowly breeding back to as close to true ambilobe as I can get. Saying that I would like to know what you guys think as far as this strategy. I know that nothing down the line from him will be true Ambilobe...But is it better to try to reach a "truer" bloodline? I am not doing this for profit... Just the next step in expanding my hobby... But I would still like to produce as quality animals as possible.

as for this i dont think its a good idea. now it is my opinion but i think
it will cause more hassle down the road. if you do keep on breeding the
nosey down to less then 10% then it wont show that much anymore (i think
that % is ok, it might be more or less im a astronomy major not bio.)
but when you do sell the babies that look ohmost pure or even pure to
the untrained eyes, they will be bread by people who might not say
they are not pure, and then it will cause problems because people
will be thinking they are getting pure when they arnt.

now i dont think that their is any problems with crossing, and i would really
like to know how the colors turned out. its like a crazy kalidascope,
youll never know whats going to happen next. but a lot of people dont
like the idea. in a world full of honest people i dont think it will be a problem.
but we live in the opposite world.

He said he wanted to warn me that this cluch has been eating funny... While they do eat the crickets that get put in... she runs right up on the cricket and does a short range shot every time.

is this bad really? wont they get closer to get a better shot?
mine never shoots super long, he does short or med shots.
i dont think their is anything wrong with him, he never misses to my
knowing.