species you remember & prices they sold for

[pamnsam94]

In the late 80s to early 90s, I remember seeing Fucifer campani for something like $30 to $50 a piece at a reptile show. Now look at what they go for! For many species, too low of a price is definitely bad, not just for the animals being exported but for the accumulation of knowledge on the husbandry of that species. Many low-priced chameleons are often bought by individuals just looking for a "pet". Frequently, they are not really interested in breeding them. I really admire keepers that try to breed species that are low cost (Senegals, gracefuls, etc.) because their experiences, if shared, might add to our knowledge about those species. At the same time, for many species, very high prices can be detrimental too because many well-intentioned and experienced keepers will no longer have access to them in order to help "iron out" some of their captive husbandry issues. When we put our collective heads together, knowledge will advance, even if sometimes by serendipity.

Now, please share what species you remember (especially ones that are uncommon to rare in the hobby) and what prices they went for. I thought a topic like this would be interesting because it highlights the importance of our hobby towards conservation, even though, in many cases, it seems that protecting the species' habitat is of highest importance. In other words, if you are wiling to seriously put forth the effort in breeding various species, you may want to get 'em while you can, before the prices skyrocket. If someone is just looking for a "pet" though, I would recommend sticking to CB species that are well-established in captivity.

Perry

 

[pamnsam94]

I'll add a twist to this topic since it seemes to be going nowhere. What about species that used to cost a lot but are now very inexpensive? I bought my first pair (babies) of veileds many, many years ago and paid $200 for babies. I can't imagine ever paying that much now.

Perry

 

[pamnsam94]

I also remember seeing Brookesia perarmata at a reptile show way back when. Though I don't recall what the asking price was, I remember that the price wasn't the only reason I passed on them that day. I want to say that they were being offered at around $150 a piece. How many of you would pay that amount these days? Too late. Opportunity gone.

Perry

 

[laurie]

I bought Bradypodion transvaalense, and paid just over $500 each.

Bought a c/b mellers $350

 

[pamnsam94]

I bought Bradypodion transvaalense, and paid just over $500 each.

Bought a c/b mellers $350

I don't recall seeing the Bradypodion transvaalense a decade or more ago, at least not at the reptile shows I used to frequently attend. Of course the internet hasn't been around for very long. Do you happen to know how long kingsnake.com has been in existence? Do you remember an old price (maybe at shows you used to go to) for which B. transvaalense sold for?

Laurie, your admission of spending $500 a piece for a chameleon is different from the topic I tried to get going since I was specifically wanting to hear about price comparisons (then vs now), but your admission of spending $500 a piece for a chameleon makes me think we should include, "What's the most you've ever paid for a chameleon?". If a relative or friend asks me, "How much did it cost?", I'm sometimes embarrassed to say because they might say, "What?! You paid what for a lizard?!!!"

 

[pamnsam94]

No more input? I guess I should have used a different, more interesting, title, or maybe this topic doesn't interest anyone? Either that, or I'm older than the average member here, and no one can remember that far back, all the way back to the mid 80s to early 90s. . Like that's really ancient history. Or, maybe you weren't even born then. I just thought this thread would get more responses.

Perry

 

[ferretinmyshoes]

I think you've just been around longer than most around here. I don't have anything to add because I was just a kiddo in those days.

 

[Chameleonmaster]

i wasnt even born yet!!!!! but my elliots im sure cost a lot less back then, than it does today. same with boehmei

 

[SMCNARY]

Ok,yes I am an old guy and 20 years ago I was getting lots of different species cheep. I don't remember some of the exact types off the top of my head but some examples are various pigmy's at $20 to 40 each, panthers 40 to 60,mellers 50 to 60, it's hard to remember details but I just wish I new then what I know now!!! We used to get mixed batches(whatever they wanted to send us) and often got some very special chams. One time we even got some arrow frogs and it turns out one type had never been identified so the Memphis zoo did just that and it was a big deal for the zoo back then. Given time I might be able to be more accurate on species but would need to look at some pictures to help jog my memory All were wc of course !!! I could almost swear that parsons were only 200 to 300 back then also but don't quote me as I said my memory is a little fuzzy from that time in my life!!! come on guys I know there some other gray beards out there that can remember this stuff also, don't worry no one will try to guess your ages

 

[pamnsam94]

I think you've just been around longer than most around here. I don't have anything to add because I was just a kiddo in those days.

Great! Now I really feel old. Just kidding. Having 4 kids, ages 18 months to 9 years, keeps me mentally young. That's what counts right. By the way, I'm not physically all that old either, just older than you I guess.

Perry

 

[DeremensisBlue]

I remember looking at a price list and trying to decide between a $75 parsonii and a $225 quadricornis...

 

[kylerenz]

I remember looking at a price list and trying to decide between a $75 parsonii and a $225 quadricornis...

This explains the reasoning for low numbers in Parsonii and the high prices associated with them. You aren't the only one who I have heard these numbers from. It is astonishing to me. Thanks for sharing.

 

[pamnsam94]

I remember looking at a price list and trying to decide between a $75 parsonii and a $225 quadricornis...

Wow! That's amazing! I've heard of parsonii being sold for much less in the past, but $75? What serious keeper wouldn't buy a pair or multiple pairs today if the price on them was still that low? Quads on the other hand have gone up and down in price. It seems you never know what the price is going to be on them.

Perry

 

[Motherlode Chameleon]

Wow! That's amazing! I've heard of parsonii being sold for much less in the past, but $75? What serious keeper wouldn't buy a pair or multiple pairs today if the price on them was still that low? Quads on the other hand have gone up and down in price. It seems you never know what the price is going to be on them.

Perry

The WC Parsonii (especially adults) were dropping dead like flies back then not many keepers were having any luck at all keeping them alive long term.

I went to West Coast Chameleon Farms based in Santa Cruz after the ban first happened and they had seven long term captives that they offered all for sale at $150.00 a piece. I passed as that would have been my second chameleon and did not have the resources or space for even one at that time. They had one gravid female that was not for sale and allegedly eventually captive hatched 60 babies.

At the 1994 San Francisco Cow Palace Reptile Show they had a pair of Furcifer minors for sale for $150.00 and a male Calumma globifer for $100.00 if I recall correctly.

 

[showjet95]

I bought Bradypodion transvaalense, and paid just over $500 each.

Bought a c/b mellers $350

I believe what hes asking is what species do you remember way back when and how much did you pay or see them being sold for...and btw where did you buy transvaalense for over $500 each? I know when I sold them they were around $880 a pair.

I remember seeing full grown adult parsonii for $100 at a reptile store near me, and Im sure there were way more species I didnt even pay attention to that were there and cheap, but I was barely a teenager and wasnt fully enveloped in this damn obsession of chameleon keeping! lol

I do remember my dad buying a full grown Calumma globifer at the San Diego reptile show from Ken Kalisch probably more then a decade ago, and he bought it for around $150!
He also bought a parsonii cristifer around the same time from him for $600 as a cb baby.

 

[laurie]

But Paul that was before you added on the shipping and what every the second amount was. I have records if you might have forgotten.

I believe what hes asking is what species do you remember way back when and how much did you pay or see them being sold for...and btw where did you buy transvaalense for over $500 each? I know when I sold them they were around $880 a pair.

I remember seeing full grown adult parsonii for $100 at a reptile store near me, and Im sure there were way more species I didnt even pay attention to that were there and cheap, but I was barely a teenager and wasnt fully enveloped in this damn obsession of chameleon keeping! lol

I do remember my dad buying a full grown Calumma globifer at the San Diego reptile show from Ken Kalisch probably more then a decade ago, and he bought it for around $150!
He also bought a parsonii cristifer around the same time from him for $600 as a cb baby.

 

[showjet95]

maybe youre adding up the cost of you paying for Olimpias? not sure but I know they were about $800-880/pair plus shipping to you once they arrived which is around 65.

Sorry to get this thread off topic lol...Back to the thread...I just hope that sometime in the not too distant future, there will be small quota numbers for many more species, seeing as how their natural habitat is getting destroyed at such a fast pace it makes me sick to my stomach. Now that we have much better methods and knowledge about how to keep chameleons than we did back then, maybe it will be much more positive the next time around.

 

[pamnsam94]

i wasnt even born yet!!!!! but my elliots im sure cost a lot less back then, than it does today. same with boehmei

It was early 1994 I think when my wife, then girlfriend (we were married later that year), bought me an gravid ellioti for $20 or $30. Whatever the exact price was, she remembers thinking that it was a lot to pay for a lizard. Things sure have changed in her thinking, especially now that she likes chameleons too!

Perry

 

[reefercheefer]

2003 was the first time i seen a panther cham. They were 425$ at the pet store. I owed 3 nosy be males and 2 females for about a year before I lost interest and sold them. But something pulled me back in last year.

 

[dlegare]

I remember a friend who owned a pet shop in Mississippi it was 1990 and she got a Senegal Cham in. The poor thing came in a small wicker cage and she paid 60 dollars wholesale.

In 1992 theere were some Panther Chams available for 250 to 500 dollars and they were all wild caught and in pretty crappy condition.

I also remember seeing Veiled Cham babies for around 120.