What should I do ?

[Mystic]

Hey everyone ! It has been awhile since I posted. Milly is doing great and growing healthy. I am worried about a chameleon that we seen at a local family owned pet store. My husband and I was checking the place out and I noticed a very dark/small chameleon hiding behind a vine. She/he was so dark, it was the same color as the vine. I went to the front to ask about the chameleon that was in a solid glass enclosure. The lady looked at me in shock and said what chameleon? OMG Really?

Her husband behind the computer says Oh yeah we have one. I tried my best to hold my temperment and asked what kind and how much was it being sold for? I also asked if it was CB or WC. The husband said it is CB, female jackson and its price is $99.95. I was full of questions and it was put to my attention they wasn't prepared for me to walk in their door. I asked for us to take a look at it. The woman unlocked the cage and started pulling on the chameleon to get it out. Its back legs was locked onto the vine with full force. She yanked on it to free it off. She was hissing and gapping. What chame wouldn't? I grabbed my husbands hand and squeezed. I was so tempted to go off and back hand her. The only ventilation it had is where the hole was for the one light bulb that was off. Keep in mind this is around lunch time.

This chameleon had no water drip, the enclosure was filthy. After the lady handed the cahmeleon to my husband she stated if she would have known that they had a chameleon, she would have given it some crickets. I asked if I could take a few pictures to show my daughter. The lady paused then said sure. I took two pictures really quick and told my husband to place her on her vine to try and relax. Before we left I had asked if they was going to set her up a dripper and mist her. They looked dead in my eyes and laughed. We don't do those things she said. We going to give her some crickets and put her a water dish. We left and I practicly broke down in my driver seat.

I am torn on what to do. I am not sure that she is CB, parasites or even gravid. These are the two pictures I managed to take really quick. Any insite to her condition would be greatly appreciated. I am exstremely sad about this.

 

[Ferrah88]

I am by all means no expert on jacksons, but here's what I think just by looking at her:

- Her eyes don't seem sunken, at least not from the pictures.
- Her ribs aren't showing
- Her claws seem to be alright
- Her skin shows no sign of sores, but it's hard to see with her colour I think

All in all she looks, from what I can see, to be alright in terms of health. Did you manage to see some of her poop? Were the urates white or yellow? I believe she is just completely stressed, but there's no telling how long she will look this "healthy".

Again, I am no expert on jacksons and am just going by what I cannot see. Hopefully it helps a tiny bit until someone more knowledgeable comes along!

 

[Mystic]

Thanks. I called the pet store just a few minutes ago. I asked them when did they recieve the jackson. They told me they her on 1/25/13 this past Friday. If their care is kept up like they do. This chameleon might not have much time. I am debating on going get her.The care they do for chams is very very disappointing.

 

[Ferrah88]

Thanks. I called the pet store just a few minutes ago. I asked them when did they recieve the jackson. They told me they her on 1/25/13 this past Friday. If their care is kept up like they do. This chameleon might not have much time. I am debating on going get her.The care they do for chams is very very disappointing.

From what you described and how she looks, I kinda figured they recently got her. If her care keeps up as is, you're right, she won't last very long. At least the time between now and when they got her explains why the lady didn't know they had a chameleon. If she looks like a branch, well, she might be hard to spot. If you have the option to take care of her, I would personally say go for it, for the chameleon's sake... but some people would probably say to not get her and instead help the store to make the care of this chameleon more accepting. This is totally your call. She does not look as bad as some chams I have seen (Like poor little Yuki), but if this continues, no, she won't live very long.

 

[Djturna4thakidz]

I would save that chameleon!

 

[Ahtee]

Go save her!

 

[deadhd5]

Poor little girl... I would have to save her if I were in your area, but a lot of folks on here will make a very powerful case that saving her is perpetuating the problem.

She does look healthy at this point and I think I detect a single horn growing, which is rare (and really cool) for jacksoni xantholophus females.

If you do save her, after you buy her (do not buy any other supplies from those people), you owe it to yourself and chams to go off on them. To look you in the eye and laugh at a suggestion of proper care shows these people are sadistic and deserve to be verbally dressed down and shamed.

 

[ChameleonMom]

SAVE HER!! She's adorable! She appears, one week after moving in to the pet store, that her health is still well enough that you can keep her healthy, but that window will be very small for any pet kept under those conditions. She deserves a chance!

And then yes, GO OFF on the owners of the pet store and tell them you will be reporting them to the animal cruelty authorities for questionable pet practices! As*holes!

 

[Mystic]

<<< so upset right now. I called the pet store to see how she was doing and that we would be going purchase her. The lady told me that they no longer have her. She said that they found her curled up dead in the corner of her enclosure. I was in shock. I asked the lady if she knew what caused it. She told me she thinks it was parasites from where they got her from. I then asked her where they recieve their chams. She responded to me saying she is not allowed to give out that kind of information. She then asked if I wanted to order a female jackson for us to purchase and it could be at the store by Friday. OMG. I told her that it was ok. No Thank You. I feel so bad I didn't grab her yesterday.

 

[lovepicasso]

I doubt that you could have saved her in just one day, that is terrible that these pet stores are staffed with very inexperienced people, mostly kids and they know nothing about the care of these type pets......we saw a similar situation at Pets Mart a month ago and my husband had a fit, he talked to the workers and that did nothing, so he got in contact with the regional manager and within a couple of days there were some changes made and the care for that chameleon was much better.....so sorry this little one didn't make it, it breaks my heart.

 

[Lovereps]

You would have spent $100 and had a dead chameleon for your efforts.
I would avoid that pet store entirely--since they weren't even willing to consider setting her up properly.
Very sad that a shopkeeper has so little regard for the animals that he sells.

 

[SaintJimmy]

That is so terrible. I hate seeing stuff like that.

Poor little girl

 

[deadhd5]

I hope you made it clear that their lack of care most likely killed her and not parasites.

 

[Mystic]

I called back at 2 pm and gave them my opinion about their so called care. I told them that if they don't know the right way then don't do chameleons at all. I basicly told them that they lost customers for their lack of care towards chameleons and they should stop selling them all together. They hung up on me. At least I was able to get it off my chest towards how I felt about the way they do things. They have to live with the guilt not me, but I have the feeling they have no hearts. Just money hungry souls walking the earth.

 

[Ferrah88]

That's so sad... she looked so well too... I don't know what to say, really

 

[studio2eight]

It's so hard to see a chameleon like that, but like Lovereps said, you would have paid $100 for a dead chameleon.

There's a reptile store near me that keeps their chams in deplorable condition. They are all sick and yet still for sale. Years ago they had a stunning Panther male, eyes closed and oh so dehydrated. He looked so close to death... days later he wasn't there anymore. They told me he died. I wonder why?! I went in a month ago (last resort for crickets) - same story except this time with Graceful, Veiled, Jackson's and
Oustalet's!!

As hard as it is for us to leave a chameleon in those places, purchasing from them just allows them to fill that space with another chameleon, and treat it the same.

The best thing that can be done, is to not purchase from places like this. It's like buying a cute puppy from a pet shop - people are supporting puppy mills...

 

[Carlton]

<<< so upset right now. I called the pet store to see how she was doing and that we would be going purchase her. The lady told me that they no longer have her. She said that they found her curled up dead in the corner of her enclosure. I was in shock. I asked the lady if she knew what caused it. She told me she thinks it was parasites from where they got her from. I then asked her where they recieve their chams. She responded to me saying she is not allowed to give out that kind of information. She then asked if I wanted to order a female jackson for us to purchase and it could be at the store by Friday. OMG. I told her that it was ok. No Thank You. I feel so bad I didn't grab her yesterday.

Parasites my Dear Aunt Hattie. You can still report their neglect and their crappy ATTITUDE to your local BBB in a complaint, and cc the local agency that inspects pet shops (just who this is varies from city to city so you'll have to do some research to find out). It won't be slander as its the truth.