Chamtastic
New Member
Hi, I am wondering about the Pros (if any) and Cons of a Wild Caught Chameleon.. Any help here?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Wild Caught. Pros and Cons
- Thread starter Chamtastic
- Start date
Elizadolots
New Member
Wild Caught have some unknowns. How old is it? What parasites does it come with?
Chamtastic
New Member
yeah. that is what i always wonder when i see W/C. but doesn't it bring in different bloodlines and potentially get better outcomes for breeding?
So WC's alwasy have parasites? just depends on what kind? really dont know. But would assume any fresh wild caught cham should atleast be checked out for fecal or something right?
Just curious???
Also what about long term captive WC chams what are the pros/cons if any.
Chamtastic
New Member
yeah that is very much reasonable... what if its a healthier one and it doesn't, but i guess we don't know until theres a fecal float, or fecal smear. I read through the forums and i seen someone said a fecal smear is better than a fecal float.
and that is also something to wonder about. Long Term WC Chameleons.
morpheon
New Member
To me, WC animals are good ONLY for two reasons, but both are basically linked to each other: 1) obtaining a rare animal that you can not get as captive breed, or 2) to introduce a new bloodline. I would add that i HOPE most people who get WC animals plan on breeding them as soon as possible, especially since they might end up dieing faster than CB chameleons. This way, if they reproduced, at least they won't have been imported for nothing.
Wild caught animals are a big gamble. You can find some that are in very good health, even if they are pretty rare, as you can find some in VERY bad shape. You can't know their exact age, most of them are parasited, often they are deshydrated and starved, they require very special needs and are harder to maintain. Also, even if some of them are cheaper, they end up costing a lot more when it's time to do fecals, to buy meds and visit specialized vetenerarian to do some check ups, etc.
From the last report i have read, 90% of the wild caught animals imported into USA died within their first year. So you better think twice before buying some!
The bottom line is: you better have some good knowledge and be prepared when it's time to buy a WC chameleon. Of course, in my book, you need a good reason to do it.
Wild caught animals are a big gamble. You can find some that are in very good health, even if they are pretty rare, as you can find some in VERY bad shape. You can't know their exact age, most of them are parasited, often they are deshydrated and starved, they require very special needs and are harder to maintain. Also, even if some of them are cheaper, they end up costing a lot more when it's time to do fecals, to buy meds and visit specialized vetenerarian to do some check ups, etc.
From the last report i have read, 90% of the wild caught animals imported into USA died within their first year. So you better think twice before buying some!
The bottom line is: you better have some good knowledge and be prepared when it's time to buy a WC chameleon. Of course, in my book, you need a good reason to do it.
ColorCham427
Avid Member
Long term captives are most likely going to live out a longer life for you, as long as you meet their daily needs. And continue to dose them once in a while since they are from the wild.
Vince (the owner of Screameleons) gets his animals shipped directly to him.
No middle men as far as I know, and his wild caughts always look really good.
Apparently his connect is the best of the best.
If you wanted WC panthers, I would email him and ask him questions, and always be ready for a pre-paid order.
He just brought in some Ambilobes, and I forgot to put down on it!!
Chamtastic
New Member
Very good points! thanks for your input! I don't plan on getting a W/C at all. just wondering on it. thought it would be a good discussion topic
I can only add this to what morpheon said...
If you start off with WC's your blood lines will almost certainly start off clean/unrelated.
They are sometimes hard to acclimate. Some can withstand the stress of being in captivity and some just can't...and no matte what you do with those that can't they will likely die.
Some can have so many health issues that you will struggle for a long time to bring them back into good health....and in some cases, you will never succeed.
If you start off with WC's your blood lines will almost certainly start off clean/unrelated.
They are sometimes hard to acclimate. Some can withstand the stress of being in captivity and some just can't...and no matte what you do with those that can't they will likely die.
Some can have so many health issues that you will struggle for a long time to bring them back into good health....and in some cases, you will never succeed.
Chamtastic
New Member
summoner12
Avid Member
It is more than likely that a WC animal will have parasites. All of the WC animals I have worked with have had some sort of parasite. With a new WC it is best to make sure the animal is provided good care and as little stress as possible. A couple of my more recent WC animals still have parasites, but you'd have no idea looking at them that they 'aren't healthy'. One thing to remember is that parasites don't survive if they kill their host....... the reason fresh imported WC animals die from parasites is because the cham's health isn't good and thier imune system doesn't have the strength to battle the parasites. Getting the cham strong enough to fend off parasites and then to try and remove parasites is the key. I am not too worried about the parasites that I have since the kind aren't very threatening and the animals are doing just fine. Sure, i'd like to remove the parasites, but they don't seem to be an issue.
jrh3
Established Member
I have a wild caught Veiled and he is Just now starting to show colors other than brown when im in the room. He also is starting to eat from my hand, but after he grabs the food he runs away. I have had him for about 5 or 6 months and he is doing great. Did not have parasites either. With wild caughts its just like drawing straws you could get the short one. And they take more time that others.
Jono
New Member
Con: proliferating a market which is largely unregulated and generally involves the death of many chameleons by ignorant/greedy collectors/exporters on the African/Madagascan side of the operation.
The regulations set out by the countries receiving the shipments only start with what arrives in customs.
Buy from a reputable breeder and you can be pretty sure no chameleons were harmed in the making of your purchase.
The regulations set out by the countries receiving the shipments only start with what arrives in customs.
Buy from a reputable breeder and you can be pretty sure no chameleons were harmed in the making of your purchase.
Texas Panther Man
New Member
If you plan on breeding in the future. I would consider wc's. If not wait for a cb specimen, its that simple. Wc's are going to probably end up costing more in the long run by the time you figure in the cost of fecals and meds. You will have to quarantine them just to be safe and not contaminate your existing collection. So be prepared for med bills and have site availble for quarantine. Be ready to spend months acclimatiing them also. They prob wont be in breeding condition for several months if the females dont come in already gravid which is a def probability. In which case you may end up losing her no matter what you do. Its a gamble and it can pay off or it can end in heartache. Kinda like going to Vegas.
eisentrauti
Avid Member
I bet that you don't have a WC Chamaeleo calyptratus
Texas Panther Man
New Member
There are a cpl of wild caught populations of c. calyptratus here in the states. Now they originated from captive stock but have been released and reproducing for many generations. In essence the same as all the wc jacksons we get from Hawaii. So he could have a wc veiled. Chances are he doesnt but its def possible.
jdog1027
Avid Member
nevermind....
eisentrauti
Avid Member
A WC calyptratus comes from Jemen and not from Florida... Real WC ones have a much bigger genpool than the stuff living in captivity.
Texas Panther Man
New Member
Its Yemen Not Jemen. And if a chameleon is captured and caged then it is considered wc. All the jacksons coming in from hawaii are considered wc. So would any veiled that was captured in Florida.
summoner12 said..."Getting the cham strong enough to fend off parasites and then to try and remove parasites is the key"...I've been saying for years to let the chameleon get used to captivity and then work on the parasites...unless the parasites are obviously causing health issues that will kill the chameleon...of course.
Jono said..."Buy from a reputable breeder and you can be pretty sure no chameleons were harmed in the making of your purchase"...so show me a CB Senegal or B. xenorhinum or B. perarmata, etc. and I might consider it....but that still leaves you open to whether the breeder is breeding true or mating siblings. I like to start off with WC's so that the chance of them being related is lessened.
Jono said..."Buy from a reputable breeder and you can be pretty sure no chameleons were harmed in the making of your purchase"...so show me a CB Senegal or B. xenorhinum or B. perarmata, etc. and I might consider it....but that still leaves you open to whether the breeder is breeding true or mating siblings. I like to start off with WC's so that the chance of them being related is lessened.
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