I would like to add my two cents about the Gumtree ads for Natal Midlands Dwarf Chameleons.
My response to both of the current ads on November 21st:
"I would like to find out whether you would be able to arrange an export permit from KZN Wildlife, if I would like to buy some of your Midlands Dwarf Chameleons? I live in Cape Town, and would need your export permit to support an import permit from Cape Nature."
Their response: None.
I seem to remember a conversation on this forum about whether someone in KZN (one of the advertisers in this case) had permits for their chameleons. I had contacted that person a few years ago, also in response to his ad for these chameleons, and mentioned the need for permits up front. Back then, when push came to shove and we had to get the paperwork going, he simply did not respond and I e-mailed him to cancel my order.
I tried three times with the other advertiser and by the third time I got a little cranky
:
"Your continued advertising, despite your lack of response to repeated replies to your ad, raises some concerns. Is the request for permits an issue?
The date your ad was listed and the date of birth indicated, does not correspond with the age stated in the first line of your ad.
You mention that you are concerned about the babies having the right setup, but while stating that they are used to cooler weather, you advise prospective owners to keep their temperature between 28-30 degrees, which is too hot a constant temperature for the Midlands Dwarf. Chameleons need a temperature gradient, which would mean that one has to provide a basking light, as well as a source of UVB. A 50 Watt UV light seems like overkill for a chameleon of this size."
Date of birth: 10/10/2011. Age in the first line of the ad: "1 month 5 days old today", which has stayed constant since my first reply on 21 November. The heading in one of these ads read "Amazing
juvenile chameleon". They are now "Amazing baby chameleons".
Now, I am by no means an expert on dwarf chameleons (haven’t had the opportunity to practice
), but they have subsequently amended their ad to "25-28 degrees" and "50Watt UV light or less", which tells me that they have been reading my responses.
It seems clear to me that I won’t be able to buy any of these chameleons if I want to get a permit along with it?