Captive Bred: first and foremost, choose a captive bred chameleon. Wild caught chameleons tend to be under tremendous stress from the capture and shipping process, and are much more likely to be carrying a heavy parasite load. This combination makes it much more likely that a wild caught chameleon will be susceptible to illness.
Species: among the chameleons, the veiled chameleon is the one most commonly recommended for the beginning chameleon owner, as it is one that seems to adapt most readily to captive conditions. Remember that chameleons in general are not good as a beginner reptile due to their complex needs and susceptibility to stress.
What to Look For: the general appearance of a chameleon can give you clues to its overall health. Some things to look for:
- straight limbs (bent legs or a bow-legged appearance can indicate metabolic bone disease)
- able to get a good grip on branches
- alert, bright eyes (chameleons who spend a lot of time with their eyes closed during the day are likely sick)
- eyes should not be sunken (sunken eyes are a sign of dehydration)
- clear, bright coloration - though sometimes a brownish color is normal, a dark or crab looking chameleon is sick or too cold.
- no signs of mouth rot (no green or cheesy looking patches in the mouth).
- clean, with healthy looking skin (watch out for wounds, scratches, or bruising).
Knowledge is Key: knowing how to properly care for the species you are getting will help you pick a source that has properly cared for the chameleon before you take it home. Resist the temptation to rescue a chameleon being kept poorly -- you may end up with a sick or very stressed chameleon, and another hapless chameleon will probably take the place of the one you rescued. Ask questions about the care of the chameleon, and only buy from a source that knows what they are doing.