• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

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    Posted 08/15/2025
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    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Anyone dealt with Boca Reptiles?

I am happy that some of you are still hopeful of Sal turning his practices around. I was too at one time but he lied to me. As far as Neil helping him out I agree that was kind of him to do but I have doubts as to Sal paying him back. I hope I am wrong. Sal still hasn't admitted to his ripping me off and in fact has not even posted because he knows the proof is in the threads. I was generous and very patient with Sal and was willing to give him the time he needed he just continued to lead me on and only contacted me when I posted here. No real effort to take care of our situation.
Mark Westberg
 
Mark.... Just for the record.... Sal has paid me in FULL.... every dime!!.... $2350 was given back to me in the course of ONE WEEK via PayPal....

I still consider him a friend.... maybe a little misguided, but still a friend!.... He has NEVER let me (personally) down once....Every time I speak to him, I TELL HIM that he should right his every wrong, no matter how late it is.... whether he does or not (I don't know his reasons), is strictly up to him....

I know what he went through with his breakup and divorce.... I'm sure all the guys out there who have been divorced know that it can really bounce you around, I'm NOT making excuses for him, I just know what it's like.... but, NOW, that life has moved on for him.... I REALLY think, SAL, that you should pay Mark back (just swallow a little pride and do the right thing), we're not talking a lot of money??.... and, EVENTUALLY, pay back everyone else (and I don't know if Mark is the only one or not), but, no matter how many it is, it should be done....

With all that said.... he's still a friend!....

Neil
 
This was the ONLY question I've asked you. It was posted above and also on the previous page.


Since you have had soooooo few problems with him, could you ask him about his parasite identification process? He brought it up in matt's thread but REFUSES to answer me about it. In case you don't know what I refer to he stated that he looks at a fecal sample, no floating or staining, under a friend's kid's microscope and if he doesn't "see anything swimming around" had determined that it is parasite free. I find this a truly amazing ability and would like to know more about it and yet, for some unknown reason, he refuses to EXPAND upon this WONDERFUL ability.

thanks,
Wes Pollock
 
He lets me down

He lets me down... :(... every single time he does somebody wrong. I couldn't care less if he's taken care of everybody he burned, he still did it to begin with, and he did it way too many times as far as I'm concerned. If he has changed his ways, it's 2 little 2 late in my book. There's more than enough "sales people" in this business to accomodate any and all of my reptile wants or needs, that are far more deserving of my money. It's just that simple, so if you are aware of his past, and buy even a waterbowl from him, it's kinda like supporting terrorism. Terrorism in the herp community.
 
Wes,
I cannot answer that.
I do not know what Neil's parasite identification abilities are.
Maybe his abilities are good, maybe not.
I just do not know.
I do agree that it does take some knowledge and training to be able to identify parasites, and i do not know if Neil has that ability.
He apparently says he does.

Now, if i am not answering the particular question you are asking, i apoligize.
I also apoligize for not looking at the dates of your previous post's.
It still doesnt change the fact that momma jokes are for school children, NOT ADULTS!!!
Regardless of who started the momma jokes, if you play into that, you are not acting anymore grown-up than the person who started them.
 
Jef/Jen,
You were wrong by posting that and not looking at the dates, but that is not why I am posting.
I am posting because YOU admitted you were wrong and said sorry!!! That speaks volumes for you. I am truly impressed. (I mean it):D
Thank you for showing what a person who is good should do when they see that they are wrong.
 
wilomn said:
This was the ONLY question I've asked you. It was posted above and also on the previous page.


Since you have had soooooo few problems with him, could you ask him about his parasite identification process?
thanks,
Wes Pollock
Click to expand...

Thanks for trying in your previous post but, this is the question I was referring to. I was hoping that if YOU jef/jen were to ask him to explain that he would.

It's all moot at this point anyway. If he doesn't want to prove that he can what he says that's fine by me. In a way I guess I'm sort of used to it.

thanks again,
Wes Pollock
 
Troy Said it best.....

"He lets me down... ... every single time he does somebody wrong. I couldn't care less if he's taken care of everybody he burned, he still did it to begin with, and he did it way too many times as far as I'm concerned. If he has changed his ways, it's 2 little 2 late in my book. There's more than enough "sales people" in this business to accomodate any and all of my reptile wants or needs, that are far more deserving of my money. It's just that simple, so if you are aware of his past, and buy even a waterbowl from him, it's kinda like supporting terrorism. Terrorism in the herp community."


These are my exact feelings regarding people who Lie, Steal And Cheat. The problem is that everyone wants to have a bleeding heart and play the "He'll/She'll change their ways" fiddle. THAT is the problem. Until everyone puts their foot down and says enough is enough this will continue to be the cycle.
 
Neil,
I am very glad that you were paid back. That is a good step for Sal. As far as his divorce I was very empathetic. How many people would wait to receive replacement snakes for over 6 months? I finally had enough when he told me several times he was sending them and never did then had the nerve to post we had everything taken care. He may or may not resolve our issue which is really too bad he didn't do a long time ago because I did see he had some nice blacker back looking ball pythons I would have been interested in and I had been interested in some bearded dragons. He made a mistake in that I am new to the reptile game but am hooked and in the coming years I am sure I will be spending quite a bit on reptiles, but not with him. Anyway if chooses to just ignore me then I need to do what I feel is right and that is to warn potential buyers of his business ethics and practices.
Mark Westberg
 
If you check Sal's feedback on reptibid apparantly in July of last year I am not the only one who received snakes that died right away and had ticks. Click on the stolen snakes reward on reptibid and then you can check sal's feedback.
Mark Westberg
 
I do have a question that perhaps either Neil or Sal can answer.
If Sal was sending his stock to friends in Florida and I believe he had quite a collection. Did Sal send snakes to Neil as well to hold on for him during his move? This would make sense as they are friends and I can not see him sending his whole collection to just one person.
And if the answer is yes, was Neil merely selling off Sals' stock to pay off what Sal owed to other people?
Just a thought.
 
Bottom line for me...

Why give someone your money, who is "suspect" to say the least, when there are so many GOOD guys and gals out there. Why give someone your money, and encourage them to stay in business when they are obviously clueless about selling reptiles.

Dave
 
Vinny's dealings with Neil/Sal

Hello all. It has been awhile I have missed some people. Hello Alan, looked for you in Raleigh but noone knew where you were. My wife and I ONLY drove there to finally tell you in person "THANK YOU". Not monetarily but for being a good person when I was doubting those existed.

As far as Sal and Neil. I will tell the facts. I bought two caging units, $1100, for our new store in November. One arrived cracked. That was UPS. The other was in normal condition and IS very nice. About this time is when I was told Sal was having problems, his business. I tried contacting and got the various put offs of e-mails being out etc.

I was concerned. I called my bank and found that my credit card was charged by Tampa Snake Pit and NOT enclosures by design. I was never told outside of Sal saying he owed Neil some money.

UPS said that only the shipper could settle. Sal said that his wife was doing that but I NEVER EVER talked with her. 4 months later NEIL refunded my money via paypal. The whole deal, leagl or not, was stressful and amplified by the business opening THAT WEEK that the cages should have been there.

In retrospect, I was glad I got the money back for the second cage, we used that $550 for a TV commercial. The commercial was so effective that NOW I wish i had the caging system.

To anyone else thinking about this business as a business and NOT a hobby anymore. I love my store and my time there and all my friends I have made because of it. Be smart, daring and good luck.

To those doing business with anyone that "doesn't feel right" go somewhere else. Stress is a nasty thing.

To those using this site, read what you can, think for yourself and act accordingly and ABOVE all else, be responsible for your own choices and acceptable to those that YOU feel deserve it. By and good luck.
 
I contacted Sal at Boca Reptiles last week about a carpet python he had for sale. He gave me all the background on it, including who he got it from. I verified this with the folks he bought the snake from and it was found to be accurate and true.
I told him I was interested in it but would not be able to paypal him until the weekend. He told me he's pull the ad and wait till I was rwady to get it. Things happened and I could not send a payment until tuesday (5/4). He never expressed any issues with holding the snake for me. He shipped the snake on wednesday and gave me the tracking number beforehand. It just arrived today and I am very pleased. The deal couldn't have gone smoother. It was definitely the same snake he provided pics of and it was packed well, arriving cozy and warm and with great body wieght.
He was a pleasure to deal with all around.

I know I took a chance, especially when hearing of others bad deals with him. But perhaps with his moving and accompanying change in his life, he is truly turning over a new leaf. I took a chance and I feel I was well rewarded with a great snake at a great price.
 
Hey Vinnie

Sorry i didnt have a banner time was tight none the less hate we missed each other i was on the outside row beside reptile addicts (big endcap booth)lol. hope all is going well for you and the shop
 
sorry

and to stay on topic ... i wouldnt deal with sal aka Boca reptiles he had changed his spots a few more then one time in the past .. comfort is what a preditor seeks take them out of their element the are stressed and have to settle in before reverting to their oldways
 
I guess I am disappointed you took a chance with Sal. He may do a decent deal here and there but it won't be long before there are others standing behind me who got ripped off by Sal. Like I said before he was alright to deal with until it came to replacing snakes at that point his true colors came through. He has made no effort to resolve our issues and trust me if you continue to deal with him it won't be long until your posting a bad guy on here. If you check his reptibid account there was a guy on there who posted at least 5 positive about Sal. His last post was negative. I guess what I am saying is it's like playing the lottery with him and it will be just a matter a time before he screws you over.
 
Well, I am not trying to change your opinions of Sal neccessarily.
The primary reason I purchased from Sal is because he was offering a unique looking carpet python I could find nowhere else. So I took the chance and it paid off. He treated me well and I am merely conveying my experience with him. I felt all along that he was treating me well and I had no reason to feel like I was being ripped off ever. He answered my calls always and returned my calls as well. He did what he needed to when I asked.
 
Gamble if you dare!

I guess if you enjoy gambling with your money, then sure buy from Boca Reptiles!

But there is NO gurantee you will get what you paid for. Sal/upstate exotics/bocareptiles have a LONG track history of ripping people off either by not sending what was paid for or sending something that was completely misrepresented or sick.

It's people like this that give our industry and hobby a bad name.

Nothing is new at Boca Reptiles, except the name change. Upstate exotics deservededly sank.... we'll see how long it takes for Boca to follow!
 
Give it time!

So I took the chance and it paid off. He treated me well and I am merely conveying my experience with him. I felt all along that he was treating me well and I had no reason to feel like I was being ripped off ever.
Click to expand...

With his current reputation, he WOULDN'T dare try to rip you off.... Just give it time!

Old habits die hard!
 
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