• Posted 12/19/2024.
    =====================

    I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?

    So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.

    But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.

    Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.

    I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.

    =====================
    Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.

    And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
  • 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.

Chat Log - Alfredo from Xtreme Reptiles

MR_Jungle_Mist

I sweat coffee.
Joined
Feb 21, 2003
Messages
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Age
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Location
Missouri
We got to chat a little with Alfredo. Unfotunately, we had to cut things a little short due to his having family obligations.



Thu Jul 03 19:46:19 PDT 2003
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RealChat Server Version 2.1.6, Enterprise Edition
Welcome to HerpChat.com!


MR_Jungle_Mist: Ok.....we'll get started.....
MR_Jungle_Mist: Alfredo, thanks for coming by to talk with us a little bit.
xtremereptiles: my pleasure
MR_Jungle_Mist: I'm sure more and more ppl will wander in as the time goes on.
MR_Jungle_Mist: If no one is familiar with Alfredo/Extreme Reptiles, you can go to http://www.xtremereptiles.com
MR_Jungle_Mist: Alfredo, if you could just start out a little by telling us a little about Extreme Reptiles, what you do..etc?
xtremereptiles: at xtreme reptiles we primarily sell reptiles to pet stores
xtremereptiles: we also have a website(slightly outdated) for the public to enjoy
ms_terese: So you're wholesale......mostly imports or cb?
xtremereptiles: i would say its 50/50 import cb
MR_Jungle_Mist: Trenton, now is the time for your question if you have one.
Trenton: thank you
Trenton: Xtremereptiles how do you supply such low prices how do you obtain animals that you are able to sell for resonable prices unlike most distriuters
xtremereptiles: to give you an idea as to where some dealers will buy 20-30 colombian boas we buy 200-300 at 1 time
xtremereptiles: freight percentage is lower as well as brooker fees
MR_Jungle_Mist: How do you, as an importer, treat animals you get in from other countries if at all?
xtremereptiles: it depends on the animals, all are different
xtremereptiles: we do not shotgun treat for intertnal parasites as some do
xtremereptiles: it does more harm than good sometimes
Guest: are there any species you will not import?
xtremereptiles: we import most stuff , there are items we stay away from due to high mortality rates
WaxWormFan: XtremeReptiles, are any of the cb animals you offer for sale bred in house?
Hlynn1975: X - do you have a vet check your animals or do you rely on your experience to decide if you are going to treat them?
xtremereptiles: unfornately most vets know less than i do on herps
xtremereptiles: they call us sometimes for help
Kat: What species do you consider your speciality?
xtremereptiles: we specialize in retics
xtremereptiles: but do have a few odds and ends we are working on
ms_terese: Extreme, I know that lots of hobbyists will see your low prices, and think it's better to buy one animal from you instead of retail, but what are some of the things that individuals have to take into consideration before choosing a single pet from a wholesaler?
xtremereptiles: you usually are not seeing what you buy
xtremereptiles: so its more risk+ u have to pay for shipping
Trenton: xtremereptiles do you hire people to help to take care of your massive amount of reptiles and if yes how does one obtain a position
xtremereptiles: we have 3 employees in the warehouse
xtremereptiles: 2 in the office + me
xtremereptiles: we are rarely open for positions
Em: x, are you at any shows?
xtremereptiles: we do the daytona show,tampa show, the new FIRE show and ocasionally the ones in raleigh
WaxWormFan: What advice do you have for someone that's looking to make a living selling reptiles?
Trenton: Umm... Xtreme Reptiles do you have any words of advice to people wanting to start in the line of work you are currently in?
xtremereptiles: Go to college...lol...
xtremereptiles: this busines is very tough
xtremereptiles: there is always a new guy selling less quality for les money
Kat: Do you work with ball pythons? If so,where do you get them from?
xtremereptiles: we get ball pyhtons from 4 different farms in africa

{Alfredo had to take a short break at this point}

Guest: farms?
ms_terese: Lots of BP farms in Africa, Guest
MR_Jungle_Mist: farms are places in other countries where they collect wild females and let them lay eggs.
Trenton: the weather is perfect for BP in africa
MR_Jungle_Mist: Others keep adults, breed them in outdoor/indoor enclosures and harvest the eggs.
WaxWormFan: who would have thought the weather would be perfect for an animal in its native lands. hmm. lol
MR_Jungle_Mist: Anyone here ever order anything from Xtreme?
MR_Jungle_Mist: I know you did, shane, right?
ksshane: yep
ksshane: anery boa
ksshane: columbian
MR_Jungle_Mist: How'd the snake end up looking?
ksshane: sweet.. i was real happy with it



ms_terese: how long has Extreme been in business, and how did you get started?
xtremereptiles: officially been in business sinnce 95
xtremereptiles: but have been breeding,collecting,buying and selling since i was 10
ksshane: You said before that you wholesale to petstores, and you have a website for the general public. Do you allow the general public to stop by and make purchases?
xtremereptiles: we do not allow vistors ...we are a warehouse and animals are not easily viewd in the enclosures
Trenton: Xtreme Reptiles is there a discount when you buy more then 1 reptile
xtremereptiles: of course, the more you buy the price goes down to some extent
ms_terese: Do you ever go to countries of origin and select your own animals?
xtremereptiles: it dont really work that way...cities paper work takes time and traviling will increase the cost and i will not be able to compete
ms_terese: How do you find reliable, quality exporters in so many different areas?
xtremereptiles: unfortunately its trial and error... or word of mouth...after some time you hear who is good
Trenton: do you sell breeding pairs of reptiles
xtremereptiles: when they are availiable of course
MR_Jungle_Mist: Do you yourself keep pet reptiles / exotics, or do you have enough of them at work?
xtremereptiles: after a while you learn to keep only what you truly enjoy for me its retics
DaveyFig: Alfredo, if you dont have a particular boa that someone is looking for, would you take time to pic through imports to find that "special boa" for a customer?
xtremereptiles: we have 25 ind pictured boas on our site..we also look for something in particular if the customer asks
DaveyFig: ok, i will email you later then
Trenton: What is your incubator situation and how many incubators do you currently have
xtremereptiles: we have 6 old refigerators retrofited as incubators
MR_Jungle_Mist: Do you keep your refrigerators all seperated by what is in them/when things will hatch?
xtremereptiles: of coures cause each incubator has different temps and humidity
Kat: What is your opinion on hybrids?
xtremereptiles: they are ok...in nature hybrids can occur
Trenton: i like reptiles that show affection and enjoy being pet and handled what reptile do you recommend?
xtremereptiles: if you want an affectionate reptile try a bearded dragon
Trenton: tried that...
Trenton: they dont work



This chat log has been edited to make more sense. If you would like an unedited version of the chat log, please email me at [email protected]
 
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