• Posted 12/19/2024.
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    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.

Bad Guy Mike Matson (Mike's Phat Frogs) sold me a WC snake as CB

Evidence from April 7th of hognose being advertised as farmed imports.
In the pic attached.
Which proves absolutely nothing, since the snake was purchased 5 days prior to 4/7. It wouldn't even prove anything if the ad had been posted prior to the sale.

If I am so bad why do I vend shows consistently and as far as Texas?
Probably for the very same reasons that Dan Scolaro, Backwater Reptiles, Glades, etc, continued to do business well after their BOI exploits made it abundantly clear that they should be avoided - mass ignorance of their typical practices; an alarming amount of people who simply don't value integrity.
 
I have purchased hundreds of frogs from Mike and was satisfied with them. Exactly as described and once he even went out of his way to ship them to me on short notice.
 
I for one have no doubt he lied to her about it being CB … just read some of the other threads about him.

I think that past poor behavior is damning, but I believe it is not proof positive of what happened in a current transaction. Otherwise, there would be zero incentive for someone who has a bad history to do better. There bad guy threads about Mike, but there are also reports of successful transactions.
 
I think that past poor behavior is damning, but I believe it is not proof positive of what happened in a current transaction. Otherwise, there would be zero incentive for someone who has a bad history to do better. There bad guy threads about Mike, but there are also reports of successful transactions.



This is true, but her story rings true.

However, she may have confused farmed with CB.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm not sure what to think here, WC snakes can be tricky and nearly always come with some fun bugs. I do think there is a pretty clear difference between CB and WC snakes. 90% of the time, CB right from the breeder test negative for me. So far, 100% of WC imports have tested positive for one or more parasites for me. as CB this species is a bit on the rare side and may have to be started on ectothermic prey in any event so a vet trip would be expected with this species regardless of origin. It does suck that she lost a snake so soon after purchase and I do not think she should give up on this species, they are great snakes. I encourage her to try another snake and take it to the vet right away.
 
Is it at all possible that certain people might consider a "farmed" animal to be CB? These "farmed" animals are definitely not being called wild-caught by their sellers. Hence, if given only those two choices (CB or WC), neither term would seem to would be truly descriptive of the snake in question.

I am not familiar with how snakes are "farmed". Can anyone enlighten me on that? Is it possible that the term "farmed import" is simply a way of deflecting buyers' or even the importers' attentions away from the fact that the snake was indeed WC?
 
Is it at all possible that certain people might consider a "farmed" animal to be CB? These "farmed" animals are definitely not being called wild-caught by their sellers. Hence, if given only those two choices (CB or WC), neither term would seem to would be truly descriptive of the snake in question.

I am not familiar with how snakes are "farmed". Can anyone enlighten me on that? Is it possible that the term "farmed import" is simply a way of deflecting buyers' or even the importers' attentions away from the fact that the snake was indeed WC?
My understanding is that wild snakes or lizards are kept in large outdoor pens and lay eggs, when the eggs hatch the babies are collected and sold.
 
for me , a farmed animal would be considered WC, not saying they all are , but in most cases these farms are used to smugle wild life. They have no real control measures to prevent it.

here's an interesting read, this one is about GTPs but it will give you an idea why it's next to impossible to tell between WC and FB, this is why a farmed animal should always be considered WC. even if it is a real farmed animal, chances are almost 100% certain that it was in contact with WC ones.

https://news.mongabay.com/2011/11/snake-laundering-rampant-in-the-indonesian-reptile-export-market/
 
The Madagascar hognose was a "farmed import" and she was told so at the show also.

Mike most definitely said "captive bred", NOT farmed import and did NOT tell me the snake was WC. My boyfriend and I both heard him loud and clear. If our phones recorded the exchange I'd upload it in a heartbeat.

Obviously, I'm a newbie. 6 months of research doesn't make me an expert in anything. If Mike had been truthful about the animals's WC status I would've left the show without purchasing anything.

As far as giant hognoses go, I'm incredibly fond of the species and will try again. Probably not for a long time though until I can find a breeder I trust for a true CB animal.
 
If our phones recorded the exchange I'd upload it in a heartbeat.
An even better use of your phone would be to check the BOI before dealing with anyone, even at a show. While it may not be practical to do much serious reading on a small screen, a search yielding multiple Bad Guy threads is a pretty strong context clue that shouldn't be lightly ignored.
 
Mike contacted me recently and said he was going pay me back the $500 that he owes me from years ago. We exchanged a few pleasant emails and he said the money would be in my account last week. No word from Mike and no money. Buy from him at your own risk. The positive posts about him are overwhelming outweighed by the negative posts. I thought for a few fleeting seconds that Mike might have really meant what he said about paying me back. I will continue to follow the posts on Mike and his many aliases. Incredible that he was given his right to use the site again.
 
Mike contacted me recently and said he was going pay me back the $500 that he owes me from years ago. We exchanged a few pleasant emails and he said the money would be in my account last week. No word from Mike and no money. Buy from him at your own risk. The positive posts about him are overwhelming outweighed by the negative posts. I thought for a few fleeting seconds that Mike might have really meant what he said about paying me back. I will continue to follow the posts on Mike and his many aliases. Incredible that he was given his right to use the site again.

Tom I rarely visit this site. I have been busy and will make a deposit this weekend into your account.

My phone number is everywhere. Instead of acting like a kid why don't you pick up the phone and call me if I don't answer the message on fauna.
 
acting like a kid
That's pretty comical, coming from someone who's supposedly too busy to pay back a customer he'd screwed over while hiding behind one of his aliases. Maybe strap on your big-boy pants and stop expecting people to chase you down to get you to honor your word.
 
That's pretty comical, coming from someone who's supposedly too busy to pay back a customer he'd screwed over while hiding behind one of his aliases. Maybe strap on your big-boy pants and stop expecting people to chase you down to get you to honor your word.

Some of us actually ship animals all over the world and are busy and don't salvate over fauna. I'll get tom taken care of over this weekend.

Aliases on here are considered anyone that is backing me up. Talk to you on Facebook Dan
 
Some of us actually ship animals all over the world and are busy and don't salvate over fauna.
Has nothing to do with Fauna; it's about following through on making it right with someone you wronged. Doing the right thing clearly just isn't much of a priority to you.

Aliases on here are considered anyone that is backing me up. Talk to you on Facebook Dan
No. Aliases are other people's names you've used to sell on Fauna while you were banned.

Not interested in whatever limp-wristed threats you want to privately spew on Fakebook. You've got something to say, say it right here for all to see.
 
Has nothing to do with Fauna; it's about following through on making it right with someone you wronged. Doing the right thing clearly just isn't much of a priority to you.


No. Aliases are other people's names you've used to sell on Fauna while you were banned.

Not interested in whatever limp-wristed threats you want to privately spew on Fakebook. You've got something to say, say it right here for all to see.

Boy everything is a threat on here..... It's already on Facebook. Maybe, you should tune into my page. There is already interesting commentary about you.

All you do is stir the pot on here. No name random joe with nothing else better to do. Good for you.

I'm done commenting to you. I don't need to sell on fauna. Haven't placed an ad in years. The owner of fauna graciously allowed me back on to dispute the false claims that seem to run wild on here. Too much input is allowed by those that have nothing to do with the transaction. :thumbsup: I'll be sending some money to tom this weekend.
 
It's already on Facebook. Maybe, you should tune into my page. There is already interesting commentary about you.

Typical scammer deflection. This is about you and your lack of follow-through - it ain't about me, no matter how much you'd like it to be.

I'm supposed to be scared/impressed that you've gathered a posse of dim-witted Fakebook sycophants to flap their virtual lips? I simply have no interest in slumming it with a bunch of people who choose to associate with the dregs of this hobby. I prefer to choose my words carefully and put them where they'll count most. Enjoy your little joke. Simple minds really are easily amused. :yesnod:
 
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