• 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.

Apt Fire

mgoblue347

mgoblue347

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Bad news guys. Last night around 3:00AM a short in the heat tape in one of my racks occurred and started a fire, destroying all three racks my snakes were in. I lost all hatchlings besides a tiny baby female spider, I have no idea how she survived. 4 breeder females also have some pretty bad burns and have been treated. Will see how they turn out I am hoping they can turn it around and make a full recovery. I had surge protectors, and everything was installed correctly. I don't really know how exactly something like this could happen but it is pretty devastating. Huge thanks to Danny Sherrill of Texas VIP Room Reptiles for being there for me during this time and giving me a place to house my remaining snakes, I owe you one dude. I am grateful that my family was not hurt and for the snakes that were unharmed. The damage to the house was only a single wall and smoke damage to the room, could have been a lot worse.
 
I'm sorry you lost most of your snakes, but this could've turned out so much worse! I dodged a bullet myself with Flexwatt this year in my AP rack... despite having surge protectors, remote probes, thermostats, etc. the heat tape got hot enough to melt through one of the tubs! Thankfully none of the snakes were hurt.

My feelings go out to you, Brian. That is scary and sad stuff right there.
 
This could happen to any of us. I'm so sorry to hear about this accident, but happy that it wasn't worse. Take care Brian.
 
Sorry to hear such a thing. I feel for you but, I'm glad that you and your family are okay and that you didn't lose all your animals. Take care.
 
Sorry that happened to you Brian. Can you tell us more about the heat tape issue? Sodered connections, Clips? and if clips were used was the proper clamping tool used? Some people believe pliers or vise grips are fine but I have heard otherwise. What kind of rack? did the tubs slide on the heat tape? Fires start for a reason, they just don't happen. And maybe your input could save other collections.
 
I'm sorry to hear about the fire and the loss of the babies, glad to hear you and your family are OK. I hope someone can shed some light as to how this could have happened, so you can prevent it from happening again in the future.
 
I bought the heat tape pre connected from reptile basics. Just receive it in the mail the afternoon before the fire and installed it on the hatchling rack. The tubs slide over the heat tape. The rack was made by me entirely out of xpvc, 9 level 12qt. I greatly appreciate everyone's comments and concerns, thank you all so much.
 
So this was the new KOREAN heat tape, and not flexwatt from USA. what did yo have under the heat tape?
 
sorry for your loss. i have had flexwatt problems twice in the past. going to ambient only has been a great relief from that stress.
 
did you lose the lemonblast you got from me brian? i am very sorry that this is happening to you.

 
I'm so sorry for your losses! This is my biggest fear when it comes to heating my critters.
Glad to hear it wasn't worse though!
 
There was nothing under the heat tape Steve, just heat tape with Aluminum foil tape over top.

Brian, the lemonblast female was burned on her face and is having some difficulty breathing, she does seem to be doing okay, she's moving around, tongue flicking, etc. I have been putting medicine on her burns but it is day to day. I noticed some saliva if you want to call it that coming out of her mouth and can hear her breathing, I am hoping she pulls through. I greatly appreciate your support as well as everyone elses.
 
:bawling: That is terrible, im so sorry you've had to go through this. I hope the one's that were saved recovery. I wish you and your family the best.
 
Damn I feel so bad for your snakes Brian. I really hope the injured ones can pull through OK.
At one time I called Calorique the flexwatt mfg in MA, not the Korean stuff you have. I posted my info on this forum. They repeatedly told me that aluminum tape is the worst thing you can use around your heat tape. What it does is provide a heat sink. It's possible that you had an excess build up of heat trapped btw the foil tape and your heat tape. The plastic protective coating melted and things just got worst. Plus, I was told electricity can arc through the plastic into the aluminum tape. I researched plenty of tapes trying to find an alternative that would not leave a sticky residue and was relatively inexpensive. I stumbled upon tyvek tape. Works great. and now that is all I use. FYI Calorique told me what you want to do in your racks it push or direct the heat upwards. Solution? Insulate under your heat tape or at a minimum put it under a white reflective surface, not black or metallic that will absorb the heat. I lay my tape on pink rigid insulation. Guess what. I now run my helix and herpstats 2 degrees cooler and get the same heat output as I did before I insulated. Again I feel terrible for those snakes.
 
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