• 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.

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    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.

Are you afraid to buy high end snakes due to potential legislation?

Are you afraid to invest in snakes due to potential legislation?

  • Absolutely

    Votes: 10 10.3%

  • Somewhat

    Votes: 38 39.2%

  • Not at all

    Votes: 38 39.2%

  • Its the economy

    Votes: 11 11.3%
  • Total voters
    97
apparently so LOL Why would anyone go south to release the snakes, I highly doubt anyone has ever crossed state lines with the intention of releasing an animal. If any releasing has been done I would put money that it was from people within that state. And if that is the real concern why not make a snake line separating the states that have suitable habitats for these snakes from the rest of the U.S. instead of every state. I dont think it would make much sense if im in michigan and i go to ohio or chicago to release a snake.. Dont get me wrong I dont think there should be any state line laws, but if your gonna make them at least have some kind of logic behind it..
 
My sentiments are the same as most people here. My snakes will stay with me and I will just no longer sell the banned species on Fauna or any other venue that would require shipping out of state. I guess a lot more local shows will see some growth spurts if, in fact, the proposed leglislation becomes law. I might have to resort to setting up a booth just to sell boas.
 
The proposed legislation is just the first piece that is being attempted to be taken away, if this passes there will be more. This proposed ban does nothing to address the real problems that are being used to back up it's movement forward. It's a shame that the real issue cannot be addressed and resolved without the need for legislation.

Maybe the sale of large constrictors does need to be regulated at some level. Obviously there are individuals who cannot responsibly keep them, yet they continually have the means to acquire them. I just hope we can find a way to lessen that problem without the need to make responsible keepers suffer.
 
I was pointed at a portion of the Lacey Act which, at first glance, seems to contradict my initial impression. Haven't had a chance to fully review the proposed law again with that consideration in mind....I'll comment here after I've had a chance to do so
 
I could understand regulations controlling invasive species (burms) in florida, they are in the wild and living and that is a problem no doubt, but floridas problem, not the whole U.S. For the rest of us owning a large constrictor is no more irresponsible than putting bleach under your sink, leaving your prescription drugs in the cabinet, having a gun, or riding a motorcycle. Any of those instances could lead in you or your families injury and i guarantee happen waaayy more frequently than reptile accidents.

That being said the only way to prevent those accidents is to be safe, use gun locks, put bleach up high so kids cant get to it, keep your prescriptions out of reach, wear protective gear when riding, and lock your snakes up. All of my boas are in key locked cages, I wear a helmet when riding, Although I could use some work on my gun locks but im looking for a safe soon here..

Point is be responsible, the gov. shouldnt be regulating stupidity, thats your job.
 
i hope that last comment didnt come off like yelling, that wasnt my intention.
 
Didn't look like yelling to me at all, just stating some common sense :thumbsup:

I love cage locks, though I honestly view their use as keeping my snakes themselves safe.

Too much every day stuff in the house could hurt them, not to mention the dogs & cat, plus it'd be harder for a thief to get a bunch of big cages unnoticed out of my house then it would a couple of bags.
 
Looking at the poll up there it is crazy to think that we only have 42% of the market that we had maybe 5-10 years ago.. 58% are either not buying/apprehensive because of possible legislation or the economy, what is more surprising is less than 18% is due to the economy. I wish i would have posted a prediction before the voting began, I bet i would have guessed 60% economy 30% buying and 10% not buying due to legislation. Thats why i love these polls!!
 
somewhat...

I'll admit I'm a little bit nervous investing in large snakes right now but I still do it. I've written my letters to my representatives and I've made my comments on the forums and I think that in the end there are too many guys making too much money on big snakes to allow this legislation to pass quietly. I feel confident that if we keep up what we're doing we'll succeed. I think not buying the snakes only hurts our point because it drops sales and weakens our argument of how much of an effect their sales have on the economy. So I will keep buying the big snakes I need and want.
 
This isn't really an either/or question. I am not at all afraid to continue investing in ball pythons, but I am going to hold off on dwarf burms, or super-dwarf retics.
 
I am not concerned with what laws our government passes. They gave us the second amendment to ensure that we as a people would never fear our own government. I can list a number of laws that we all break each and everyday (obviously some of us may have "halos"... I am not one of them).

These unjust laws will be treated just the same by many "loyal" Americans. Even if this legislation does indeed pass, there will be no driving force behind it. As others have said here, our elected officials do not do anything without a reason. Money is what keeps many things "illicit" or "illegal" in the legislation. There is no money or fame to be made off of banning large constrictors or reptillia of any kind. Once an economic impact that is FAR worse than they anticipated is realized, they will have no choice but to reconsider their incorrect position on the matter. As the driving political force (money) will now be backing the overturn of the legislation.

I personally live in Florida. I actually attended the Central Florida Herpetological Society's meeting last night. We had a speaker (Juan Daza, Ph. D. University of Central Florida) that specializes in phylogenetics. He also happens to be one of the foremost researchers utilizing Niche Modeling to project possible spread of species. He has been doing a lot of work on Colubrid species in Columbia. Bridging the gap between morphology and phylogenetics (in regard to taxonomy) with William E. Duellman, Ph. D. University of Kansas.

Using Niche Modeling presents a far more accurate (although, of course, not guaranteed) depiction of possible spread of any invasive or endemic species. Applied to Burmese and Indian Pythons (at our request) it revealed that there was very little actual territory inside of the continental U.S. that they could inhabit. As opposed to the climatic predictions that were used by the U.S.G.S. and U.S.F.W.S. Especially those that fueled the ridiculous assumptions of U.S.A. Today; they could "infest" 2/3 of the nation.

Just some "factual" science instead of the usual "fictional" science the government uses.

This is of great concern to me and anyone in Florida. Since our state legislature is actually banning these constrictors completely. They are making it a felony simply to possess one. The only exceptions being, that when they pass the law, you can be "grandfathered in." Meaning specifically, they won't arrest or fine you if you bring them your snake to be euthanized. This will only cause one thing to happen here. The release of hundreds if not thousands of snakes into the wild. I happen to love Florida's natural beauty and do not want it damaged more than it already is.

If you tell someone that they can no longer keep their beloved pet. They may understand. When you tell them they can't keep it and your going to kill it, they will find another way. Especially when the House version of this bill, basically states the real reason is that they will make about $250,000 in fines and the like. Versus, the $30,000 or so they made in taxes on the legal sale.

Just my opinion here... sorry if I ranted a bit.

P.S.
Florida just had one of the coldest winters in the last 10 years. Anyone concerned about how many invasive species died? Science should always prevail in the face of ignorance.
 
StrictlyExotics said:
My sentiments are the same as most people here. My snakes will stay with me and I will just no longer sell the banned species on Fauna or any other venue that would require shipping out of state. I guess a lot more local shows will see some growth spurts if, in fact, the proposed leglislation becomes law. I might have to resort to setting up a booth just to sell boas.
Click to expand...

Then you have folks like myself that lives in states that dont have reptile shows. I either have to go to TX, MO, or MS to get to a show... so I have to cross state lines. At which point... Im stuck with a whole lotta balls and boas.
 
Southern Wolf said:
Then you have folks like myself that lives in states that dont have reptile shows. I either have to go to TX, MO, or MS to get to a show... so I have to cross state lines. At which point... Im stuck with a whole lotta balls and boas.
Click to expand...

But if the laws change how we are able to keep and sell our reptiles, I would think that there would be at least one show a year in Arkansas. Its not like we have a plethora of shows here in Oklahoma either but I know that if it was my only outlet, I would have no choice but to utilize that avenue. Hell Kevin, if the law passes, we could do our own show in Arkansas, I just wont bring any of the banned species... LoL
 
sallen87 said:
This is of great concern to me and anyone in Florida. Since our state legislature is actually banning these constrictors completely. They are making it a felony simply to possess one. The only exceptions being, that when they pass the law, you can be "grandfathered in." Meaning specifically, they won't arrest or fine you if you bring them your snake to be euthanized. This will only cause one thing to happen here. The release of hundreds if not thousands of snakes into the wild. I happen to love Florida's natural beauty and do not want it damaged more than it already is.

If you tell someone that they can no longer keep their beloved pet. They may understand. When you tell them they can't keep it and your going to kill it, they will find another way. Especially when the House version of this bill, basically states the real reason is that they will make about $250,000 in fines and the like. Versus, the $30,000 or so they made in taxes on the legal sale.

Just my opinion here... sorry if I ranted a bit.

P.S.
Florida just had one of the coldest winters in the last 10 years. Anyone concerned about how many invasive species died? Science should always prevail in the face of ignorance.
Click to expand...


Is this horrible state ban really going through in Florida? What is the name of the bill so I can look it up?

Thanks.
 
Not worried enough to stop me.

DSC_1591.JPG


:thumbsup:
 
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