• 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.

Good Guy Backwater Reptiles

figg2112

figg2112

Chamalot Chameleons
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I noticed that the majority of reviews on Backwater is negative. I actually had a good experience so I thought I would share.

A few weeks ago I put an order in for a South American Giant Toad. I had been looking for a large toad for a while for an educational program and saw on facebook they had just got some in.

Since I was getting a toad I thought what the heck, throw in a crested chameleon as well because my husband really wanted a female. I have ordered chameleons from other Re-sellers in the past with mixed results... Crested chameleons notoriously arrived stressed and sickly since they are all WC. But I had saw photos of crested chameleon females posted on the cham forums by a user names "Backwater Reptiles" and they looked very healthy.

I was hesitant to order since I did read the reviews here but I went over their guarantee on their site and decided to go ahead..after all they where the only ones that had the giant toad I needed.

Ordering was easy. The package arrived on time. Animals where packed well and where as described. Toad fed right away. The crested chameleon looked good her eyes where not sunken and she looked to be a good weight.

About an hour later I went back to check on my new animals. I found that somehow the crested chameleon had hyperextended her tongue! it was hanging out of her mouth. I have been keeping chameleons for 8 years and I never have had this happen but I knew it could happen. I don't know how she managed to do it, all i can think is her tongue snagged on a branch and she couldn't retract it. I emailed Backwater right away with photos .

Unfortunately 2 hours later the crested chameleon had died. I had not heard from Backwater yet and I was a bit uneasy. I re emailed them with new photos of the deceased. I also write on their facebook page that I needed assistance. A few hours later they did write back saying they where sorry for what happened and offered me a refund or replacement animal. If I wanted a replacement I would need to pay shipping again ($39)

At first I was going to just go with a refund but my husband still insisted on getting his crested female. Backwater offered to ship the replacement for $29 so I went with that.

The replacement female arrived the following Tuesday and she was in perfect condition. She is actually bigger that the last female and is doing very well. I have had her for a few weeks now.

The toad is also doing very well

So all in all I would say it was a positive experience. I felt that they dealt with the issue well. I would have liked a response a little quicker but they did get back to me within the same day, a few hours later. The original female had no signs of being weak or sickly when she arrived so I don't think I was sent a sick animal.. I believe it was a freak accident.
 
I also have had a positive experience with backwater reptiles I ordered a fire skink from them and it arrived well packed and in excellent condition it was very shy and skittish for about a week but that is normal for skinks I know skink owners who see theirs mabey once a month or so but mine came out especially around feeding time. I have also ordered a Columbian redtail boa and savannah monitor which will arrive tomorrow I will post how they are when I receive them
 
I'm not saying they are perfect I have yet to see a company that has not done something to upset someone else but I have now had 2 good experiences with backwater reptiles my savanna monitor and Columbian redtail boa just came in about an hour ago and they were in good shape the savanna was a little dehydrated but after it soaked in its water bowl for a little bit it started exploring it's new home
 
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