Contemplating a future addition:

A local pet store usually has a whole BUNCH of young hypos readily available. They are definitely good-looking snakes, but I'm not a huge fan of how the store keeps their reptiles; in fact, I applied to be a reptile specialist for them so I could reorganize their collection, as right now they have BPs in with Red Tails and tanks just stacked in among traditional display walls. (No response from that, by the way.) So I'm sort of at a moral impasse-- do I buy from them and pull a pretty snake or two out of rough conditions, or not patronize their location at all and get direct from a breeder? I know most would go with the breeder with no questions asked, but I have a bleeding heart for needy animals :/

That's a tough spot to be in. I feel you but I think I would have to pass on the pet store who can't keep there husbandry correct.

What are they asking for the hypos? Hypos are not too hard to find and most breeders can sell you a super nice baby for around $140-180 depending on genetics - or even less. You can get a hypo that is het for anery or albino for only about 50-60 more (and the het could be trusted from a reputable breeder whereas you would generally have no way of trusting a het from a petstore).

What if this snake brings in a disease to your current collection? What if the baby has, God forbid, IBD? You could loose your entire collection. These snakes are not quarantined by the petstore. They can come complete with RIs and/or mites. Do you really want to deal with that when you have the option of getting a VERY nice snake that has a MUCH better chance of being healthy and problem free from a good breeder?

I understand your bleeding heart - I have one too. I have had to redefine that though since I've begun to get involved with reptiles professionally. Yes, you can "rescue" one of these snakes, but think of this: if you buy one, it makes room for the store to get in more. Thus perpetuating the problem. I'm not saying that you should not do it, but these are definitely things to consider. ;)

I will go ahead and tell you don't do it.

Any snake you purchase is going to allow the pet store to replace it with two more to be treated exactly like the one you bought. They do not care for the quality of the animal or the quality of its life. They only care for the bottom line. I hate to sound cruel, but the only way to stop a pet store from selling an animal is for the pet store to be unable to sell it.

If they have to eat the cost, they won't replace it. It is better in the long run to let an individual animal die in their care than it would be to "Save" just that one animal.

Instead, if you buy directly from a breeder you can trust, you are supporting the breeder who actually understands and cares for the animals and not the pet store who is just looking to get paid on the mark up.

Most of the time, you will find the breeder to have cheaper prices too.

Thank you all for your valuable feedback. It's so hard to pass up on these animals that aren't getting the treatment they need and deserve, but you're right. The store would only buy more to take its place, and I could never risk getting my boy sick just to get another snake out of a rough spot.

Poor babies. I still go in to check on them. They had a medium adult red tail soaking for a full three weeks. I got on their butts about checking her for mites, but they insisted she was just shedding. She was out of the bowl today and in a dry corner when I checked on her, thank the powers that be.