No doubt pet stores are awful . Today I was in petco and could not help but check out there little guy . They said he /she had just shed but he looked like dried up jerky with patches . I felt so bad for the little bugger . Must be why he is 1/2 off now that they have destroyed him . Sorry to hear about your snakes that is a bummer . They sell everything there and yet still can't manage to get it right . Tsk Tsk