"The owners couldn't care for it any longer and I was a bit saddened to see the conditions it was living in."

I hear this a lot, but I wonder how often the owner can't take care of it, vs how often they just don't care to take care of it anymore.

And the reason it was shedding in little pieces with the other owner is because it had no humidity. If you provide it with the appropriate humidity level, it should shed in one nice piece for you without any problems.

Goodluck!