Rescue, horrid retained shed? Mites?

[bcr229]

I'd pay $400 just to save the little guy.

I wouldn't. Healthy males pieds from reputable breeders are going for less than that. The store won't change its policies or husbandry practices until it loses money on the animals. If it makes a profit by keeping the animals sick or in bad conditions because people who feel sorry for them buy them, it will simply buy more and the cycle will continue.