^^ What DennisM said...

A few years back, I was almost hired away from my company to join the big red and blue Pet Mart with the S in front of the Mart.

When I started to see their policies and how things were done in store, as someone in the hobby...I was disgusted.

Essentially with losses in the live pet area, they struggle to break even. But in a store like that, the sum of the overall 20 parts will always equal a profit.

They really don't care for their animals, they simply throw dead ones into as garbage container and order a new one.

Not saying that their breeding isn't on par with any basement breeder out there, but you can be guaranteed you're not getting a quality bred animal that has been paid attention by a knowledgeable person. All of the ones I have seen in store, the attendant is too afraid to pick them up as they say this one is "bitey". Yet when I present myself...rub it on the back third and then scoop it up, it's happy and flicking it's tongue exploring. Or just curled up in a ball because my hands are warm.

Sometimes in life, you just have to let nature take it's course.