Pet store find I want... To rescue... Maybe.

[Sirus Uno]

OK so a local pet supermarket I go to get rodents from (when I forget to take the trip to Lakeland which saves me a ton) has a few balls in the tank. A very pretty looking normal, a "fancy" one with a label "Mojave" which I can verify, and a very pretty little purple looking one. The only information they can provide is... " blah blah blah reptile industries. Blah blah blah Mojave written on bag. Blah blah blah snippy little snakes". I have done my research and can identify the genes in the ball python. At first I thought purple passion. But seeing how there's too much pattern I realize its a mystic potion.
Now I'm not for pet store finds especially since they know nothing of the animal and the conditions are a bad word for crap. I mean its skin is flaky telling me its having a hard time shedding, its tiny... Like fresh out the egg tiny, all 3 are in one tank... Just a mess. I've visited a few times over the passed month and it catches me every time. I want that noodle. The Mojave is gorgeous but the potion is amazing and its 2 genes for one!
My dilemma... I don't want to feed the machine! I know me purchasing and saving that beautiful baby will only create the demand and they will resupply with another poor baby. I don't have the most space but I know I can house and care for it to bring it back to 100%. On the other hand I would love to add it to my collection. I was looking for a Mojave and a mystic would be a great addition as well so both at once would be a great enhancement to my future plans.
I spoke with my lady and logically she stated "work with what you have for now. We are going to need space for babies when Harleen drops the clutch and its gonna be tight". She's right but I explained my points and the fact that $160 for a snake I can't find for less than $300 online (for a mediocre example of the potion) is amazing even having to bring it back from pet store condition health. So she hits me with... " if you can low ball them to $120 or so and you really want it then go for it".
Thoughts. Concerns. Help me. What should I do? I'm reaching into a pool of knowledge and ideas and opinions to come to a solid conclusion as to what to do.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

Think about what the vet bills could be if it brings home an RI or worse. There is no such thing as a free puppy friend.

[Sirus Uno]

True! Full quarantine and all, it could shut down my whole colony!

[Bogertophis]

I know how tempting this is...and I KNOW you want us to say "go for it!" but only you can decide, because you'll have to live with it either way- it could be a
wonderful addition, or a nightmare...none of us knows either. I wish I could at least tell you what I'd do, but it won't help as I've been keeping snakes for so
long (and so many!) that I rarely get tempted to add any, plus I have 16 snakes already. So flip a coin?

[WhompingWillow]

I "rescued" a normal BP from a big box store that had horrible stuck shed and was a little underweight. I completely understand the reasons NOT to do that (as you said, feeding the machine), but I have absolutely no regrets. He's an awesome snake and I can look in the mirror a little easier than if I had ignored his condition. With that said, only you'll know what's best for you and your situation.

[Bogertophis]

Yes, in the past, I've "fed the machine" a few times as well, with no regrets either. We do understand...

[Alter-Echo]

Just keep in mind that any money you save may very well be negated by vet bills if it's in bad shape. That being said, if it's a nice example and you really want it and it doesn't look obviously ill or underweight, I say go for it.

[Armiyana]

As someone working for what sounds like may be that big box store....

I have 2 noodles that I have 'adopted'. Meaning they had reasons they couldn't be sold, so i was able to take them home with no guarrantee at no cost. One as a very young snake refused to eat frozen thaw and was needing to be assist fed since live feedings are a nono there. The other arrived from the breeder with a SERIOUS burn wound. Already seen by a vet on the company dime, but I couldn't bear seeing the baby in iso at work and just kept him.
Reptile Industries is where my store gets the frozen rodents from. They are owned by Mark and Kim Bell iirc. Our breeder is not the same. Since you are on the opposite coast, reptiles may be from a different breeder, but I don't know if Reptile Industries actually does do reptile sales to the big boxes on that coast.

That being said.... They aren't allowed to change the price on the animal otherwise. They will discount other merchandise to make up for the price difference if you can talk the manager into it.

I've gotten lucky and my 4 babies from the store have all been fairly clean bills of health (just dealing with the post vet care for the one was a lot of work) but I have seen occasional issues on other pets in the reptile section

[redshepherd]

Do you want to post a picture of it for morph identification? Not all mystic potions and purple passions have a lot of pattern, some just have a few little dots or none at all, like this one: https://www.morphmarket.com/us/c/rep...pythons/109939

or this one.. https://www.morphmarket.com/us/c/rep...pythons/146196

[MissterDog]

I agree seeing a pic would help with morph identification. Mystic potions, like Redshepherd mentioned can be varied. Some darker, some more brown, some more purple/gray and some super light.

In case it's helpful, here is my mystic potion boy for comparison.