Some of them have such large litters too. No wonder they end up in pet stores so much and folks aren't educated about them.

Jen, the one we rescued is a classic case in point. His owner didn't want him after he got big...not because he was big...he just got bored and wanted something else (believe it or not...we heard he has since purchased a gaboon viper...gee I'm glad we moved!). The girl he sold Ruari to had never even handled a cornsnake...never fed or cared for a snake...oh and she was afraid of rats. That girl with an almost 6 foot male BCI was just a disaster waiting to happen and of course it did. When I asked her once why in the world she took on a relatively big snake for her first snake instead of a nice little corn, milk, etc. she said "he was prettier" How do you convince someone this is a living, feeling, long living creature with unique husbandry needs that shouldn't be purchased just because he is "pretty"?

Almost every pet store I walk into has a big BCI in it. Sometimes two or three to a tank. All of them are super dark, muddy colored like Rauri was when we got him. It's heartbreaking. I can't even look because I know I want to bring them home. I know they are likely to end up in poor shape or with the wrong person. The giant snakes also are a problem but thanks for bringing up the issue of the bigger boa's who we often forget often "outgrow" their idiot owners.