Petsmart isn't the best place to buy really anything other than supplies, but of course, it all has to do with individual stores. The store closest to me is great with thier reptiles and other small pets because they have at least 3-4 employees working there that actually know something about reptiles. They take great care of thier reptiles, making sure cages are clean and ALL animals had fresh water and food available. While a bit cramped, they do a magnificent job. On the other hand, there is another Petsmart a little bit further from me that I refuse to buy ANYTHING from. Their reptiles were horrible. There was one leopard gecko, no bigger than my finger who was in a cage that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. There was enough poo in that cage to suggest it was at least 3-4 weeks worth, if not longer.

So, don't buy any animals from Petsmart unless they are kept in really good conditions. Petco, no. Local stores, depends. My best advice, get a snake from a breeder online or at a reptile show.