I know I'm gonna get it for posting this, but...I've purchased snakes (and lizards and frogs) from Petco! And you know what? I've yet to have a problem with them. The only trick is that not all Petcos care for their animals as well as a couple in my area. I've been to some that were questionable at best.

You have to look and make sure that the snake you are purchasing looks alert and feels strong for it's size. The tongue should be flicking like crazy as it tries to figure out who you are and what you're going to do to it. Check the vent for any smearing - a bad sign. Look at the skin - is it nice and shiny? Are there patches of stuck shed (a sign of dehydration or parasites)? Are the eyes nice and round, or are they deflated and sunken in?

It's ultimately up to the purchaser to evaluate the quality of the animal before taking it home.

Good luck!

P.S.

I live in Phoenix and I just had 4 hatchling pythons delivered to me a little over one week ago, with temps in the 100's and 110's. All arrived fine. You can arrange a morning delivery to ensure they arrive before it gets ungodly hot out. Cold packs can be provided, as well as insulation. Talk to the breeder. If they won't accomodate you, then you don't need to be doing business with them anyway.
-----
Diego

Diego & Tiffany's Zoo:
SNAKES
3.4 Corn Snakes (Different morphs)
1.0.0 Boa Constrictor
0.1.0 Dumeril's Boa
1.1.0 Rosy Boas (Mexican & Mid Baja)
1.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1.0 Indonesian Dwarf Pacific Boa
0.1.0 Tangerine Honduran Milksnake
1.0.0 Honduran Milksnake
0.1.0 Pueblan Milksnake
1.2.0 Ball Pythons
1.0.0 Woma Python
1.1.0 Cape York Spotted Pythons
1.1.0 Macklot's Pythons
0.0.1 Ribbon Snake
1.0.0 Western Hognose
1.0.0 Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
0.0.1 Sonoran Gopher Snake
0.1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.1.0 Gray Banded Kingsnakes (River Road)
0.1.1 California Kingsnakes
1.0.0 Yellowtail Cribo
0.1.0 Blacktail Cribo

LIZARDS
1.0.0 Frilled Dragon
3.1.0 Bearded Dragons (2 Normal, 1 RedXGold, 1 Citrus)
0.1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
0.1.0 Merauke Blue Tongue Skink
2.3.0 Leopard Geckos
1.1.0 Yellow Niger Uromastyx
0.1.0 Green Anoles
FROGS
2.2.0 Southern Bell Frogs
1.0.1 Green Tree Frogs
0.0.2 Striped Walking Frogs
1.1.1 White's Tree Frogs

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