What the others have said so well. Another way of looking at this is in the wild neither the snake or rodent is confined to a cage and are free to move around or escape. The snake will ambush a rodent when the time is right. In a cage the rat is cornered and will fight for its life. Also in the wild sometimes when snakes take on various animals to eat, they don't always win or come out of the struggle unharmed. That is another reason snakes have so many ones born as in nature they are expendable. In captivity we may pay good money for certain snakes. We want them to look good and not be hurt, especially if kept as pets. Also much more convenient to keep frozen rodents.

If you mucst feed live rodents, kill the rodent right before feeding. Bill
-----
...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

[ Show Entire Thread ]