I have a snake that I have been trying to get off live mice, as a lot of you know. And I think Im going to just let him have the live prey that he wants. In two years I have had one accident with a mouse getting away from him. It could have been worse but it was a weird accident. Ive heard several reasons for switching to f/t or p/k prey and I really dont agree with any of them. Reason one - its more humane for the mouse. I just cant see that as true. Youre saying putting a mouse in a bag and hitting it agaisnt a wall or snaping its neck is more humane than letting a snake constrict around the mouse? I could be wrong, but arent f/t mice and rats suffocated to death? Reason two - I can agree to this one a little. I understand a dead mouse is less harmful than a live one... but I beleive youre taking something away from the snake as well. Constrictors can feel their preys heart beat and thats how they know when they are dead. Its their instinct. Its like if you had a cat, and the cat killed a mouse, would you punish that cat? And my last reason for choosing live is it is less wasteful, in my opinon. When I start breeding my ball pythons I am also going to breed mice and rats. Say if a few of my snakes arent hungry, no biggie, just put the lil mouse back in its cage. I know Ive wasted a lot of f/t and p/k rats and mice because mine simply will not eat them. I know a lot of you disagree with me and a lot of you agree with me. I am not trying to make anyone mad. I would just like to know yalls opinion on the subject.

Thanks,

James

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