I think the only cruel aspect of it is how people mass breed them for the sole purpose of food. But then again, that's what humans do too, with many species.

Snakes gotta eat too.

The Pied Piper is real???? FML

I agree it should be illegal. There are many reasons for this. First of all, it is inhumane to the mouse to have its life slowly strangled out of it, yes I know it is nature... but if that is your argument then you should also feed your dog live rabbits and watch him/her tear them to pieces, allow your dog to bite people (he's just naturally asserting his dominance over newcomers), and your snake should not be kept in a fish tank that's not natural. Not only is it cruel to the mice, it is irresponsible as a snake owner. Live mice can carry many parasites (especially when kept in poor conditions), these parasites can get your snake sick, and cost you a pricey vet visit. Not only that but sometimes the mice bite the snakes, also causing damage to your reptile. Freezing obviously prevents bites, but it also prevents many parasites. So not only is it cruel to the mice, it isn't exactly healthy for the snake either. The only time I say live feeding is acceptable is if there is no other choice. For example, I had a boa that after months of eating frozen thawed (would not have bought her if all she ate was live), she decided she wouldn't do that anymore. She refused to eat for months, now I know they can be stubborn, I thought I could wait her out and she'd give in... she never gave in. Before I relented you could see every rib bone, I felt awful, she would have literally starved herself to death before she ate another frozen thawed. I did it once, was horrified, and immediately just gave her to a reptile store who would be able to find her an accommodating home, or keep her themselves. Around that time I got two male pet rats, they were as affectionate as dogs, as playful as kittens, and more intelligent than either cat or dog. They were allowed to free roam, never chewed up anything (I may have just been lucky there), knew to go in their cage to go potty, would come when I called them, licked my hands and face to greet me, loved to be snuggled and petted, would play pounce on my hands gently nipping (but never hard enough for me to wince). In short they were the best pets I've ever owned (this is after a lifetime of 6 dogs and 10 cats, all dying naturally of old age [or having to be put down from old age] throughout my life). They were the sweetest little guys I ever met. I never saw myself as a rat owner before these two just fell into my lap at 2 weeks old, but there I was up every 2 hours at night to feed them from an eyedropper. There I was spending $300 to have a tumor removed from one of them. There I was heartbroken and sobbing after the first passed away at 3 years old, and again when the second died at the ripe old age of 4 (they were feeders, and even most well bred rats only live for about 2.5-3 years. I doubt I'll ever get more though, their lives are too short, its been 2 years and I still miss them desperately. I don't know how I could put myself through that again, knowing something I love so much will be gone in 3 short years. Kudos to you OP for taking in these little understood, yet completely wonderful animals.

I have 7 snakes, and I feed them frozen/thawed as a rule. The only times I have ever fed live are when I've bred my corn snakes and had trouble getting the hatchlings to eat, and when my red tail boa was a baby and wouldn't go for the f/t food. For the sake of both the snake and the mouse/rat/rabbit/etc, get the snake transitioned onto frozen/thawed food as soon as possible. While baby rodents can't hurt the snake, the same cannot be said for adults. I volunteer at a local reptile rescue, and I've seen plenty of snakes with horrible scars from their "prey." We had a boa (who we eventually had to euthanize) whose owner just dropped a live adult rat into the tank once a week. The snake was covered in old scars and infected bites. The rats had chewed the poor thing to pieces. It was not pretty. Plenty of people say that rodents make good pets, but as I am allergic, I wouldn't know. I'll stick to Mice-On-Ice.

I rescue rats, and have had this same issue with people wanting them or their babies as snake food. I won't do it, I don't agree with live feeding.

I just have to say that if the rodent isn't a capybara or a beaver, it is not meant to be anything other than food for something else.

I am a vet tech so I understand snakes eat mice even though I don't think that person should have called a nice rescue to do so. But you shouldn't feed live to snakes due to risk of injury and stress to the snake and cruelty to the mouse. Frozen is more common because it isn't cruel, the mice died humanely. This came from an exotics vet.

Many snakes do feed live, though. Some troubled eaters will only eat live food. If you do so responsibly, are watching, ready to jump in, and will take your snake to the vet on the small chance an injury happens... what is wrong with that?

Sucks what you're doing is going unnoticed, but a full pet is a happy pet. #deathtomice