My daughter was 3 when she first wanted a snake. She picked out what she wanted (bumblebee- my first snake in 13yrs and my first morph) and earned it by listening and being good for 6 months. The little bee preferred live and she had no problems feeding. She would even tell the mice goodbye. But then again, she's had an oscar in her room since she was 2 and she would help give him feeder fish....she would also help me pick out the pretty feeders to throw in the pond. And I never floated those because I needed them to be survivors because my pond is a minimum care pond that relies on a natural balance. She accepts the circle of life.