Don't smash the poor thing against a wall. It only stuns it. Mice are too small for some snakes, and it depends on the person and some snake won't eat f/t rodents. Mine did ONCE because she had been on a forced fast. She prefers live because it moves. I'm also sweamish when it comes to handling frozen rodents. I know it sounds funny but I am. Also if they are not frozen right or defrosted right I can smell them and it makes me nauseous. Remember I'm pregnant so I have a hypersensitivity to smells. I can't even stand the smell of raw meat right now.