i have fed my snake live mice, however, i hve killed the mice before. knuckles (my ball) is still interested in teh food if it is prekilled. i do not feed him f/t mice becuz for sum reason or another, he really doesnt eat them. i think he is attracted to the fresh smell and heat of a mouse that i have killed. i do on occasion feed him live mice and he seems to like it. i hope that within in a few months, he will be eating small rats. but he does eat good. i have found that i can measure him easily also by using hemp string that i make stuff out of and tracing it along his spine becuz he doesnt really like to stretch out straight. just a thought for everyone, becuz i couldnt download the snake measuring program thingy in teh downloads section. but i measure the string with a tape measure. so far, he is up to 29" and ive had him since jan. i do not know how old he was when i purchased him, but i do believe that he was still very young. thnx, hope sumone can use my input!