I remember years back when I got my first ball, that I was somewhat torn during feeding time. I was absolutely enthralled by the way my snake would kill and swallow an entire mouse, yet I felt strange because I was the indirect cause of death. I had kept a few rats as pets for 5 or 6 years prior, and I think that added to my internal struggle, but the enjoyment of watching the way nature has shaped the feeding response of snakes soon overshadowed that feeling of guilt. After many years of feeding many snakes (mainly live), I can't say that I don't feel anything when I hear a thump and then a squeal (sometimes it's relief with those finicky feeders) but it definitely doesn't affect me like as it did for the first while.


I do have rules when it comes to the rodents though, no attachments. No naming, no "set this one aside", no pets. My nephews and nieces that come visit seem fine with the fact that all the rodents are eventual food, they even gave me all their gerbil babies for a couple years with the intention that they would become food.

I do everything I can to keep my rodents healthy and happy, but I only see them as food, otherwise I think it would be more difficult. Once I started breeding my own rodents, I had been feeding a good number of live every week for years, so I have never felt that personal attachment to them.

Hope this helps.

-Evan