Very good point, Derek. I know I've sometimes been viewed as a bit stuck on this subject but I do think there is sometimes a distinct lack of knowledge and respect (which can translate into poor care given) to the rodents that are the single most important item sustaining life in our valued snakes. You can provide the most perfect housing set up ever created, but if you don't provide a top quality feeder rodent, your snake is simply not going to do as well as it should.

I don't think anyone needs to make a pet of breeder/feeder rodents if they don't want to, or baby what is a breeding group after all but I do find it sad when people post with obvious disregard for the vital role a feeder rat or mouse plays in the continuing good health of their snakes.

Making choices about the feeder animal, whether that is walking away from a filthy pet store feeder bin, or spending a few extra bucks to go with an f/t supplier who actually sends you plump, clean, well packaged frozen rats or caring for your breeder/feeder colony responsibly are, for me, just another facet of good husbandry decisions. I believe firmly that junk in equals junk out. I've never seen how feeding a snake a cruddy, under-norished animal is going to get you a vital, healthy snake.

Mike and I know, were it not for the efforts of our rat colony, we could not feed our snakes or even afford the numbers of snakes we keep. In that, we appreciate our rats, we do spoil the breeders somewhat and do retire our favorites. It's not much to do really in exchange for what they contribute daily to our family's love of snakes.