Quote Originally Posted by Argentra View Post
Even if you can't breed em yourself, you can ask to be allowed to hand pick them at the store - thus assuring the best available quality.
Back when we did have to buy own live prey (we now breed everything our snakes eat ourselves) we did exactly that. We had a word with the pet store we shopped at and were given special permission to enter their rodent breeding area to handpick the rats we needed.

I've had only one store refuse to let us go do that. Needless to say the manager was told we'd take our business elsewhere and we did. Talking with your wallet often works really well.

Another suggestion regarding buying live prey from pet stores is to plan ahead and buy your weekly live prey a few days before feeding day. Set them up with lots of food and water and you'll give the rats or mice a chance to get a good meal and a drink without the competition of a large feeder rodent pet store bin. If it helps them be healthier, better food for your snake, it's worth that effort I think.