My question is this... we can go on and on debating what is the right or wrong way or which method works best but the point is to use such words as inhumane to do it in certian ways doesnt cut it. first off it is considered inhumane to kill the rat/mouse in any method used. you're killing a living breathing creature. 2nd you're killing it or feeding it alive to another animal. in the wild it is considered mother nature at its best and or the life cycle of the creatures lower and higher up the food chain. but for a human to kill an animal to feed to another animal so they can have the pleasure of having such reptile in captivity is inhumane in itself. any way you look at it technically it is inhumane to kill or feed a live animal to another animal for your pleasures of having one in captivity. either way you look at it, it is inhumane. there is no humane way of killing an animal for your enjoyment of another. this is only my opinion and i know some may feel differently but that is how i see it.