All my breeder rats have names, and I talk to them, socailize with them and give them the best care possible.

As noted they have their buds so I do not feel any obligation to them in that regard, but I do feel that every bit of attention they get, and any attempt I make at meeting their needs... social, psychological, and physical... keeps them healthier, happier, and has the benefit of making them better breeders and better parents, as well as better cagemates.

That benefits them, me, and the snakes (the snakes get more feeders that way).

We always have one pet only rat... right now a hairless dumbo named Stanley.

I really enjoy my rats, even my feeders. But does not mean that I have any trouble tossing them to a snake. I am a suck in that I really enjoy them, but I am a pragmatist in that if I got attached to the feeders I would be over-run with rats in no time. So that is easy to make that decision (one learned from experience).

Same with my retired breeders. I have allergies, and cannot keep the retired females around indefinitely (only have the lung capacity for so many furry beasts) so I make every attempt to re-home them, but the point their health starts to fail I do not hesitate to euthanize them and donate them to a boa keeper that I know.

Mice... I talk to them, I can handle them, but they are not pets. Eat your young... meet a snake... bite me... meet a snake... fail to breed... meet a snake.

ASFs. I handle them such they are manageable, and on occasion they do something I find kind of cute, but they are not pets, do not have names, and rarely tug my heart strings.

Even my long term breeder rats, if I wake up to find one has expired I do not get sad over it. I just hope they didn't suffer.

I think keeping rodents, or any feeder, you have to respect that animal, know what it needs, and make every attempt to meet those needs.

Bruce