You have issues!!
Okay, so I just stumbled across this thread...and have a few things to say
1. Feeding live is not "sick." I think its amazing to watch a snake attack and kill an anole the way it would in the wild. Its enjoyable.
You think it amazing to watch a snake kill a mouse or an anole. That is sick and sadistic! I don't know how any sane person, could take pleasure in watching the slow death of an animal? That just befuddles me!
2. I love to hunt. I enjoy killing deer, it makes me happy. It also makes MANY other people happy. This is no different from feeding your snakes live food (besides it being dangerous)
I'm an avid hunter as well and I can honestly say that the one part of hunting, I don't enjoy, is the killing. I enjoy the nature, that I am in. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. I enjoy seeing the animals, I do not take. I enjoy the company of my friends and family.
Killing a dear, a bird or whatever it is, is the one thing I do not enjoy. That is a life. I take a life to provide my family and myself with food. To do my part in controlling the population of a species.
Every person I hunt with and have hunted with, have felt the same way. I don't think I would want to experience a person, that takes thrill in the "killing" aspect of the sport.
3. I couldn't watch the video, but from what everyone is saying...he just fed his snake live and liked it. So...? Whats the big deal? Its just a mouse. They are just...mice. Not seeing what the big deal is between you killing them and the snake killing them (besides danger to your snake.)
Yes, it's just a mouse. Did you forget, that it's also a life? When you go hunting, do you shoot a deer in the legs, so it dies slowly? OR, do you try to make the most ethical shot you can, to diminish the suffering of the animal, and cause it to expire quickly.
When I kill the feeders I have. I use the most ethical method available to me, to diminish the suffering of the feeder. When a snake kills an animal. In some cases, it can take up to fifteen minutes for the animal to expire. That's fifteen minutes of unnecessary suffering, forced upon an animal that could have been euthanized, humanly and still eaten by the snake.
4. I feed live anoles for a few reasons. One is because I enjoy giving my snakes something "different" now and then. Two is because I breed anoles. I freeze some, I feed fresh ones live. It gives my snake exersize, something to hunt, and a challenge. Its just a lizzard.
My wife and I breed rodents. Lots of rodents! A lot of different types of rodents, as well. We sell some as pets. We show some. We sell some as food. We feed them to the members of our snake collection. We freeze them.
The difference between what you do and what we do is, I take the time to minimize the unnecessary suffering of the animals, that I use as feeders. I believe I owe that to them.
And if your worried about your snake, getting exercise. Then take it out of it's enclosure once in a while and handle it. I guarantee, that that's more exercise then chasing a mouse around a little enclosure!
Anyway, not looking to get flamed...just pointing these things out and putting in my two cents.
You have issues!! You are obviously aware that what you are doing is wrong. People like you, with your sadistic, smug attitudes are what give the credible members of this industry, a bad name. You knowingly force unnecessary suffering, on the animals that you feed. You endanger the lives of your snakes. And, the part that really bothers me, is that you take pleasure in it. I'm sickened by this!
There is a big difference in feeding a snake live, because it won't take anything else and feeding a humanly euthanised rodent or lizard.
I also, don't want to hear the "in the wild" argument. That doesn't make sense in this situation! Your snakes are not in the wild. They are captive specimens. They are kept in tubs or tanks, live in plastic or paper houses and crap on newspaper or some other prepared substrate. Does that sound natural to you? As captive specimens, they have the opportunity to eat a meal, prepared for them, be kept in a safe and secure manner and treated with respect. If you can't do that, then you are in the wrong business!
JMO!
Wayne