I was wondering if feeding LIVE insects was a necessity for smooth green snakes. Would they respond well to dead insects so long as the food is kept interesting?

These snakes need live insects...and to be honest with you they dont do well on commonly bred insects such as crickets,locusts either...they will eat them but in my experince the change in the gut fauna is too much for them.
Most live no more than 6-12 months in captivity. Despite being a display animal they stress easily.

I found mine did very well..5 years in fact from being kept in a low traffic room with 5% uv and 80% humidity but also dry areas for them, they were fed on wild woodlice and moths, and other bits i could find throughout the year. they did really well and bred a few times for me...the offspring are much more hardy and will accept captive bred foods fine.

cheers

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I keep rough greens, which are similar, but all mine were raised from hatchlings, so fed on crickets realy well.
I've never seen them go for dead insects, only live.
First time I've heard of smooth greens being sold, lovely little snake.
cheers arthur