Mindflayer mom is still mom <3 *smooch*

Always. <3

So, what would happen if you saw a cute snake like this?
Also, would reading someone's mind who's thinking of a cute snake count?

I shall leave those mysteries to your imagination~.

*Fleeeeeee*

A reasonable response, but I assure you, you are in no danger from me.

My knowledge is not from BG3 specifically its from the TTRPGs its based on that being D&D so my knowledge of em is more general instead of being game specific. *opens digital compendium*

Mind Flayers or as they are also called Illithids are powerful psionic squid like beings usually part of a hivemind of em...
Not saying independence isn't possible but it is rare I think I only seen two Illithids that have achieved independence in my time... They are created usually when a Illithid tadpol is parasitically inserted into the head then it eats the brain and they become one...or cephalomorphosis as we all call it...
But the conventional often doesn't have to be the only way one can of course achieve being one through magical means without such like the spell polymorph for instance.

But the most problematic with being one as your hinting at...they eat brains...requiring one every month...and it has to be from a intelligent individual to boot...as they gain no nutritional benefits from any other form of food...so you are right about the problematic affair of your nutritional needs...And if your wondering yes you still need water...
While the logistics of the diet is not hard to achieve...its more can you mentally stomach doing that on a monthly basis? on the bright side I heard eating one to them is a euphoric experience...So its akin to a vampiric experience except instead of blood...its brains...

It has definitely presented some obstacles, to say the least. There are humane solutions, but they've taken a lot of work to establish.

Suffice it to say, it's not an easy path to take.