Spread the Word -- Don't Freeze Sick Snakes!

[Chris Behof]

In case you ever have to put down a snake, don't just toss it in the freezer.

No longer an acceptable form of euthanasia.

See article for details and back up data:

http://www.herpcenter.com/reptile-ar...-reptiles.html

[mr.spooky]

i dont see how anybody would have thought that freezing something to death would even be humane at all.. i use sodium pentobarbital at work and it does do the job, and very quick like, but the problem there is that you have licensed to use it.. also, sometimes its hard to find a vein on a reptile and this is too much stress than a reptile deserves.
to me, the only humane way of euthanasia on smaller reptiles is decapitation followed by pithing.
spooky

[FalconPunch]

How are you supposed to do it? What are the main methods? Do people gas them like they do to rats and mice?

[Redneck_Crow]

I don't get how that site lists decapitation as an acceptable method.

A snake's head can continue to live for many minutes after it's been decapitated. I'd go for squashing the head with a brick before I'd go for decapitation.

[FalconPunch]

^^^ That's very true. Watch this video. Watch all of it, the head still gets defensive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aRi9_Ppepo

granted it's an alligator but that's splitting hairs.

[KevinK]

How are you supposed to do it? What are the main methods? Do people gas them like they do to rats and mice?

Gassing of snakes should never be done. You would have to fit a mask over the face of the snake to administer any gas, which I believe would make the snake panic. Snakes don't take a lot of air/oxygen when they breathe so I believe it would also take a long time. Many people have trouble administering anesthesia to snakes because of this.

[purplemuffin]

True. It does recommend though that "The latter two of these(decapitation) require pre-euthanasia anesthesia to prevent suffering", I don't know much about that or if it would help.

[Chris Behof]

How are you supposed to do it? What are the main methods? Do people gas them like they do to rats and mice?

You should read the article in the link.

Take to your vet so they can administer anesthesia and then a lethal shot of chemicals.

[FalconPunch]

I think It would be really hard not to just let it die on it's own. If I absolutely had to kill one, I'd take it out and use a shotgun point blank. Seems the cleanest and quickest to me.

[mainbutter]

You should read the article in the link.

Take to your vet so they can administer anesthesia and then a lethal shot of chemicals.

How do I euthanize snakes for use as feeder animals (for king cobras, for example)?