I feel sick...

[RoseyReps]

So, I ordered 5 rat weanlings (30-40g), and 1 rat pup (20-30g) from my local mom and pop shop. I told them that frozen would be best for the weanlings, but I needed the pup to be live. Also, if they could only get live, that was alright. I would euthanize and freeze the ones I needed f/t. So they came in today, much to my dismay all being 20-30g pups. Evidently weanlings are a myth, and rats magically jump from 20-30, to small rats (60+g)...or at least that's what the local shops like me to believe. (sorry, end rant on that..)

Anyways, back when I worked at Petland, (I know, I know, devil) when we fed the snakes we would um...what's the word, thump them? Stun / kill them basically. I decided, due to my lack of CO2, and familiarity with that, that I would thump then freeze. Hopefully to remove as much long-term suffering as I could for the rats. I figured it was more humane than just sticking them in the freezer to slowly freeze to death.

So I fed my one live eater, and proceeded to thump the remaining rats. My lord...the first one was no problem, second I started to get a little queasy...by the last rat I had that "chills" feeling and my stomach was in knots.. I can't do that again...I don't understand, I used to do it without any issue back when I worked at the store (teen), but now it seems I've changed.

My stomach is still in knots...I don't even like rats. Ugh... I will be picking up a co2 tank this weekend...I don't think I can do that again... I feel like such a horrible person right now. *shivers*

I apologize for the mini rant / expression... Just needed to vent.

[Kinra]

You made it farther than I would have. I hate feeding live and I can't imagine killing the rodents myself.

I'm surprised you couldn't get weaned rats from the mom and pop shop. Those are usually the places that have them. If most of yours will eat f/t I would suggest looking into buying a bag of frozen from a place that does bulk orders. If you can team up with someone in your area you could split shipping.

[RoseyReps]

You made it farther than I would have. I hate feeding live and I can't imagine killing the rodents myself.

I'm surprised you couldn't get weaned rats from the mom and pop shop. Those are usually the places that have them. If most of yours will eat f/t I would suggest looking into buying a bag of frozen from a place that does bulk orders. If you can team up with someone in your area you could split shipping.

I know what you mean, that's why I went to the mom and pop shops. But alas, they both seem to look at me like I'm crazy when I say rat weanlings. One of them looked at me like that when I said rat pup. Same place gave me a pup when I asked for a fuzzy...and one of the employees gave me a large mouse when I asked for a small rat... oye.

I've thought about getting a bulk bag, it would be fine for my big girl because she's 2kg+ and will be on medium rats for the rest of her life more than likely. I was afraid of ordering bulk for my smaller ones because they grow so darn fast! I have a feeling my lesser pastel (currently at 268, was 89g when I got her mid August) will out grow the bag of weanlings before she gets halfway through them. She's a great feeder and grower. Those are the only two I have on f/t right now, my Mojave is a stubborn little poop that will only eat live. Also, my enchi boy isn't home yet, so I don't know how easily he will switch.

The shipping is what kills me, and the places that offer free shipping are all out of my rat sizes I need. Grrr...I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and go bulk in the next month or so, after I get Enchi home and see what kind of feeder he is.

[Coleslaw007]

I personally use cervical dislocation, which I feel is the most humane and quickest method. Place something like a screw driver, chopstick or butter knive behind the head and give a firm, quick yank at the base of the tail. They die instantly.

[Valentine Pirate]

I split my f/t orders online with a friend of mine. Day of shipping she comes over at some point and picks up what she needs. If I wasn't able to do that... the local supplier is pricey, but still cheaper after shipping. Is there anyone around you that you could maybe split order with?

[RoseyReps]

I split my f/t orders online with a friend of mine. Day of shipping she comes over at some point and picks up what she needs. If I wasn't able to do that... the local supplier is pricey, but still cheaper after shipping. Is there anyone around you that you could maybe split order with?

Not really I don't have any local friends that keep snakes unfortunately.

I guess I'll just have to buy more snakes to make it worth the bulk order

Coleslaw: I've read about that, and that it is a great way to do it...I just had never done it, and I was afraid of messing up. After that experience though, I don't think I'll be doing any hands-on euthanasia anytime soon...

[Mike41793]

I personally use cervical dislocation, which I feel is the most humane and quickest method. Place something like a screw driver, chopstick or butter knive behind the head and give a firm, quick yank at the base of the tail. They die instantly.

This.

And when theyre babies their skulls are like paper thin and a strong flick to the skull will kill them.

CO2 isnt as an effective method for killing baby rats. Their lungs dont need as much oxygen so you may gas them an *think* theyre dead when they really arent.

[RoseyReps]

This.

And when theyre babies their skulls are like paper thin and a strong flick to the skull will kill them.

CO2 isnt as an effective method for killing baby rats. Their lungs dont need as much oxygen so you may gas them an *think* theyre dead when they really arent.

Is there any information about what age CO2 starts working properly? I assumed weanlings no longer under the mothers belly would be susceptible to CO2, or more like small rats?

[Mike41793]

Is there any information about what age CO2 starts working properly? I assumed weanlings no longer under the mothers belly would be susceptible to CO2, or more like small rats?

Im not really sure. I was just repeating that so you knew why it might not be working on them if you tried it. PM satomi, she knows alot more than me about this stuff and what size is safe to gas them at.

[Kristen Marie]

Tiffany, are there any reptile shows near you? I get all my rats there. For 4 snakes, it takes up a relatively small part of my freezer I've done the mom and pop stores, but the quality isn't so great. And shipping costs have scared me away from ordering online. I completely understand why you had issues euthanizing them, I would cry