humane way to prekill rats?

[serpentz]

What's the best way top prekill a rat before you feed it to a ball python? I truly prefer feeding f/t, but that's not always an option with BP's. In any case, killing rodents is one of my least favorite activities. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Matt

[Topher]

You could try breaking their neck, this is tricky, and unless you are careful can go wrong. To do this you pin their head down with a spoon or a stick or something that will keep it from moving, then you quickly pull up on their tail to break their neck. Another way, that I have never tried, is to use CO2. You just need a tall bucket, trash can, or any other tall container and a bottle of CO2. You charge the bucket with the CO2, (because CO2 is heavier than air, it'll stay in the bottom of the bucket), then you drop the rat in. It'll go unconsious immediately, and die a short time later.

[Melicious]

Something that Justin did that I saw to be somewhat humane was to take a pair of forceps, pin the rat down, and snap the neck with the forceps. -Shrugs.- Is there really any "humane" way to kill any food item?

[serpentz]

Thanks for the recommendations. Is there any concern about using CO2 to kill the rat right before you feed it to your bp?

Matt

[Sputnik]

Dry ice, put it in a dish inside a sterilite or similar container. Needs to be air tight. The rats simply fall asleep, painless!

When I do dry ice them, about $2 or $3 worth of dry ice puts about 100 rats in the freezer for me.

[jessie_k_pythons]

I just KO the rodents now with a good thump on the head. if you do it right the right hind leg will twitch. that for some odd reason ups the feeding responce of my 2 BPs. if it is just laying there breathing, my male wont touch it ... it has to move.

if you do the thump really well it kills them on contact. no fight, just falls over.


you must think Im mean now.

[Sputnik]

I just KO the rodents now with a good thump on the head. if you do it right the right hind leg will twitch. that for some odd reason ups the feeding responce of my 2 BPs. if it is just laying there breathing, my male wont touch it ... it has to move.

if you do the thump really well it kills them on contact. no fight, just falls over.


you must think Im mean now.

Nothing wrong with doing it that way either!

[daniel1983]

I just KO the rodents now with a good thump on the head. if you do it right the right hind leg will twitch. that for some odd reason ups the feeding responce of my 2 BPs. if it is just laying there breathing, my male wont touch it ... it has to move.

if you do the thump really well it kills them on contact. no fight, just falls over.


you must think Im mean now.

IMO....feeding 'stunned' animals is a bad way to go. At any time the rat may become 'un-stunned' and get VERY defensive.....which could result in a bad feeding experience. When you feed live rodents, it is best if the rodents are not in a distressed state.....

...think of it this way. Would you rather be locked in a cage with a calm bear or one that has just been punched in the head by someone?..


And back to the original question. Here are some good reads:

These are the people who wrote the book on euthanizing animals and have done extensive research on what is best for the animals. Search around this site a little and you will find some of the best info out there:
http://labanimals.stanford.edu/index.html

For quick reads from that site, if you don't want to look around:

About Cervical Dislocation (the method I use for mice...not to be used for larger rodents)
http://labanimals.stanford.edu/Guidelines/Cerv_Dis.html

About Co2:
http://labanimals.stanford.edu/Guidelines/CO2.html

[Adam_Wysocki]

Accordning to the American Veterinary Association, CO2 is the most humane way to dispatch prey items that are to be used as feeders.

-adam

[joepythons]

When i have to kill my rats for future feedings i think my way is quick.I simply take the rat and hold him tight(i have welders gloves on so no biting here)and take a pair of pliers and squeeze his throat.It breaks his neck and he dies in minutes and sometimes you get the jumpers that your snake thinks its still alive.The only draw back is if you get to close to the head you get some blood out of the ears.