The part of keeping snakes I hate

Just bought 2 rat pups for my 10 month old BP last night. She only eats live, and has eaten 2 before. Last night she decided not to eat again, so the pups were still in the tank this morning. At this point my choices are to let them starve in the tank, or to kill them and dispose. I've frozen them before, but she doesn't eat f/t ever. I hate killing them (I hold by tail and smack on table, sometimes it takes several times) but what else can I do?:(

Oh geeze.. if its taking several times you might want to find a new method.
or a harder surface, maybe a cement step? Or put them in a cloth type bag you dont need and take a hammer to the skull?


That said another option is seeing if the store you got them from will take them back for credit to get more next feeding time.

Smashing like this is NOT something the reptile community thinks is the best or most humane method of euthanasia.

C02 is preferred

As well as cervical disloation

Please find a better way to kill the rats. :colbert: I place mine in a plastic shopping bag, and hit the bag on my driveway deck. It only takes one time.

Good luck

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Originally Posted by bivman

Just bought 2 rat pups for my 10 month old BP last night. She only eats live, and has eaten 2 before. Last night she decided not to eat again, so the pups were still in the tank this morning. At this point my choices are to let them starve in the tank, or to kill them and dispose. I've frozen them before, but she doesn't eat f/t ever. I hate killing them (I hold by tail and smack on table, sometimes it takes several times) but what else can I do?:(

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are you putting both pups in with her at the same time? if so this could be a reason thats shes not eating. only put one prey in at a time and i woudlnt leave live prey with her over night either when feeding live you have to keep an eye on them in case they feel they dont want to eat the prey could actually do some damage.

as for the pups if you dont want to kill them you can put a ad on craigslist real quick im sure someone would jump on them i know i get rid of mine extras within a couple hours. just have to price them right.

Why not get a small container or tank and keep them for the next feeding??

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Originally Posted by bivman

Last night she decided not to eat again, so the pups were still in the tank this morning. At this point my choices are to let them starve in the tank,

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they arent still in your bps tank now are they?

I agree, only offer one at a time. You'll overwhelm her or scare her, and she won't eat.

If she refuses them both after a suitable period of time, the fastest way to deal with them, IF they are not big enough to eat and drink on their own, is to lay them on a table, firmly place a pencil just behind their head, grasp the tail, and push down with the pencil while giving a sharp tug on the tail. This dislocates the spine, and they die almost instantly.

IF they are big enough to eat and drink on their own, just get a small plastic critter keeper and save them until next feeding day.

Gale

I'm not sure if this is an option, but I take mine back to the pet store. They just throw them back in with momma. Either she'll eat them, or take them back, but I know I've had fuzzies that didn't get eaten and the momma's took them back no problem.

Of course, we are really close with our pet store employees. They might not do it, but just tell them you aren't worried about getting your money back, you just don't want them to die.

I also wouldn't feed both at the same time, I'm sure it's too stressful for the snake. I have two hatchlings sitting next to each other, and I have to seperate their tubs with something or they would rather chase the mouse in the other tub rather than their own.

I have had to "smack" one rat, I didn't have CO2. If you MUST do it use a pillow case get three good loops and slam him into something hard, concrete or a thick table and do it a few times it is messy but the first hit either kills them or makes them unconscious and the subsequent hits make sure they wont come back to, in pain. It is barbaric to smash them but sometimes its the only way. I won't lie it upset me for a while having to do that but it makes sure the unfortunate deed is done, and I won't do it again. I will take the time to get a CO2 chamber set up.

Now if you want to do it humanely and cheap go get some dry ice and a small mouse cage (like a transport cage maybe 4x3x6) and put some dry ice in there with a bit of water to get it going, be careful as there is a chemical reaction and can cause bodily injury. Step two is to put the mouse/rat in a larger lunch box with the dry ice container, wait a few minutes and you will have a deceased rat. You want to make sure the rat cannot get to the dry ice as this will cause a burn and pain, and make sure you give the rat plenty of time to asphyxiate as it wouldn't be pleasant for the rat to just be unconscious, when they come to they will be in a lot of pain so keep that from happening.

I hope this helps, and remember they wont starve in the tub they will eat something (that something IS your snake)

Mike