euthanizing rats, how i kill mine

Let me start by saying I, like most other snake hobbyists do not enjoy killing rats but it is a necessary evil. Some people use c02 or dry ice and what that does is essentially eliminate the oxygen in the enclosure. I use Ziploc bags, I put one small or just weaned rat in the bag and flatten the battle remove most to the air. The rat dies in 2-3 minutes and only moves erratically for 5-10 seconds so I believe the suffering is minimal. He can still breathe but the oxygen is quickly used up and they don't cry as they do when feeding live. Then they are already individually bagged I then weigh them and use a marker to write their weight on the bag. I have not used this on a full grown rat but I imagine you would need a pretty strong bag.

I don't know.. That does sound like it takes a little too long for me. I prefer it to be rather instant. I don't even want them to suffocate for a minute. I use the spinal/cranial separation.

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I don't know.. That does sound like it takes a little too long for me. I prefer it to be rather instant. I don't even want them to suffocate for a minute. I use the spinal/cranial separation.

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x2

At the end of the day they are still just rodents. Whether if you use co2, dry ice, cervical dislocation, or bludgeoning they end up with the same result. We have to sacrifice an animal's life in order for our snakes to survive. All of the methods mentioned about are much better than nature treats them. Personally I bag up to about a 7-10 Day old rats and mice this way and throw them in the freezer. My weanlings I normally feed off live and the rest are prekilled or stunned just before they are dropped in the tub. It's to each his own really. There's no wrong way to do it I don't guess. It's just peoples opinions on what works for them.

You've said that on a site where there are people who breed rodents for pets also. Because they care about them just as much as any other animal. Rats are highly intelligent and social animals as well. Unlike snakes.

You will most definitely cause friction saying something like that even though this is a reptile forum.

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Originally Posted by karls-snakes

Let me start by saying I, like most other snake hobbyists do not enjoy killing rats but it is a necessary evil. Some people use c02 or dry ice and what that does is essentially eliminate the oxygen in the enclosure. I use Ziploc bags, I put one small or just weaned rat in the bag and flatten the battle remove most to the air. The rat dies in 2-3 minutes and only moves erratically for 5-10 seconds so I believe the suffering is minimal. He can still breathe but the oxygen is quickly used up and they don't cry as they do when feeding live. Then they are already individually bagged I then weigh them and use a marker to write their weight on the bag. I have not used this on a full grown rat but I imagine you would need a pretty strong bag.

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I do the same thing with my pinkies and fuzzies with one important (to me) difference. I have a CO2 tank and I put a puff of CO2 in the bag. If you get the mix right the CO2 acts as an anesthesia. I then evacuate all the air and freeze. I am not going to say that this is the most humane way to euthanize. The big problem is that baby rodents are pretty CO2 resistant and if you get the mix two high it can be painful. I have a CO2 chamber for larger rodents. Its just a high plastic tub with a lid. I put a small hole in the side near the bottom to insert a hose to pump CO2 in. It doesn't need to be air tight, you can let the gas vent out the top. CO2 is slightly heavier than normal air and won't dilute enough to prevent death if you just snap a cover on. I have euthanized a lot of rodents with no issues.

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Originally Posted by Egapal

I do the same thing with my pinkies and fuzzies with one important (to me) difference. I have a CO2 tank and I put a puff of CO2 in the bag. If you get the mix right the CO2 acts as an anesthesia. I then evacuate all the air and freeze. I am not going to say that this is the most humane way to euthanize. The big problem is that baby rodents are pretty CO2 resistant and if you get the mix two high it can be painful. I have a CO2 chamber for larger rodents. Its just a high plastic tub with a lid. I put a small hole in the side near the bottom to insert a hose to pump CO2 in. It doesn't need to be air tight, you can let the gas vent out the top. CO2 is slightly heavier than normal air and won't dilute enough to prevent death if you just snap a cover on. I have euthanized a lot of rodents with no issues.

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Once I watched a local breeder put down a group of about 20 jumbo rats in a CO2 chamber. The rats were running around the tub and as he started the gas they slowed down and started to look drowsy, then they laid down, closed their eyes and it was done.
They did not seem distressed or in pain at all. Appeared to me like the most humane way I'd ever seen.

I Co2 hundreds at a time. To me, it's the most humane way to do it. Like stated above, they just kind of fall asleep. And, it's not messy, so the frozen rats look good as well..

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Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I don't know.. That does sound like it takes a little too long for me. I prefer it to be rather instant. I don't even want them to suffocate for a minute. I use the spinal/cranial separation.

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This is a good way. Fast, easy, non-messy.

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Originally Posted by jasbus

I Co2 hundreds at a time. To me, it's the most humane way to do it. Like stated above, they just kind of fall asleep. And, it's not messy, so the frozen rats look good as well..

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If I had hundreds to do at a time this would be the best way. But I don't.

I don't have the time to thaw out the larger rodents. I have a co2 chamber it's just more of a hassle when you have larger collections. Regardless of what methods you use people are going to pout and try and justify their process over the one you choose. As I said earlier it's to each his own. My rats get treated very well and out of a few hundred there are a few that would be close to "pet" status. It's ridiculous how you have to fight for your own opinion on an open forum. It does nothing but detour from the op.