euthanasia question

I've been reading up on several CO2 methods and it seems that most recommend some sort of slow-introduction of CO2 such that the animal goes to sleep before dying. Well, wouldn't the same be accomplished if the animal were just in a sealed container? They would slowly run out of oxygen, pass out, and if left in there long enough, die. What is the reason that active introduction of CO2 is necessary? Wouldn't time and a sufficiently leak-proof container do the trick just as well?

Here are some pages about the use of CO2

http://www.bu.edu/research/complianc...pendix20.shtml

http://ko.cwru.edu/docs/co2euthanasia.html

http://author.www.purdue.edu/researc...of_Rodents.pdf

What you are talking about is asphyxiating the animal which is extremely unpleasant and slow.
So yes in order to humanely kill the animal you have to use CO2 or another method that ensures a quick painless death.

I Still think grabbing them by the tail and whacking them against a corner is still the best. When people get CO2 poisoning it is slow and they get really bad headaches before. quick whack done right will be the most humaine and easy thing to do

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Originally Posted by x_gilmore_x

I Still think grabbing them by the tail and whacking them against a corner is still the best. When people get CO2 poisoning it is slow and they get really bad headaches before. quick whack done right will be the most humaine and easy thing to do

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And if you don't whack just right you have a suffering animal..This is especially true if you're inexperienced.

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Originally Posted by x_gilmore_x

I Still think grabbing them by the tail and whacking them against a corner is still the best. When people get CO2 poisoning it is slow and they get really bad headaches before. quick whack done right will be the most humaine and easy thing to do

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I dont know about this, I have read several accounts of miners that have been trapped and suffocated and the lone surviors always say they others just went to sleep and died peacefully with no complaints.

As far as wacking them not everyone is comfortable with that or good at it. I have seen an assumed dead rodent wake up after a wacking and go psycho, not good for a snake in harms way. Separating the spinal column is more effective but again not everyone is comfortable with that as well.

The nice thing with CO2 you can kill many rodents at one time while you can only wack one rodent at a time. I have CO2ed many a rodent and they go quiet quietly, peacefully, no mess, no fuss. Its alot easier when you have large collections to feed.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I dont know about this, I have read several accounts of miners that have been trapped and suffocated and the lone surviors always say they others just went to sleep and died peacefully with no complaints.

As far as wacking them not everyone is comfortable with that or good at it. I have seen an assumed dead rodent wake up after a wacking and go psycho, not good for a snake in harms way. Separating the spinal column is more effective but again not everyone is comfortable with that as well.

The nice thing with CO2 you can kill many rodents at one time while you can only wack one rodent at a time. I have CO2ed many a rodent and they go quiet quietly, peacefully, no mess, no fuss. Its alot easier when you have large collections to feed.

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I've tried whacking several times. Even when I put some force behind it, I have yet to successfully kill a mouse. So, I stick to CO2.

Dry ice>Bowl>warm water>big tub>mice/rats>close tub lid>check back in 5 mins=DONE

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Dry ice>Bowl>warm water>big tub>mice/rats>close tub lid>check back in 5 mins=DONE

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I just use baking soda and vinegar. Cheaper and I don't have to go into town to buy dry ice anytime I need to get rid of feeders.

I have had a large tank of CO2 used for soda fountains for over 2.5 years and it still going strong;)

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I have had a large tank of CO2 used for soda fountains for over 2.5 years and it still going strong;)

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What type of chamber do you use and how do you get the C02 into it? if you don't mind my asking...

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Originally Posted by Raptor

And if you don't whack just right you have a suffering animal..This is especially true if you're inexperienced.

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The same goes for any euthanasia method. I personally believe CO2 to be the trickiest method to do "right", which is why I never advocate it, but it is a good method if you can do it right.

Every method must be practiced.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I dont know about this, I have read several accounts of miners that have been trapped and suffocated and the lone surviors always say they others just went to sleep and died peacefully with no complaints.

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I'm glad you said that. From what I remember of how space flight works, I think they need a way to remove CO2 from the air, because they'll die of CO2 poisoning long before they'll run out of oxygen. And since the levels of CO2 would slowly build up, I think they'd just fall asleep.

Does that mean it would be humane to put rodents down in this manner? I don't know. I'd think there must be some reason that labs don't do it that way.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

The same goes for any euthanasia method. I personally believe CO2 to be the trickiest method to do "right", which is why I never advocate it, but it is a good method if you can do it right.

Every method must be practiced.

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I haven't had any issues. For the most part, the mice wander around the plastic ziplock baggy for a bit until they start wobbling. After a bit, they pass out and die. Only exception to this was a female that just to spite me, drowned herself in the vinegar/baking soda mixture. I put her in and she promptly climbed into the cup, face planted, and didn't get out mom and I were both :weirdface

Dust off works great. Fast and painless.

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Originally Posted by kilabyte

Dust off works great. Fast and painless.

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Not quite cost effective though.

I agree it is not cost effective. I usually feed live. This last feeding my girl missed on her 1st strike and on her second strike this xlarge mouse which was really fast escaped her coils. After that she got very aprehensive about a 3 go at it. I didn't feel like sitting and watching her anymore so after an hour the dust off came in handy in a pintch. I danced the mouse in front her and she finally got to eat thinking she killed it. Eventually I'd like to go to f/t and buy in bulk once I get 1 or 2 more snakes.
:bolt:

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Originally Posted by Raptor

I haven't had any issues. For the most part, the mice wander around the plastic ziplock baggy for a bit until they start wobbling. After a bit, they pass out and die. Only exception to this was a female that just to spite me, drowned herself in the vinegar/baking soda mixture. I put her in and she promptly climbed into the cup, face planted, and didn't get out mom and I were both :weirdface

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Okay. i am horrible but:

Its 5:44 In the morning here, I read that and busted out laughing hardcore, woke everybody up LMAO :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


I know im a horrible person, but that image is just awesome.. i can just picture it lmao

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Originally Posted by MikeV

Okay. i am horrible but:

Its 5:44 In the morning here, I read that and busted out laughing hardcore, woke everybody up LMAO :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


I know im a horrible person, but that image is just awesome.. i can just picture it lmao

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I was laughing the entire time when I discovered it. I was weighing the other mice I had euthanized so I had my back turned. Mom was cooking something on the stove and so when I turned back around, the blasted mouse had done a face plant into the cup. It was right after she had started getting wobbly, I think.