Euthanizing rodents

When you euthanize rodents with either co2 or dry ice; dry ice emits co2, do you have to let them freeze for a certain period before feeding them to let the co2 dissipate or no?

CO2 is completely harmless when ingested (it's what makes soda fizz...) breathing large amounts of it isn't great but to be direct, there is no need to let the rats freeze or "air out" before feeding.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

CO2 is completely harmless when ingested (it's what makes soda fizz...) breathing large amounts of it isn't great but to be direct, there is no need to let the rats freeze or "air out" before feeding.

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Ok great thank you, I knew the human anatomy had a way of getting rid of the carbon, I just wasn't sure about snakes. Ty

The CO2 will dissipate immediately after the euthanizing chamber is opened. A word of caution: high concentrations of CO2 will cause a very unpleasant burning sensation as it is ingested. The animal dies an agonizing death. If using dry ice use a very small amount diluted in a 2 liter bottle of soda and then thru a air line tube introduce the CO2 slowly into the chamber. For those with a CO2 tank like myself you should invest in a ball flow valve/indicator.

Co2 is the most humane way. It is similar to falling asleep. Many people feel that Co2 is actually more humane then the way they put down dogs and cats as there is no pain from the needle.

Actually CO2 stings the eyes and nose if it gets pumped into the chamber too fast.
And as I've euthanized hundreds of laboratory rodents w/ CO2, I can tell you its definitely not the same as falling asleep.... The animals go unconscious first, then die a minute or so later.

It is the most humane. But I wouldn't say its comfortless...
Not to mention the stress and/or panic the animals feel when placed in the actual chamber...

CO2 doesn't poison you. It simply takes the place of and fuses with the oxygen so that it is no longer there/breathable. There is no harm to your snake possible unless the rodent is ON TOP OF the dry ice, in which case it might be frozen and impact.

from satomis post my opinion is that blunt force trauma seems equally, if not more, humane. A quick wack and theyre dead, you gotta do it right though. Or if youre euthanizing smaller animals what about cervical dislocation? For large scale operations where you need alot of rodents these methods wouldnt work but for smaller amounts maybe they could...?

I know this is kind of old but I gotta throw my 2 cents in.

I have been a brewer for the past 10 years. We use a lot of CO2. After you move beer out of a fermenter it clearly must be cleaned. Most breweries have fermenters with a manway that needs opened to evacuate the CO2. Larger fermenters will need a "sucker" to suck out the CO2 away from where people are working. Smaller vessels can just be opened to evac the CO2. (the CO2 needs to be completely evacuated before cleaning. The first stage of the cleaning process involves a caustic cleaner, usually KOH or NaOH which will be neutralized by the CO2)

So to make a long story even longer, when we open the tanks you can actually see a distortion in the air like a water fall of gas that falls out of the tank. CO2 burns your eyes, nose, lungs. It is extremely painful to breathe it in. I'm not giving an opinion on the subject of how to euthanize rodents. Just telling you all how painful it is to be under a wall of CO2. It is not something you can tolerate for even a tenth of a second. You will immediately shut your eyes and move out of the way. I have seen guys smash their faces into a tank leg trying to get away from it.

I doubt many other professions come into that close of contact in such a volume as a brewer.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

from satomis post my opinion is that blunt force trauma seems equally, if not more, humane. A quick wack and theyre dead, you gotta do it right though. Or if youre euthanizing smaller animals what about cervical dislocation? For large scale operations where you need alot of rodents these methods wouldnt work but for smaller amounts maybe they could...?

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I agree with the blunt force trauma method. Also ive seen rats convulsing when gassed. It didnt look like the MOST humane way to me.

So when it comes to succesfully dislocating the rodents head from its shoulders what's the best method? I had a mouse today and tried my hand and killing it before feeding and it bit. me! Being my first time I dropped it and ended up dangling in front of the snake and letting her kill it (luckily she's pretty good)