Dry Ice

In a few weeks I'll have to off some of the older babies. I was wondering where I could buy dry ice from? Most of the places I tried looking for online were bulk dry ice manufacturers. Does anyone know where I could get some in small amounts? Thanks!

Hmm that's a tough nut to froogle.

But this might help http://www.dryiceinfo.com/where.htm

I remember as a kid in No. Va. we always bought it at a local Carvell's

Also might want to call a local beverage or ice distributor or two as it turns out that's where folks around here get it for halloween.

WalMart. You can get a pretty good-sized chunk for $10. You may want to check local ice cream shops.

And speaking of dry ice...if I may interject a couple more questions: How long would a "$10 chunk" last? (A better way to phrase that would be, "About how many CO2 chambers can you make with it?") And how do you store it between uses?

You would have to use it all the same day. It offgasses pretty fast and storing it in the freezer doesn't work, LoL. I tried that, and it was gone the next morning.

I get dry ice from my local grocery stores. I buy between 0.5 and 1lb of ice ($0.50 - 1.00 cost). As long as I have everything ready to go I can do up to 20 small/medium at a time (dropping them in sets of 3 30 seconds apart). Ive never been able to keep dry ice even over night.


Bryan

Hehe...yeah, that's why I was asking. I got some in a shipment of frozen mice once, and I put it in the freezer to show the kids when they got home from school. They never got to see it....just an empty brown wrapper. LOL

so you will be gassing your rodents using dry ice- could you explain the process? or is the same as the other CO2s?

Dry ice turns into CO2 gas. (isn't that called sublimation?) So same basics. ;)

I found this link....no experience with this method though as far as it being appropriate and humane, so please comment folks.


http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/index.html


~~Jo~~

I'll try to explain my Co2 chamber. It works much on the same principle as using a Co2 canister, just requires a bit more fuss. You can also usually do more rats at a time using dry ice.

I use a "rubbermaid" type enclosure to hold the dry ice and water mix. The lid of the rubbermaid is drilled to let the gas escape as seen in this pic.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...r/78883ae5.jpg

This container is approx 8"l x 8"w x 4" deep. Using a container like this prevents the animals from coming into contact with the dry ice (so they wont lose limbs or fur).

Get about a 1lb block of dry ice and your favorite hammer ... break the dry ice into smaller pieces (more surface area for the water to contact = more Co2 gas and less wasted ice). Drop the now broken ice into the container. Cover the ice with water (water should be 1" higher than ice for best and longest lasting results), this will immediately cause it to start gassing. Place this container into a larger container such as a 5 gallon bucket, rubbermaid tub, garbage can, etc. Below it is placed in a 5 gallon bucket.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...r/b16172c3.jpg

I loosely place the bucket lid on the bucket (do NOT make it airtight). You may need to place a 2-3lb item on the lid (a brick, or ceramic tile), but this usually isnt necessary. The rats will be knocked out within 10-20 seconds and expire within 2 minutes. In this setup pictured they fall to the side of the red tub. I normally do up to 20 in the 5 gallon setup. Drop the rats in sets of 3, 30 seconds apart.

With this particular process do NOT use an enclosure with thin plastic sides (like the IRIS see thru tubs). The rapid chilling from the ice will crack it.

If gas flow slows down you can shake the smaller tub, but it will usually require the addition of more water. Remove the smaller enclosure and add water away from the bucket (water in the outer container will freeze and can damage your end product). It should immediately start off gassing again.

Dry Ice can cause contact burns ... you should wear gloves when working with it. I break it up in paper grocery bags, then just pour it into the ice holding container.

Do not make either container "air tight", the gas is constantly expanding and will blow the lid off if airtight.

This method can be easily modified to suit your needs.

I hope this is what you were asking Shhhli.

Bryan

Wow I forgot to check this thread, thanks for all the replies! There was a thread on the exact method bdadawg said a month or two ago and I didn't understand it as much as he just did. Hopefully I can get some ice at Walmart, because I know our grocery store doesn't carry it.

*note to myself* Have the two Bryans come to our house to build a Co2 chamber, rat racks, do tubs, sort rats....and whatever else I can come up with given time to ponder it. :P


~~Jo~~

Thank you so much bryan! that is an excellent explination, sorry i was so long in responding.