Killing rats

My source for frozen rats has dried up, at least temporarily (Petco's freezer has been busted). I'd order some online, except my SO doesn't feel so hot about a freezer full of rat-sicles. So I'm thinking I'll buy live ones and kill 'em myself until my source is restored. My question is, how can I humanely dispatch the rat so my snake will eat it, and will also go back to FT when I find another source? The key here is being able to switch back to FT. Thx.

Here is a great sticky on it:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=33850

I personally use the cervical dislocation when I need to kill a rat.
*Please read up on it before attempting it since sometimes it can be hard to do so and you can really end up with a messed up live rat if not done correctly!!

I also know people who have been in your kind of situation who have just simply "whacked" the rat off. They just place the rat in a plastic bag, tie it off, then slam it onto a hard serfice... instantly killing the rat. Not to humane in my eyes, but it does work and the rat is dead in a second.

If you have access to Dry Ice (solid CO2) then this link will help you build a cheap CO2 tank that will put the rats to sleep and then kill them (most humane way to do it)


http://www.rodentracks.com/DIY_Co2_Chamber.html

If you don't have access to Dry Ice you can do the same thing with a paintball CO2 tank and hose but is more expensive to go this route. ??

Once you kill them (do 3-4 at a time) freeze them first. This way you won't be changing what your BP eats. If you do you run the risk of your BP not going back to F/T (doesn't always happen but it is a risk)

Let me know if you need more help.

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Here is a great sticky on it:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=33850

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Forgot about that sticky...LOL:D

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

I personally use the cervical dislocation when I need to kill a rat.

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Ouch!

Go and buy a CO2 tank used for paintball, and what is called a remote (a tube with an on/off feature) and a box. Poke a hole in the box and turn on the gas and they go to sleep. Like the other method except in the tank the CO2 won't go bad until it is empty then it is three bucks to refill it. My 9oz lasts me around a months worth of gasing. then you can get it refilled!


~mike

Mike,

Great idea!!! I know nothing about paint ball guns or the equipment. Where can I get a CO2 and this remote switch at? I know what the CO2 tanks look like but what does this remote thing look like?


Sounds a lot less stressful then what I've been doing. I'd like it give it a try!

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Mike,

Great idea!!! I know nothing about paint ball guns or the equipment. Where can I get a CO2 and this remote switch at? I know what the CO2 tanks look like but what does this remote thing look like?


Sounds a lot less stressful then what I've been doing. I'd like it give it a try!

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Buy them off eBay otherwise you will pay more then double at retail. The whole setup will cost you about $50-$60.

Here is a remote:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Paintball-RAMPAG...QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks Sean!!!

Here is a picture of how to setup a CO2 chamber for euthanizing mice/rats.


http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...athChamber.jpg

the CO2 comes in from the right and air is pushed out the tube on the left into a bottle of water. (the water is used so no CO2 escapes into the air while you are standing there and so the tub doesn't pressurize.

With this process you must release the CO2 slowly otherwise it is very painful for the rats. You want them to sleep first then die.

Okay allison let me see, you can get the tanks at wally world for fairly cheap, they come in tank sized of like 9, 12, 16, and 20 i believe. The remote looks like this http://www.paintballadrenaline.com/v...cat=232&page=1 If you can find a paintball shop, or one of your friends who has an old one it will work fine and would be a little cheaper. Or if you explain what you are using it for they may think its cool and give you a break on the cost. It is very fast if you want it to be or it could be a calmer death. whatever you want. Walmart might have the remotes in their p-ball section but i am not positive. I use a small cardboard box but next time i am going ot use a tupperware container with a small ventilation hole on the top to allow the lighter Air to be forced out and the heavier CO2 to stay at the bottom. and i would put the hole on the lower half of the box (almost the bottom) so as little CO2 as possible is lost.


PM me if you have any questions.

~mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Here is a great sticky on it:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=33850

I personally use the cervical dislocation when I need to kill a rat.
*Please read up on it before attempting it since sometimes it can be hard to do so and you can really end up with a messed up live rat if not done correctly!!

I also know people who have been in your kind of situation who have just simply "whacked" the rat off. They just place the rat in a plastic bag, tie it off, then slam it onto a hard serfice... instantly killing the rat. Not to humane in my eyes, but it does work and the rat is dead in a second.

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Thanks, Allison. You rawk--the sticky is exactly what I was looking for. Do you (or does anyone) know whether freezing makes a difference? Which is to say, once I get the rats killed, can I give one directly to my snake and expect him to go back to FT, or, once he gets the taste of fresh meat, will he refuse to go back? No biggie--I've got the cooler and a freezer, and dry ice is widely available. Just wondering.

BTW, the camera you sold me is working out great.

you can get the co2 tank and the remote(although it looks abit different it can act as the same thing) at any local paintball shops or sportchalet or even walmart

the tank def at walmart and ****s sporting goods, and prob the remote from walmart and almost def from ****s sports, or other sporting goods place.


~mike

I vacuum seal all my rats and mice. They can keep without getting freezer burn or going bad for about 2-3 years. It really isn't that much more work than already putting them in normal bags and in the freezer either. :)

Why is everyone on this kick of using CO2 or something like that to kill rats/mice? Not to sound evil or anything but it's just a rat.. Whack it against the wall or a table or something.

After all the snake does sufficate the rat/mouse to death and then eats it whole.

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

Why is everyone on this kick of using CO2 or something like that to kill rats/mice? Not to sound evil or anything but it's just a rat.. Whack it against the wall or a table or something.

After all the snake does sufficate the rat/mouse to death and then eats it whole.

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Because alot of us view life, ANY life as precious and deserving respect. Yes, our rats are going to be used as food (that is natures way) but for me while they are in my care they will be treated just like any of my other pets. Rats are very intelligent, smart and social and interacting with them is part of the fun. If you are breeding your breeders can be around a couple of years try getting to know them.

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

Whack it against a table or something.

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Grossss!!:eek:

Hopefully your not using your kitchen table!!:rolleye2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

Why is everyone on this kick of using CO2 or something like that to kill rats/mice? Not to sound evil or anything but it's just a rat.. Whack it against the wall or a table or something.

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It is a matter of respect, I respect life even the one of my feeders, and would rather use a CO2 chamber to kill them humanely, then whack them on a wall or the table.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Because alot of us view life, ANY life as precious and deserving respect. Yes, our rats are going to be used as food (that is natures way) but for me while they are in my care they will be treated just like any of my other pets. Rats are very intelligent, smart and social and interacting with them is part of the fun. If you are breeding your breeders can be around a couple of years try getting to know them.

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I have a few mice that i'm breeding and I usually play with them at least once a day and let them wander around. I'm just saying I think it's kind of silly to be going out of the way to buy dry ice, CO2 canisters, etc.. to do something like that.

But at what point does it become a life deserving respect? Roaches are alive but people step on them, bugs, etc..

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

But at what point does it become a life deserving respect? Roaches are alive but people step on them, bugs, etc..

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At the point that you value them. You don't value roaches so you will step on them (as would I) but a breeder who is going to feed them to his lizard values them and will take care of them. I value my rats (yes as a food source for my snakes) but becuase of this they deserve my respect and care.

Abortion is about the exact same thing...if you don't value the fetus then you are OK with killing it. (as is War by the way)

Only you can determine where you place your values...not I. (BTW...I am speaking globally not directly to you ;) )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

Why is everyone on this kick of using CO2 or something like that to kill rats/mice? Not to sound evil or anything but it's just a rat.. Whack it against the wall or a table or something.

After all the snake does sufficate the rat/mouse to death and then eats it whole.

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Because I have a girlfriend who would skin me if I didn't at least try a more humane method than whacking.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

Why is everyone on this kick of using CO2 or something like that to kill rats/mice? Not to sound evil or anything but it's just a rat.. Whack it against the wall or a table or something.

After all the snake does sufficate the rat/mouse to death and then eats it whole.

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Because there is still that chance of the rat not dying when you just wack it. CO2 puts them to sleep and they die peacefully.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Here is a great sticky on it:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=33850

I personally use the cervical dislocation when I need to kill a rat.
*Please read up on it before attempting it since sometimes it can be hard to do so and you can really end up with a messed up live rat if not done correctly!!

I also know people who have been in your kind of situation who have just simply "whacked" the rat off. They just place the rat in a plastic bag, tie it off, then slam it onto a hard serfice... instantly killing the rat. Not to humane in my eyes, but it does work and the rat is dead in a second.

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I love that sticky. Im gonna start doing this since I feel so bad killing my rats and mice

Many here would disagree with me.

But I prekill all my snakes rats. I will be darned if my homeboy gets hurt/killed over a $1-3 rat. My little friend will not eat f/t prey. I eat McD's and other fast food where thousands of live animals are slaugtered. Therefor I am not a hypocrite and gonna say knocking rats out in a bag is wrong. Plus I have done much worse, like a .30-06 long rifle into the side of a deer.

Get yourself a medium-large sized garbage bag. Drop live animal in. Lift up the bag so the animal falls to the corner. Now you only need one swift swing. Let that rat smack a kitchen counter or some other firm surface. At this point the rat make still make a few kicking moves. You might need to whack her again. Anything over two kicks I'd say whack again. Snakey has never refused a prekilled. In fact he smiles at me after he gets a belly full.

Sorry if any hypocrites find this grim.

I don't prekill anymore because I have already wasted enough rats this way. If for whatever reason one of mine does not eat, the rat just goes back to the tub for a bigger snake later on.