Feeder Euthanasia the Easy Way, and Humane too...

What great info! (in case y'all didn't already know that. :P :D)
I do have a question about Co2 concentration in the feeders' lungs/blood etc.
How long (if at all) after euthanizing the feeders should one wait before feeding?
Does the Co2 level in the feeders effect the animals (predator) at all?

(off topic a bit here)
I feed *all* my carnivores a species appropriate raw diet, that includes my cat and my dog when I had her. Raising our own feeders is something that my husband and I *do* plan on doing when we can. Seeing as how I do have snakes (and large inverts who get the occasional pinky mouse treat) who need to be fed, along with the mammals, I wouldn't want to adversely effect them from the Co2.

Sorry if it's a dumb question but...how else am I going to learn, yeah? :D

CO2 is something that is present naturally, and disperses to normal concentrations in the air and surrounding environment as soon as the chamber is open and the prey items are removed. Its not like the gas stays in them at deadly concentrations...its a gas...it disperses quickly...

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Originally Posted by Shadowspider

How long (if at all) after euthanizing the feeders should one wait before feeding?
Does the Co2 level in the feeders effect the animals (predator) at all?

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I don't think you should have to wait at all really. I could be wrong but I don't think waiting would be necessary.

As far as I know, the consumption of CO2 isn't harmful. In fact, all carbonated drinks like sodas and such have CO2 dissolved into them. Im sure in large large doses it isn't good just like everything else, but as much that could be transferred from the rat to the snake should be next to none.

Once again though, not positive on it.

If you want to speed it up, put a little water in the bottom of the dry ice container, and set it in the cooler before you put the rats in. Adding the rats afterward means there is already a thick layer of CO2 in there, and they will pass out much faster (bit more humane).

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

If you want to speed it up, put a little water in the bottom of the dry ice container, and set it in the cooler before you put the rats in. Adding the rats afterward means there is already a thick layer of CO2 in there, and they will pass out much faster (bit more humane).

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Actually this is not more humane...what you are suggesting is actually very painful. High levels of CO2 cause lung tissue to bleed and the aeroli (sp?) to burst. you want the CO2 to build up slowly so the animals go to sleep first (anestitize (sp?), as the CO2 level builds it will then kill them.

(do you have a reference for that? I was unable to find one).

I'm not sure that slow suffocation is more humane than rapid suffocation. I've personally always been very skeptical that CO2 is more humane than a quick smack over the head, but CO2 is what's 'approved', and can be used to dispatch a large number of animals quickly.

A reference? Go check out the AVMA's website and go to the page on humane euthanasia. There is a paragraph about building the CO2 levels....

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

A reference? Go check out the AVMA's website and go to the page on humane euthanasia. There is a paragraph about building the CO2 levels....

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:teamwork:

Thanks saved me the time.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

:teamwork:

Thanks saved me the time.

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Yeah, although this was already discussed earlier in the thread...I wish that people would read more than the last 3 posts sometimes before commenting....

This was our home made setup when we were breeding our own feeders.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ollett/gc3.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ollett/gc2.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ollett/gc1.jpg

It was more expensive to make then using the dry ice method but we always had gas on hand in a tank.