My Feeder Euthanizer (DIY CO2 chamber)

[Peter Williams]

I finally started breeding rats, so I decided to build a “Kill Box” of sorts. I started with this Styrofoam container. It’s not a cooler, it’s a container that was originally used to ship steaks. (Don’t ask, lol).


I started out by cutting a small opening in the lid, enough so I can see everywhere inside (so I can make sure all occupants have been euthanized.) I drilled the four corners of the square and cut it out with a small hand saw.


After that I glued a small piece of clear plastic packaging over the hole to act as a sort of window. I sealed it with silicone to make sure no CO2 leaks out when it’s in operation.


For CO2 delivery I used a paintball canister. I like the dry ice method but the only place I can get dry ice around here is a long drive and really it’s just cheaper for me to go to Canadian Tire and get my paintball tank filled. My original plan was to use a ‘remote’ for CO2 but for $55 at my local paintball store that wasn’t happening. All I needed was a way to release the gas, and a way to channel it into a piece of aquarium tubing. So I bought a ‘universal fill adapter’ from the paintball store.


The fill adapter works by screwing on top of the CO2 canister and you twister the knob at the top and the CO2 comes out the hole in the side. So I found a way to get the CO2 out, now I need a way to get it in the aquarium tubing. I located this nifty little device on an aquarium supplies website. (www.mops.ca)


Now this thing, screws into the side of the fill adapter. Then I put a piece of tubing on the ‘barb’ which is that part jutting out the side with the rings around it.

I then drilled a hole in one side and inserted a piece of tubing.


I attached the tubing to the tank as shown above. I siliconed around the tubing on the outside and inside of the chamber. The chamber isn’t absolutely air tight of course, once the CO2 begins flowing the air is pushed up and out around the lid. And that is it, its ready to euthanize.

I know this seems a little over complicated but that’s just the way I do things. I really enjoyed making this and it didn’t cost very much. On a final note, I just wanted to give credit to my dad, who funded this operation, and did most of the work on it. Hopefully this helps anyone who needed clarification of how to build a device like this. If anything doesn't make sense just ask about it here or PM me.

Thanks for checking this out, and hopefully it wasn’t a waste of your time .