My Feeder Euthanizer (DIY CO2 chamber) ***UPDATE***

[snakelover88]

My vet suggested a inhumane way of taking the fight of the rats for my 5 foot RTB and I just shook my head in disgust and went with frozen. We now have a different vet.

[cobweb2000]

There are two species of rats involved here. Rattus Rattus is the rat that carried the infected fleas during the plauges of Europe. Rattus Norvegicus is not believed to have arrived on the European mainland till near the beginning of the 18th century. There is also a school of thought that R. Norvegicus's aggression toward R. Rattus and subsequant overtaking of much of their territory may actually have helped end the last epidemic. The domestic rats you are torturing are Rattus Norvegicus, they were not responsible for the deaths you feel you need to avenge.

This is the only herp board I belong to because at least some members realize that feeder animals are living creatures that deserve to be treated with respect. I very much hope SouthB's opinions are not shared by the majority of this board. I'm going to go hug my pet rats now.

[Bruce Whitehead]

This is the only herp board I belong to because at least some members realize that feeder animals are living creatures that deserve to be treated with respect. I very much hope SouthB's opinions are not shared by the majority of this board. I'm going to go hug my pet rats now.

I would say the majority of us that raise rodents get that they need to be treated with dignity and respect, and we also understand that negative rep that casts over our community when people do engage in glib and inhumane treatment of their feeders.

If nothing else, understanding the complexities of rodents (psychological and was as physical) means you get better production (which as keepers is a very good thing0, and I think the more attuned and educated a person is, the more respect they have, therefor the less reckless they are with them.

Bruce

[JohnNJ]

This is the only herp board I belong to because at least some members realize that feeder animals are living creatures that deserve to be treated with respect. I very much hope SouthB's opinions are not shared by the majority of this board.

I also hope that the members here realize that euthanizing a snake by putting it in the freezer is cruel and inhumane, according to the AVMA.

[M&J in NC]

I just use a Brick.
Cost $0.50

Sweet

[Alice]

I also hope that the members here realize that euthanizing a snake by putting it in the freezer is cruel and inhumane, according to the AVMA.

And that method is used rountinely by large snake breeding establishments.

Species: Rodents and other small mammals

Acceptable: Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, CO, potassium chloride in conjunction with general anesthesia, microwave irradiation

Conditionally acceptable: Methoxyflurane, ether, N2, Ar, cervical dislocation (rats < 200 g), decapitation

So, if these are the only methods of humainly putting down a rat, which of the "acceptable" methods do you use? Even the descriptions of the "conditionally acceptable" in the AVMA guidelines are difficult to carry out. For example, read how to do a cervical dislocation . . . I couldn't do it that way.

What I don't see in this list is the "swing them against the wall method" mentioned over the years as generally accepted as humane.

For me, drowning is not an acceptable method, but, if we were to only follow the AVMA guidelines, many other methods would also not be acceptable . . .

BTW, OP, I think your feeder euthanizer is top notch! Congrats.

[JohnNJ]

What I don't see in this list is the "swing them against the wall method" mentioned over the years as generally accepted as humane.

From the AVMA Guidelines:

Blow to the head - Unacceptable for most species.

Stunning - Stunning may render an animal unconscious, but it is not a method of euthanasia (except for neonatal animals with thin craniums). If used, it must be immediately followed by a method that ensures death.

[disabled.101]

On a side note seeing as decapitation is a conditionally accepted form of Euthanasia would a mini guillotine be acceptable?

[llovelace]

From the AVMA Guidelines:

Blow to the head - Unacceptable for most species.

Stunning - Stunning may render an animal unconscious, but it is not a method of euthanasia (except for neonatal animals with thin craniums). If used, it must be immediately followed by a method that ensures death.

EUTHANASIA BY A BLOW TO THE HEAD
Euthanasia by a blow to the head must be evaluated
in terms of the anatomic features of the species on
which it is to be performed. A blow to the head can be
a humane method of euthanasia for neonatal animals
with thin craniums, such as young pigs, if a single sharp
blow delivered to the central skull bones with sufficient
force can produce immediate depression of the central
nervous system and destruction of brain tissue. When
properly performed, loss of consciousness is rapid.
The anatomic features of neonatal calves, however,
make a blow to the head in this species unacceptable.
Personnel performing euthanasia by use of a blow to the
head must be properly trained and monitored for
proficiency with this method of euthanasia, and they
must be aware of its aesthetic implications.

On a side note seeing as decapitation is a conditionally accepted form of Euthanasia would a mini guillotine be acceptable?

lol

[littleindiangirl]

For me personally, to know that folks out there are trying to kill rats older than young pups by whacking the animal's head against a hard surface makes me cringe. I simply cannot believe that 100% of the time, every time across the board, it causes instant death without any problems.

I have always read the blow to the head is to be done with neonates, where a blow to the head crushes it completely and instantly because it is very soft. I actually think crushing the head on a neonate is quicker than freezing or CO2.

I really hate to read when people try to do it with rats larger than pups, where the bones are harder, the animals are bigger, and the margin of error is increased.

Cervical dislocation is perfectly acceptable by a highly trained supervised person, and only on rats under a certain age/weight. Many guidlines say <200 grams, but 200 grams is almost an adult rat in many cases, and jerking on their body like that can easily lead to broken legs and tails rather than proper cervical dislocation.