Humane pre-killing method?

[Peter Williams]

I've never liked feeding frozen so I always do live. but occasionally, my girl will strike and the mouse and hit it in the wrong spot, and then it might be able to bite her. My worst fear is her getting bit in the eye. So this leads me to believe I should try pre-killed. I can't imagine ever being able to get cervical dislocation right, and I wouldn't want to learn through trial and error, and doing it incorrectly and causing pain for the rodent. So I got to thinking today...would an effective and humane method of pre-killing a mouse be...a mouse trap? I mean like doesn't it break their necks instantly? Or does it cause a slow and painful death? I would never try this without someones approval, what do you think?

P.S. I am aware I could gas them in a gas chamber, but I do not have access to dry ice, and I've always heard that using CO2 from a paintball gun isn't the greatest way of gassing a feeder.

[Bright202]

I've never liked feeding frozen so I always do live. but occasionally, my girl will strike and the mouse and hit it in the wrong spot, and then it might be able to bite her. My worst fear is her getting bit in the eye. So this leads me to believe I should try pre-killed. I can't imagine ever being able to get cervical dislocation right, and I wouldn't want to learn through trial and error, and doing it incorrectly and causing pain for the rodent. So I got to thinking today...would an effective and humane method of pre-killing a mouse be...a mouse trap? I mean like doesn't it break their necks instantly? Or does it cause a slow and painful death? I would never try this without someones approval, what do you think?

P.S. I am aware I could gas them in a gas chamber, but I do not have access to dry ice, and I've always heard that using CO2 from a paintball gun isn't the greatest way of gassing a feeder.

What I do sometimes is kinda mean but it does get the job done, i put on some music (ipod walkman etc..) put the rat in a pillow case, turn my head, turn up the music and hit it against the good thing is, is that it stuns it. I have used that technique when feeding my cousins snake. Hope ppl don't think I'm some crazy guy but the mouse/rat is going to die anyways, its nature, just a little cruel to the rodent.

[Nate]

Peter, check out this thread:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33850

[djansen]

put it in a sack and smack it against something hard, but dont hold back. if you hold back you cause the rodent more pain by not killing it right away and letting it squirm with a broken limb or something. be fast and hard and that way its just lights out.

[Peter Williams]

Thanks Nate but...

P.S. I am aware I could gas them in a gas chamber, but I do not have access to dry ice.

[Nate]

oh yeh..heh...i forgot about that part.

In that case, I know there is a thread around here somewhere about using a paintball co2 tank and simply routing a hose inside the cooler. Do you think that would be an option for you? co2 tanks last for a long time..and Paintball is pretty popular now...

[Peter Williams]

ya I could, I have some tanks anyways, but I don't know if its worth it for one mouse a week at this point. I'll look into that though because I have room for 11 snakes now so hopefully it'll be more than 1 a week soon

[Nate]

i'm pretty sure you don't have to empty an entire tank. If you have a set up that will let very small amounts in, then you could do the job in just a few minutes each week and that tank could last you months.

[Peter Williams]

Oh I know I don't have to empty the whole take I just am saying is it worth it to set up a whole contraption if my snake can kill them just fine, its more for my own peace of mind. After I pay off my debt to my parents for my helix and my flexwatt, I'll look into making a gas chamber.

[rolyat150]

I say just put them in a tub and stick em in the freezer. It is the most humane way to kill them. They'll get so cold that they just loose conciousness and die in their sleep. Simple as that.