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

[Freakie_frog]

Reopened.

[frankykeno]

Put them in a small container and flood it with water. You have to remember that these things killed 1/3 of the human population at one time......so I have no regret killing them with whatever means I can use at the time....including snapping necks etc.

Good lord what's a rat ever done to you? I'd hate to have to list all the things (quite a few of them man made) that have wiped out large numbers of the human population over our history on this little green planet.

As far as feeder rodents go and the euthanizing of live prey, my thoughts have always been the same. The respect I show the rodents I raise for feeders for my snakes is an extension of responsible snakekeeping. I'm very aware, as are most of us, that without that prey animal we would have nothing more than tubs of very dead snakes.

You don't have to like rodents, but I think that refusing to do what you can to euthanize humanely shows a distinct lack of respect to a creature that is the only food source that sustains the life of your precious snakes. There is information up the ying yang on this site and all over the web about how to easily and humanely euthanize a feeder rodent. I cannot for the life of me think why someone would choose a method that would be considered by any labratory or even rational layperson as cruel and unnecessarily inhumane.

[southb]

How can you say that drowning isn't humane? Snapping the neck is pretty fast, plus I raise my own and they are feed well and kept clean. I show them respect. The way I look at it is like feeding live to your snake. If their death takes longer than them being killed by a snake I don't do it. Just my .02$ and my method. I do like the dry ice method though and did at one time us that but I can't find it locally anymore.

[frankykeno]

You can say that drowning a rodent is humane? While it swimming madly to try and find whatever air pocket is left in container rapidly filling with water. Rats are very good swimmers so it makes sense that they will struggle to swim until they can no longer do so. Sorry but that does not sound humane or quick.

[southb]

Yup takes about 15-20 seconds which is how long the dry ice took.

[azpythons]

but with dry ice/co2 i imagine their calmly put to sleep (dont know how the dry ice method is worked)...not trying to frantically survive until they gotta breath in that water....kinda sad to think of even though i dont really like rats. id prefer just to let my snake do it the proper way and stand by with a metal object just in case they grab the mouse wrong and it tries to bite, like one tried to do to my litle het pied...luckily my nail filer was right next to me! keeping it as "natural" as possible...

[southb]

Well I'm sure they suffer less my way than being constricted and having every major vein burst along with almost poping their eyes out. I see no difference, but on a side note, I don't do that to rabbits or other feed animals. Just mice and rats.

[littleindiangirl]

Put them in a small container and flood it with water. You have to remember that these things killed 1/3 of the human population at one time......so I have no regret killing them with whatever means I can use at the time....including snapping necks etc.

Have YOU ever drowned?

I am seriously appalled, disgusted and down right pissed that you drown your rats. If I really knew where you lived, I would have authorities to your house to take every single rat away from those sorts of conditions.

This is NOT the way to treat any animal. I am ashamed you are a part of this community.

Feeders or not, that is incredibly cruel.

[southb]

Have you ever drown? Neither one of us can say which is better. Ever hit an animal with your car? Did you get out and shot it afterwards? You'd be amazed if I told you how long an animal can live before it dies. The mice die pretty darn fast. On the other hand I nursed a racoon to health after it was hit by a car and left for dead. I'm not saying it right or wrong, thats just how I do it.

[frankykeno]

Well I'm sorry to say it but I also feel that your choice to drown a living creature to use as a feeder item is inhumane and not something I hope others on this site choose to do. With so many other options available, I'm appalled you've chosen this method.

As far as comparing your choices to what a snake does naturally, that's just a pointless thing. The snake and their prey are acting on instinct and doing what nature intended them to do. You are making what I consider poor choices with a brain able to understand cause and effect and to make informed and responsible decisions.