What do you do with your kinked/deformed or dead hatchlings

[CoolioTiffany]

If you breed your Ball pythons, and a baby or two in the clutch hatches out kinked, deformed, has missing eyes, etc., what do you do with it? I've read on some threads before that you would stick the snake in a plastic bag and put it into the freezer, or you get it humanely euthanized.

What do you do when one of your hatchlings drowns in the egg, or dies after it has hatched?

[Turbo Serpent]

Culling is the term used for humane euthanasia.

Some people own other snakes that eat snakes, so if one dies before hatching it more than likely gets used for feeder.

If something were to happen, you could either bury it or simply throw it in the garbage.

I don't think the large breeders have a huge cemetary out back for dead hatchlings though.

[WingedWolfPsion]

I Humanely euthanize the ones that can't make it--I do NOT stick them in the freezer, as that is NOT humane.

If the deformity is minor--one eye, or a kink, or something like that--then the hatchling is cared for the same way the rest of them are, and is adopted to a pet home for free once it's established.

Dead animals go into the trash, I'm afraid--no special ceremony there.

[ranapipiens89]

I Humanely euthanize the ones that can't make it--I do NOT stick them in the freezer, as that is NOT humane.

If the deformity is minor--one eye, or a kink, or something like that--then the hatchling is cared for the same way the rest of them are, and is adopted to a pet home for free once it's established.

Dead animals go into the trash, I'm afraid--no special ceremony there.

That's really really nice of you to care for the slightly deformed ones. While it's understandable to euthenise the ones for which there is no hope, one that is merely "imperfect" has just as much chance to be a wonderful pet for someone as any of the "perfect" ones. I bought a hermit crab that only has one eye because I was sure that the casual pet owner (the kind who buy the brightly painted shells and the kid themed care kits etc.) will not appreciate a one eyed hermit crab in a plain nonpainted shell. She's wonderful though, the spunkiest crustatian I've ever seen in any case. So good job on keeping the slightly imperfect ones around.

[CoolioTiffany]

I Humanely euthanize the ones that can't make it--I do NOT stick them in the freezer, as that is NOT humane.

I definitely agree. I think it's horrible to stick a snake in the freezer to let it freeze to death, that just wouldn't be right at all.

[Oxylepy]

Would sticking it in a tub with a brick of dry ice and water in a smaller tub inside in there be cruel? That's how most of the rodents are killed.

And sticking them in the freezer is too slow. Beheading them, flash freezing them in liquid nitrogen, or suffocating them would be the only solid ways I can think of culling them.

[Corrupter]

Theres actually an article in REPTILES magazine that just came in the mail about people using dry ice on iguanas and how it is unhumane. Has something to do with slower metabolisms than mammals I believe, but I would have to re-read it to be sure. I use a CO2 tank with a hose going into a tub w/lid to euthanize rodents. I suppose a block of dry ice in water would have a similar effect for those who do not have access to a CO2 tank though... As far as the original topic goes, I wont euthanize a snake just because it is imperfect. I wont breed it, but it could still potentially make a good pet for someone.

[Bruce Whitehead]

Snakes have low oxygen requirements, so CO2'ing them would be like CO2'ing pinkies... long and painful, and very ineffective.

Bruce

[cornball252]

not saying that I would do it, but the freezer doesnt seem to be that bad of an Idea... Remember cold just slows things down until its shut down completely. Chances are before they are frozen they are dead... more so for the Ball pythons since it takes less cold to kill them. But I still wouldnt do it.

[WingedWolfPsion]

It doesn't render the snakes unconscious, so they feel it when ice crystals begin to form, which is extremely painful. That's why freezing is considered inhumane by the US vet associations.

The only vet-approved euthanasia is lethal injection, but instant destruction of the brain would also be painless. CO2 is too slow for reptiles, with their very slow metabolism.

I also don't see a reason to kill snakes for minor deformities. They can make fine pets. They also frequently wind up as ambassador animals.