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

[cornball252]

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.

I agree %100 with you on that one. I love my Lil guys that come out wrong. Although i did have a clutch of corns come out with Very severe spina bifida and kinks they didnt make it through the night. Very sad time. =(

[Oxylepy]

The question is more if you HAVE to kill them. Lets say the snake has proven to not be a strong eater after a month and has a kink putting it's neck at a 90 degree angle. You would have to do something instead of just letting it starve to death.

I suppose dry ice in water would also cool the reptile down making the death take longer (as it would breathe less) so that would be bad. But what about decapitation? Messy business but no blood to the brain means fairly quick death, a mallet to the skull would be faster still but more likely to mess up (not hitting hard enough).

Its sad business in any case and Ralph Davis mentioned in a video that he puts them in the freezer.

[CoolioTiffany]

The question is more if you HAVE to kill them. Lets say the snake has proven to not be a strong eater after a month and has a kink putting it's neck at a 90 degree angle. You would have to do something instead of just letting it starve to death.

I suppose dry ice in water would also cool the reptile down making the death take longer (as it would breathe less) so that would be bad. But what about decapitation? Messy business but no blood to the brain means fairly quick death, a mallet to the skull would be faster still but more likely to mess up (not hitting hard enough).

Its sad business in any case and Ralph Davis mentioned in a video that he puts them in the freezer.

I could NEVER decapitate a snake. That would be so horrific and that would definitely scar me. No way in hell would I ever decapitate a snake's head. Any day I would rather put a snake in the freezer than decapitate it.

[Oxylepy]

Oh, I see, you're concerned over whether it is a pretty process over less painful for the animal. I said its messy, and indeed it is, but if the snake doesn't spend 4 hours in agony due to being in an icebox I think it's a valid option of culling.

[Tek48]

The question is more if you HAVE to kill them. Lets say the snake has proven to not be a strong eater after a month and has a kink putting it's neck at a 90 degree angle. You would have to do something instead of just letting it starve to death.

I suppose dry ice in water would also cool the reptile down making the death take longer (as it would breathe less) so that would be bad. But what about decapitation? Messy business but no blood to the brain means fairly quick death, a mallet to the skull would be faster still but more likely to mess up (not hitting hard enough).

Its sad business in any case and Ralph Davis mentioned in a video that he puts them in the freezer.

I've heard that a snake can be conscious for up to an hour after decapitation due to the lower amount of oxygen needed. I don't know how true that is, but I personally wouldn't use decapitation as a euthanasia method just in case.

[Oxylepy]

I've heard that a snake can be conscious for up to an hour after decapitation due to the lower amount of oxygen needed. I don't know how true that is, but I personally wouldn't use decapitation as a euthanasia method just in case.

This is what I was looking for with the method. Whether or not it would scar you for life is different than if it would cause the animal pain, which seems to be how this whole argument has turned in the last page (not freezing due to drawn out pain).

I suppose if we have more confirmation on that then the only decent way to cull them would be to take them to a vet.

I found a site confirming your claim:

http://fohn.net/corn-snake-pictures-facts/

And assuming their citation is accurate then euthenasia is the only option.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Heavy object to the head, as hard as possible. This is even more brutal than beheading, but it kills instantly and completely. No pain. I would go out on a limb and say it's less painful than euthanasia via injection, as there is no needle jab.

It's terribly unpleasant for the human, but that's hardly the point, is it? Euthanasia isn't to spare US pain. It's to spare THEM pain.