Breeding Mice (Feeding Question)

[jylesa]

It'll be about another year before I'm able to do this (occupational reasons prevent me from keeping rodents), but in the future, I was thinking about breeding mice for food. I know all about rodent husbandry and have heard of different methods of mouse euthanasia, obviously, with some not being practical for doing at home or for the circumstances. Cervical disolocation seems to be the common one from what I've read on other boards and websites--I've never had to do it without anesthesia, but how do you guys (who breed mice at home) go about doing this? Or--is this plan advisable at all?

[I-KandyReptiles]

Cervical dislocation is alright if you just have to put down a few mice, but if you'll be getting into larger numbers, CO2 will be your best bet.

To dislocate the mouse, place them on a hard surface and use something like a pen or a pair of tongs to press down on the neck. As you're doing so, yank on the tail. It's neck should break.


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[jylesa]

Where does one go about getting a CO2 tank? I know lab suppliers have 'em but I've never thought about where goes to get them for home use.
I've done cervical disolcation on multiple (anesthesized) mice using a long metal rod and also with my fingers pushing down.

[don15681]

breeding mice has it's own area on bp-net. http://ball-pythons.net/forums/forum...-Breeding-Mice

[jylesa]

Thanks! I'll check it out.

[satomi325]

Where does one go about getting a CO2 tank? I know lab suppliers have 'em but I've never thought about where goes to get them for home use.
I've done cervical disolcation on multiple (anesthesized) mice using a long metal rod and also with my fingers pushing down.

Go to a sporting good store and get a paintball canister. Usually runs $20. To get it filled, its about $3. You can also get that filled at the same place.
You might have to get a regulator tube(remote) there too of the canister doesn't come with one.

A paintball canister can last maybe 15+ gassings.

When you're euthanizing animals, put them into a small plastic tub. Make sure it has a hole in it to put the C02 tube into and another hole for oxygen to escape. Remember that C02 is heavier than air, so keep the oxygen escape hole high. Do a slow release of gas to put the animals to sleep. Then once asleep, do a rapid release of gas to euthanize.

There's a few tutorials of how to set it up online. Just google it or search here on the forum.

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