Looking for opinions...

[bensnacks]

After reading an "R.I.P." post I was
wondering about opinions on humane
killing of snake food items,& ill/injured
snakes for that matter.??
(Sorry not a pretty subject i know.)


[addsig]

"wacking" works best for rodents. Put them in tear proof sack/pillowcase and swing the bag down hard on a hard surface, like a counter top or stair.

Snakes, on the other hand IMO, are best euthanized by a vet with an injection.
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	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[captainmorgan]

I prefer cervical dislocation for rodents....less messy and it kills them instantly. Some say you can't do it to rats, it's just a matter of putting some ummmmfff behind it! I can do it because the guy from Waterboy told me so. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
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[Countryboy]

I wack what ever I don't have on hand already frozen. I put them in a bag and hold them by the tail and hit them against a 25 lbs dumbell. Works on the first swing every time. If you do decide to do this make sure you use a bag or you will have blood splatters everywhere. The cirvical dislocation Captain morgan is refering to is you put a bar or something hard behind there head and hold them down then pull on the tail. You can feel the vertibrae pull apart and the nevers break causing instant death. It's up to you. Do not however put a live mouse in the freezer.
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[JuliusSqueezer]

There are a few humane ways to put down a snake. Freezing is a horrible way to die. Cells freeze and crystalize and rupture causing a very slow painful death. Decapitation leaves the brain functioning for about an hour or so...so that too is a terrible thing. As horrible as this sounds...without injectable meds available...they best way is blunt force head trauma. smashing the brain with a hammer is instant and painless. I shoot em up with a high dose of Lidocane and then do a cervical dislocation...they never even twitch. It is always a very heartfelt difficult decision to put one down....but when doing rescue/rehab....especially road rescue..it's just something ya have to do sometimes.
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[guavagrower]

I tried the whack a rat method and wasn't fond of it. Mess and blood created more work than I wanted. And where to put the sack if not going to wash....just too much.

Hypothermia/exposure works well. Any fridge will do. (depending on the wife)

If someone is really against this idea, tell me because I'm not the expert. Just stating what works for me.
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[bensnacks]

I have been freezing as a method for killing
mice (afew at atime),I figured their hibernation
reflex would kick in and they would basically go
to 'sleep' & never wake up.
Would'nt this be true for snakes also, before crystilization
even begins????
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[captainmorgan]

hey julius, if I have a twitching mouse or rat I find that it makes the snake I'm feeding more interested in the meal....that's alll....
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[Ti]

For mice and rats that I pick up live for my snakes, I asphyxiate them with carbon dioxide gas form a paintball store. I bought a 20 oz CO2 tank, and a pressure regulator for about $30-40. I also have an old 5 gallon bucket that has been fully cleaned and a piece of clear food grade plastic hose to connect to the regulator. Put the rats in the bucket, expose them to the hose, and turn on the gas. They are dead in under a minute. This is THE most humane way of putting mammals down according to the humane society, and the preferred way of feeder distributors around the country. No Blood, No Suffering. The rats struggle for no more than 10 seconds when first introduced to the CO2 gas, and fall asleep shortly after that. They never wake up!
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[Ti]

I forgot to mention that there is virtually no mess with my post above. When the gas starts to work and the rats fall alsleep, thier muscles all stop contracting. This includes the anal spynchter and urethra, so all urine and fecal matter are expelled BEFORE introducing to my snakes. So no urine, blood, or feces in the feed boxes which makes cleaning a breeze. And we ALL know how gross it is to remove a urine and feces covered snake form thier feed box. I disliked having to handle my animals after they ate to wash them off. Nothing like rat urine in the sanke cage, lol.

I hope someone finds that this is informative and not just a gross story. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[cb76]

hey ti! i sent you an IM.
whats up evrybody!! quickness is key here. although these are bred to be fed to other things, THEY ARE STILL A LIFE FORM AND MUST BE RESPECTED AS SUCH! strait up, all kidding aside. just like julius said- how would you guys feel if you slowly froze to death.

that is NOT an accepted practice by professional herpetologist, zoo's, breeders- both pro and hobby!!! this is considered TORTURE and may be prosicutable in various courts.

like what was said here- fast is key! blunt head truama, cervical dislocation, and what ti said!

i have to flick, wack, and smack 230 prey items every 10 days. lemme tell you, i say a lil prayer because i do feel bad.

i thing i am going to do ti's method. sounds fast and easy to do.

ti- do me a favor and IM me or email me at my hotmail acct- i wanna know how to set up this type of system.

i too do not like the blood or what comes firing out of the rats as soon as they are smacked against a surface.


thats my opinion and request and a lesson- they still must be respected.

has anyone ever looked at the rats and held them??? these things are like lil' dogs n stuff. i am glad jeff put a positive hing for them on his "think tank".

later evry one

will
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[bensnacks]

How long does the CO2 cannister
last Ti?
Unfortunately none of these methods
seem suffer free. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] some better than others
I guess.
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[Jack_Daniels]

I prefer to put my rodents in a bong, then smoke them to death... they get giggly, then start philosophyzing, then pass on...

Taken out of that situation, I would prefer C02, if I were the animal... get dizzy, pass out... know nothing more.... seems non-violent..

Taken out of that situation, I find that the best form of "death" is to hold the rat by the tail, lay it on a table, put a pencil or pen behind its head, and give a yank on the tail... dislocating its neck, aka killing it instantly....

Taken out of that situation, I krack'iz azz against the wooden steps going down into my basement... KNow that A mouse bit a Nile Monitor I had...and I didnt hesitate to bash its brains against the corner of the tank.....the mouse that is, not the monitor... biting my monitor isnt humane....nor is biting a snake I own....So in knowing this, if the rodent isnt "humane", nor am I... Nature at its purest gets an animals body saturated in death as fast as possible.... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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I am you, searching to be free...

[Dr.Oviparous]

when I need a rat taken care of I call my cosin vinny "da tooth" in jersey. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

All kidding aside I always prefeer cervical dislocation, it's fast, less messy than wack-a-rat, and less painfull for the rodent compared to most other methods besides C02. -Juggalo

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"Well, it didn't look like a one horse town, but try finding a decent hair jelly!" -Eulisses E McGill