9, 12, or 20 oz?

-KB- · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:18 AM

In terms of paintball tanks for a CO2 chamber, that is. The place I get my rats from can't gas them for me anymore, because their CO2 chamber belonged to one of the employees who recently left and in turn took the set up with them upon their departure lol

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So anyway, back to the point. I'll be gassing 3-4 feeders at a time (ranging from rat pinks to medium rats) ~every 2 weeks, and I'm trying to figure out approximately how long a tank of CO2 will last, depending on the tank sizes listed in the subject. I don't want to have to refill it every other time I use it, but I don't want to get a 20 oz tank if a 9 oz will last for months. I'll be setting it up with 1/8" tubing and a fairly small chamber. So

...how long do your tanks last? lol
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Thanks!

C. hortulanus bites · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:27 AM

Sorry to be insensitive, but what happened to just wacking a rat? Cervical dislocation is much faster imo to asphyxiation and a whole lot cheaper.

Just my $.02

-KB- · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C. hortulanus bites

Sorry to be insensitive, but what happened to just wacking a rat? Cervical dislocation is much faster imo to asphyxiation and a whole lot cheaper.
Just my $.02

What about when you don't "whack" the rat just right? I've dealt with that far too many times, and I find it quite disturbing. I hate seeing them suffer, hence the CO2....in regard to your comments about asphyxiation, as long as you slowly lower the oxygen levels, they don't panic, nor do they know they're suffocating. Instead, they drift off to sleep, rather peacefully I might add, at which time you crank up the CO2 to finish the job. I've seen it done many many times, and I've never witnessed any signs that led me to believe they were in any pain whatsoever...unlike getting whacked...where if you don't do it just right, they twitch, gasp, flail about....No thanks.

C. hortulanus bites · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 01:34 AM

I'm not gonna tell you how to spend your money (or not to). Whatever helps you sleep better at night. I honestly buy my feeders frozen, but when I can't, I do buy live and I (me) would never consider going through such a process. Afterall it is just a rat. I eat meat, love to BBQ, fish and would hunt if there were such a thing around here. There is still a food chain, right?

Sorry to ruin your thread with debate, or whatever you wanna call my differing opinion. Honestly.

Would someone please tell the pretty girl what she needs.

I don't see why the big one wouldn't be such a bad bet, unless there is a huge price difference (never priced that stuff or paintballed for that matter). You'll refill it less and it probably costs less in the long run to fill.

KyleZ · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C. hortulanus bites

I'm not gonna tell you how to spend your money (or not to). Whatever helps you sleep better at night. I honestly buy my feeders frozen, but when I can't, I do buy live and I (me) would never consider going through such a process. Afterall it is just a rat. I eat meat, love to BBQ, fish and would hunt if there were such a thing around here. There is still a food chain, right?
Sorry to ruin your thread with debate, or whatever you wanna call my differing opinion. Honestly.
Would someone please tell the pretty girl what she needs.

I don't see why the big one wouldn't be such a bad bet, unless there is a huge price difference (never priced that stuff or paintballed for that matter). You'll refill it less and it probably costs less in the long run to fill.

While it may be "just a rat," many of us are averse to violently killing small animals by hand (this is a pet-animal forum after all

). One can still consume meat and animal products, yet still prefer not to go through the experience of personally and (somewhat gruesomely) killing their food. For example, I'm no vegetarian, yet I wouldn't want to experience/see a chicken or cow grabbed by it's hindquarters and bludgeoned against a wall or something, as a form of dispatch. I have no problem with folks "whacking rats," but having only felt the necessity to do it a very few times, find it to be a disturbing and uncomfortable experience, and having to feed 4 snakes (one on rabbits, sorry, I'm def not whacking a rabbit) regularly, wouldn't want to have to go through the ugly process unless there was absolutely no other way.

Sarah, I'm no expert on paintball tanks, but I guess if I were you, I'd go with the 12 or 20, probably the 20, because even if it's pricier to refill (apparently filling prices vary widely from place to place), it will most certainly last longer, and you're going to need the gas eventually anyhow...I'd just play around a little to figure out exactly the right amount of gas needed to zap the rats without wasting too much, and I'd imagine you're good to go.

Ophiophilia · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 03:42 PM

I agree with Kyle on both the whacking and size.

I'd go with a 20oz just because it'll last longer and it gives you room to experiment with how little or much gas you'll need. I'll find mine and see what oz it is. (I was only gassing 1 rat at a time though)

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