Humane Euthanasia

[Jacktar]

Other than swinging by the tail and whacking a rat on the edge of a table, what humane methods are practiced for pre-killing rodents?

[Cmwells90]

I've heard of putting them in a tub with dry ice, the CO2 causes them to to pass out and die.

[fishingfool]

That don't sound like a humane way to prekill lol kinda violent but co2 is.good

[Jacktar]

That don't sound like a humane way to prekill lol kinda violent but co2 is.good

I've heard something about Co2. Something like a gas chamber

[fishingfool]

Exsactly they sell pre maid ones that i think use thos paintball gun disposabil co2 cartridges

[Akuma223]

I break the necks of the mice I breed for my snakes. Really hard to do at first, but the more you do it the more used to it you get. When you break their necks they tend to twitch quite a bit be warned. I do it by taking my thumb and forefinger and squeezing between the head and shoulders until you feel the neck break and everything internally there is severed. You can feel it when the deed is done, just remember you cant back-out in the middle.

[Jacktar]

I break the necks of the mice I breed for my snakes. Really hard to do at first, but the more you do it the more used to it you get. When you break their necks they tend to twitch quite a bit be warned. I do it by taking my thumb and forefinger and squeezing between the head and shoulders until you feel the neck break and everything internally there is severed. You can feel it when the deed is done, just remember you cant back-out in the middle.
I like the idea of taking a bunch of them, euthanizing them in a tank with Co2 and putting them in a bag in the freezer. I have no desire to breed my own rats though. I remember the days when pet shops didn't have frozen. I'd use a large heavy spoon or swing them by tail to pre-kill. I'm all about efficiency these days

[shaunyboy]

hold it firmly by it's body,then in one fast hard movement,hit where the neck joins the back of the head,at the top of the spine,on sharp edge,like the edge of a table,a wooden shelf,heavy solid plank of wood,etc


i'm not a fan of them being frozen to death,the above methods far more humane imo


cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Other than swinging by the tail and whacking a rat on the edge of a table, what humane methods are practiced for pre-killing rodents?

swinging by the tail is a terrible idea,ive seen people do that and they're left with a rats tail in their hand,and the rat scuttles off having just had it's tail ripped off,not a pretty sight and certainly not humane

not having a go mate,merely pointing out the downside of using the tail


cheers shaun

[Kuamata]

To be honest, I stuck 'em in a pillow case and whacked 'em really hard on the wall, back when I bred them. Effectively killed a group, but I did it -really- hard to be sure nobody lived. :/

[Jacktar]

no worries, hense buying frozen. It's been a long time since I've killed my own. It's not like doing a Roy Rogers lasso act. I do however remember the skin of a a tail coming off AFTER impact with a table which was pretty gross but the impact killed the rat. I was left with some tail skin and could see the exposed bone of the tail. Sorry for the graphic imagery. I'm glad frozen rats are readily available these days and I'm also glad a humane method for euthanization is being practiced.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/JRitterpusch/tumblr_m64d38o4eD1qh96i0o1_500.gif (http://s20.photobucket.com/user/JRitterpusch/media/tumblr_m64d38o4eD1qh96i0o1_500.gif.html)

[charity]

i always wondered what happened to those rats and mice that i have bought over the years that looked like they had been beaten to death...seriously disturbing.
gassing is still sad but it is more certain and quicker as long as it is done right. but a snakes gotta eat. i love my boy.
i think we should all love the small creatures more, and care more about their quality of life. They live only to be for food for our snakes.
Make it a short happy life.

[Kuamata]

Eh.. I understand the sentiment and all, but little short lived critters like mice, at least, I've lost that kind of sensitivity to. IE, I only think they're good pets for little kids, teaches the lesson of death and responsibility of owning a pet. If I had a mouse as a pet, and I cared for it and spoiled it like my others, when it's all said and done I wouldn't be heartbroken, because I knew it would only last a year. Rats, on the other hand, I do love me some rats. I usually get 3 - 5 years out of 'em, and that's a good run for a lil' creature. I've had a few rats, but only one that really stood out, and her name was Daisy. She was a great rat, very loving pet. We recently had some more, Shirley and... whatever my fiance named his, but Shirley ate the other and then Shirley later passed. They were adopted, both were patchwork mutations, so... I find that the mutations don't live as long, sadly... Real shame, I'm particularly fond of the hairless variety.

[millertime89]

CO2 is the most humane way to do it.

[Aaron_S]

This argument comes up every now and then. CO2 is suffocation in reality so it kind of sucks. A quick whack done correctly is pretty humane.

For larger amounts I think CO2 is most efficient.

[reptiledude987]

I agree with aaron on this co2 causes suffocation which isnt perfect but if the firsw whack dosent do it either then thats not good either. But at the end of the day for a single animal a whack is the most efficient for a larger amount co2 is easier. To me its 6 of one half a dozen of the other.

[guyabano]

Cervical dislocation. Quick and easy.

[marvelfreak]

I like to just bite the heads off.


Know but really a hammer work great. One whack and their skull is crushed.

[Tsubaki]

Cervical dislocation. Quick and easy.

^what i do, make use of a pencil for small prey, a spoon-handle for medium prey, and a broomstick for anything bunny sized. Place object in neck behind ears, press down (Hard enough so they don't get away, not so hard you hurt them) grab legs (or base of tail for small animals), pull in a quick jolt. Pull back and at a slight angle up. Out go the lights, no screaming, no twitching, no pain. Not even blood if you don't pull too hard, because you will end up with a headless prey if you do that. Practice on frozen thawed prey before actually trying! You can feel it if you successfully dislocated!

This is also the best way for culling you you want to keep the fur intact, a hunter/skinner taught me this trick.

[D Grade]

Ill stick to Co2, whether its more humane or not. I cant wack an animal (even a rodent) or dislocate/pop anything to kill it, just not in my bones (unless its a human or deadly animal trying to harm myself or my family, thats the exception). I think being humane enough to kill the rodent via Co2 before letting a snake crush it to death will suffice enough.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'm not really sold on the whole CO2 thing, seems like a bad way to go for me. It's practical if you're culling large amounts, though, cervical dislocation isn't really realistic in that case.

I prefer cervical dislocation, if done right they won't even twitch. I grab the base of their tail with one hand, and right behind the head with the other, using just my forefinger and my thumb. Then I give a steady yank from the tail. If enough force is used, they die immediately and I don't see them twitching. That's just for rats, though, cervical dislocation by hand is not as easy with rabbits (they aren't a rodent, but they're another feeder). My father is the one that culls them, and he has a bar secured to the wall. He slides the rabbit's neck between the bar and the wall, and pulls down.

[knox]

Not to be insensitive, but in the end, whichever method you choose, the mouse always ends up as snake food.

Being constricted to the point that its blood pressure skyrockets, stops circulating, and bodily functions cease isn't very humane either. Natural course of prey and predator, sure. But humane? Nope.

[millertime89]

Not to be insensitive, but in the end, whichever method you choose, the mouse always ends up as snake food.

Being constricted to the point that its blood pressure skyrockets, stops circulating, and bodily functions cease isn't very humane either. Natural course of prey and predator, sure. But humane? Nope.

Funny you mention this... PetCo has a "feeder purchase" contract that they make you sign now for live prey. I found it *slightly* comical as they want you to treat the animal like a pet "until it is used for its intended purpose as food" (or it says something to that effect). The rat literally goes from the store, to a box, to the "dinner plate". I understand the intent but it seems just a tad ridiculous.

[Zelg]

swinging by the tail is a terrible idea,ive seen people do that and they're left with a rats tail in their hand,and the rat scuttles off having just had it's tail ripped off,not a pretty sight and certainly not humane

not having a go mate,merely pointing out the downside of using the tail


cheers shaun


I just wanted to chime in on this post real quick. When I first started trying to go with rats for my BP, I picked up the rat by the tail and it began to spin. Because I wasnt too keen on the idea of having a mouse run around my home, I grabbed the tail tighter. Well wouldnt you know it, the little guy spun himself so hard and fast that he twisted the tip of his tail right off in my hand, fell to the ground and ran under my hockey equipment bag lol.

Most that I've handled have been fine but a mouse bit me once, drawing blood. I flicked my hand and almost threw him to the street (i peeked inside the box while getting outta my car. stupid stupid stupid.

Anyhow...yea rats do not care if they have their tails anymore apparently.

Another thing, I've killed rats by putting him in a bag and swinging it against something solid. Not a good idea as its messy and you have to get a good hit to kill them on hte first try. I also swung the bag once (ziplock gallon bag) and the bottom ripped and the rat went flying into my bathtub.


And now I feel like a dummy so Im going to bounce back out.

[dinosaurdammit]

WEARNING. Video link contains rat death but I try to explain as I do it and I have found this to be the most humane way for small numbers- larger numbers its easier to use gas and much more humane as you dont get sloppy. WARNING WARNING WARNING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5yOriBq1ls

[pinefamily]

There is a common misconception that using CO2 is barbaric, or cruel. It has been proven to be the most humane, and effective, way to kill a rat or mouse. The dislocation thing is fine, except on the odd occasion when it doesn't work out. Why do you think the commercial suppliers use CO2? Not just for cost-effective purposes, but rodents are still animals that need to be handled humanely, even in their mode of death.
There are several how-to plans on the net, but we simply use a sodastream machine, with a length of plastic tube coming off the spout, and put the other end in a plastic bag with the rodent in it. Two squirts, and it's all over in about 2 minutes. The smaller ones can sometimes take a bit longer, only because they take smaller breaths.

[D Grade]

WEARNING. Video link contains rat death but I try to explain as I do it and I have found this to be the most humane way for small numbers- larger numbers its easier to use gas and much more humane as you dont get sloppy. WARNING WARNING WARNING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5yOriBq1ls

Yeah....no thanks. Ill stick to Co2.

[jossh27]

I like to just bite the heads off

Nobody else found this hilarious? I thought of Ozzy instantly!

[dinosaurdammit]

There is a common misconception that using CO2 is barbaric, or cruel. It has been proven to be the most humane, and effective, way to kill a rat or mouse. The dislocation thing is fine, except on the odd occasion when it doesn't work out. Why do you think the commercial suppliers use CO2? Not just for cost-effective purposes, but rodents are still animals that need to be handled humanely, even in their mode of death.
There are several how-to plans on the net, but we simply use a sodastream machine, with a length of plastic tube coming off the spout, and put the other end in a plastic bag with the rodent in it. Two squirts, and it's all over in about 2 minutes. The smaller ones can sometimes take a bit longer, only because they take smaller breaths.

We dont do it because its not cost effective. Ive only botched one or two in the total time ive been doing my own and while I hate one or two has slipped through ive seen the effects of a mouse or rat that survived gassing and I assumed dead- come back and try to fight my animal. We did look into the soda machines but the refill where we are for the gas and the machine itself isnt cost effective for how infrequent we feed. I am not trying to say we forgo humane for cost- that isnt the case but for some its not cost effective

[Aaron_S]

..I am not trying to say we forgo humane for cost- that isnt the case but for some its not cost effective

You know the second half of that statement is a counter to the first half.

[dinosaurdammit]

You know the second half of that statement is a counter to the first half.

I was saying its not cost effective to use CO2 not that CD was any less humane. In equality they are probably the same humane-ness but for some its price that dictates method

[Aaron_S]

I was saying its not cost effective to use CO2 not that CD was any less humane. In equality they are probably the same humane-ness but for some its price that dictates method

You said "I'm not trying to say humane takes a back seat to cost but for me it does"

[dinosaurdammit]

You said "I'm not trying to say humane takes a back seat to cost but for me it does"

Thats not what I intended for it to sound like in the least- if i could afford gas I would do it. It not being cost efficient i CD. The humane ness is the same on paper, I was saying that cost can be a deciding factor in which method you choose do do. Please dont twist it into saying I would pick a less human method for cost because that is NOT what I was saying in the least

[Aaron_S]

Thats not what I intended for it to sound like in the least- if i could afford gas I would do it. It not being cost efficient i CD. The humane ness is the same on paper, I was saying that cost can be a deciding factor in which method you choose do do. Please dont twist it into saying I would pick a less human method for cost because that is NOT what I was saying in the least

Your words are in black and white. No twisting necessary.

There's other ways to get CO2 then the one you mentioned.

[pinefamily]

Dinosaurdammit, I understand what you are saying. Yes, the CO2 cannisters aren't that cheap, but they last a long time even with us and our 22 pythons and 4 monitors to feed. The easiest way to get around them coming back to consciousness is to leave them in the bag for a minute or two after they have stopped moving. We had a similar experience when bagging the dead ones up for the freezer, when one started kicking in the snap lock bag. Lesson learned.

[dinosaurdammit]

Dinosaurdammit, I understand what you are saying. Yes, the CO2 cannisters aren't that cheap, but they last a long time even with us and our 22 pythons and 4 monitors to feed. The easiest way to get around them coming back to consciousness is to leave them in the bag for a minute or two after they have stopped moving. We had a similar experience when bagging the dead ones up for the freezer, when one started kicking in the snap lock bag. Lesson learned.

With a fraction of your stock its still cost preventive to set up CO2 at the moment. I do plan on it in the future but until we move and truly settle extra cost and equipment arnt an option at the moment. I would like to set up a big freezer and only have to kill off my food supply for the year all in one go rather than doing it twice a month. No room for an extra freezer at moment but holding out hope when we move I get my on shed for the stuff

[Sith]

It is has been about 15 years since I owned reptiles and am now getting back into the hobby. In the old days, I would hold the rat, mouse by the tail and flick it in the back in the head, breaking the skull and/or knocking it out. The prey animal would twitch briefly which would entice the predator. You can also use this trick on rabbits, instead of the tail use their hind legs.

Rats and mice can be humanly dispatched by breaking their necks. Use a pencil, pen, or sturdy rod to gently press the animals neck onto a board. Hold the animal by the tail or backside with one hand and firmly and quickly slide/roll the rod toward the skull.

[Ballchris]

I do the dry ice method it like they get sleepy and just don't wake up, there is no pain.