Cheap, Simpe, Easy, and Effective way to do in the prey.

[Batdad]

This is a Gas Chamber using CO2, using baking soda and vinegar, to do in the prey rodents we feed our snakes. Everybody has access to these as opposed to dry ice or CO2 gas and there is no risk of burning yourself as with the dry ice (really cold stuff). The idea was initially brought up in another thread, How do you kill?? (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25095&perpage=15&pagenumber=1) The info for how to go about it was mostly found on a page that focused on doing euthanasia on pets at home. I trimmed a lot of the touchy feely feel good stuff out because I am not overly concerned about the preys’ emotional well being (don’t want them freaked but they don’t need to know they are loved either). You will find the link to that site on this page. The whole thing cost about $5 CDN to put together plus some bits and pieces lying around the house and is cheap and easy to use (2cups of vinegar & 3 tbsp of baking soda per run);). I have used this CO2 Chamber on mice with no problems and don’t foresee any problems with rats. . I’ll keep you posted if I do have any problems as I have some that will be hoppers in the next week or so and will be about the right size for my BP’s:D.

The CO2 Chamber (http://www3.telus.net/frnstrom/CO2%20Chamber/The_CO2_Chamber.htm)

Any questions or problems ask away or PM me

Bruce

[Zoe]

Thank you very much for that link! It is bookmarked :) I'm sure it'll beat whacking adult rats over the head!

Zoe

[Siretsap]

the only thing I am cnocerned about, is the level of co2 taht remains in the prey. Has anyone ever calculated it. Too much of a high level could cause harm to small snakes

[Zoe]

I don't think any would stay in the animals lungs, as they would exhale as they die.

Zoe

[eyespy]

In the dead body, CO2 tends to break down into its components, carbon and oxygen, which are in no way harmful.

[Batdad]

CO2 is naturally occurring in the body of the prey, the predator, and the environment around them and I believe is not going to in any way harming the snake. In fact I think this is the healthiest way (from a consumption point of view) of delivering food to your snake short feeding them live. Before anyone goes on a rabbit trail, I make this statement with no consideration of the hazards of live feeding.IMHO

Bruce

[Nic]

I have been feeding f/t rats that were gassed like this. It works really well. The amount of gass may need some tweeking, but it works great once you figure it out. As far as, being harmful: I doubt it. You would need a VERY large CO2 content to do any harm to your snakes. I dont' think feeding one rat every week or so could do any damage (hasn't yet, anyway).

Nic.

[daver676]

There is also a link on the second page of that thread that Batdad has mentioned, to a different CO2 chamber design using vinegar and baking soda. Don't forget to check it out!

Dave