How to humanly euthanize a pinky?

ErikBush97 · 07-05-13, 04:16 PM

Hi, everyone. I just got a new corn snake, and I plan on offering food soon, however, I don't want to feed live. Pet Smart sells frozen but it is about 40 minutes away and the closest pet store only sells live pinkies. How do I humanly put the little guy down before I feed him to my snake? I am going to euthanize it, freeze it, and thaw it. So any 'nasties' the pinky might be carrying are gone by time I feed my snake. I have had one snake pass away due to poor care on my part, so I have been very careful with everything I do with/for my other snakes. I don't want that happening again, so I am sticking to F/T strickly. Btw, I don't know if anyone saw the pictures of the corn snake, but he's about three feet long. does the "feed 'em food as round as the largest part of their body" rule still apply for him? He's very thin, unlike my Python. So I just don't see a pinky being filling enough for a snake of his/her size. I'd say a pinky is about the size of the largest part of his body. I am going to take him with to the pet store down the road so I can compare and get the best food for him. Anyways, thanks for your time.

sweatshirt · 07-05-13, 04:22 PM

I'd just put it in the freezer in a container. I read someone that that's the best way to do it with a pinky. (besides cervical dislocation? I've never seen someone do it with a pinky. Might be wrong though)

And this isn't meant to come out nasty but I'd avoid taking him to the pet store due to diseases.

Mikoh4792 · 07-05-13, 04:26 PM

I don't mean to doubt you but a pinky can not be the size of the largest part of a 3 foot corn snake, even when a little skinny. My hatchling kingsnake which is only a foot long eats pinkies with no problem. I would give your snake a hopper mouse.

bcr229 · 07-05-13, 04:54 PM

I would order bulk frozen feeders, lots cheaper than the Arctic Mice. I would also thing a 3' long snake is way past eating pinky mice, maybe you were getting pinky or fuzzy rats?

smy_749 · 07-05-13, 05:03 PM

No way a 3 foot long snake should be fed pinkies. And petsmart/petco don't sell pinky rats, only pinky mice.

Mikoh4792 · 07-05-13, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

No way a 3 foot long snake should be fed pinkies. And petsmart/petco don't sell pinky rats, only pinky mice.

My petco does but they are rarely ever in stock.

SSSSnakes · 07-05-13, 05:47 PM

Freezing any warm blooded animal is cruel. CO2 gas in a chamber is the most human way to kill rodents or cervical dislocation, which would be hard and messy to due to a pinkie.

Amadeus · 07-05-13, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Freezing any warm blooded animal is cruel. CO2 gas in a chamber is the most human way to kill rodents or cervical dislocation, which would be hard and messy to due to a pinkie.

Agreed. Or you could drown it. Or you could throw it at a hard object.

valid · 07-05-13, 05:53 PM

Quote:

I don't mean to doubt you but a pinky can not be the size of the largest part of a 3 foot corn snake, even when a little skinny. My hatchling kingsnake which is only a foot long eats pinkies with no problem. I would give your snake a hopper mouse.

I am going to second this. I have a 3 foot milksnake and he is currently on large hoppers/small adults. Even thin I can't see a pinky being enough. Perhaps try fuzzies instead, and quickly move up to hoppers.

Mikoh4792 · 07-05-13, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valid

I am going to second this. I have a 3 foot milksnake and he is currently on large hoppers/small adults. Even thin I can't see a pinky being enough. Perhaps try fuzzies instead, and quickly move up to hoppers.

I forgot to mention, the reason why I suggested a hopper is because OP's snake is supposedly a little underweight. My 3 foot cali kingsnake is eating adult mice/rat pups.

ErikBush97 · 07-05-13, 06:00 PM

I just ended up getting him a hopper. he took it without hesitation, and is nice and full now

I was shocked at how quickly he took it... Both my Ball Python and my Garter were scared for like... the first four or five days of being in my home.. it's his second day here and he's super calm, he's not jumpy/on edge, he's eating, etc. he's very comfy!

bcr229 · 07-05-13, 06:59 PM

We buy f/t feeders in bulk, even with shipping it's lots cheaper than getting the Arctic Mice - plus we don't have to drive to the pet shop.

KORBIN5895 · 07-05-13, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Or you could drown it. Or you could throw it at a hard object.

Speaking of cruelty.....

Cervical dislocation or cranial destruction would be your best method.

I personally feed my snakes larger meals less often so if it took a hopper I would try an adult mouse or a weaned rat. I will check the pics later.

ErikBush97 · 07-06-13, 12:10 AM

I can't kill an innocent little mouse... I am just going to try and find somewhere close, or online that sells frozen hoppers.

bcr226 · 07-06-13, 12:16 AM

Mice direct is where we get ours. micedirect.com