Gass Euthanization for Rodents

**Minkness** · 05-25-15, 01:51 PM

I plan on getring several snakes in the future and woul like to breed my own mice or rats. I have had both as pets in my past, so know about their care. What keeps preventing me from commiting is that I won't feed live, would be unable to break their nexks, or cause other physical harm to them. I have read alot about the gassing technique but not sure where people get it or any thing like that.

So...how and where do you get the gass? What kind is it? How do you make the 'gas chamber'?.... (I feel like a nazi asking these questions x.x)

Sasha2 · 05-25-15, 03:02 PM

I have a medium size paintball gun canister(I think its a 20 ounce), I have it filled at a local gun shop for 5 bucks, but Im pretty sure some sports stores also refill paintball canisters you have to call around.
Anyway I have a nozzle that attaches and a big container with a lid and a hole in it(coffee can works). I pump in the Co2, pop in the rats or mice and put the lid back on. I usually add more Co2 but very slowly so I dont scare the rodents or blow the lid off.
Takes just a few minutes.
Add a few small holes in the lid so the oxygen can escape up and out, Co2 is heavier then O2 so it will stay in the can.
BTW it doesnt work with pinkies, they dont seem to need much O2 so dont go down like the bigger mice and rats.

Here is what the canister looks like
20 oz Paintball CO2 Tank

Rattlehead · 05-25-15, 03:23 PM

You can get CO² by mixing white vinegar + baking soda. I put a small container inside a plastic box, next to the mice. Then mix the ingredients and put the lid on. Sometimes it takes long time for some of them to pass out. I've done this like 4 times, I hope I don't make them suffer.

Cmwells90 · 05-25-15, 06:24 PM

Rattle, you wont need to worry about the suffering, when you die of CO2 it's a form of suffocation, rats don't feel pain the same way we do so to explain how they feel wouldn't be similar to us, but it's just really them falling asleep at some point to conserve Oxygen, then they die of O2 deprivation. I've heard of putting the pinkies in the freezer to die because they wont suffocate. At a new born age their spine hasn't fused to the nervous system yet, so they can't feel any pain, so they'll just freeze and it'll stop the heart, I've heard it's the most effective way.

**Minkness** · 05-25-15, 06:33 PM

You can do that with pinkies? I didn't know that....

Rattlehead · 05-25-15, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmwells90

Rattle, you wont need to worry about the suffering, when you die of CO2 it's a form of suffocation, rats don't feel pain the same way we do so to explain how they feel wouldn't be similar to us, but it's just really them falling asleep at some point to conserve Oxygen, then they die of O2 deprivation. I've heard of putting the pinkies in the freezer to die because they wont suffocate. At a new born age their spine hasn't fused to the nervous system yet, so they can't feel any pain, so they'll just freeze and it'll stop the heart, I've heard it's the most effective way.

This is a relief! I have seen a couple with a bloody nose after the procedure, and I was wondering if it was really painless. I'm gonna need adult mice soon and I have to make sure I'm doing it OK.

Sasha2 · 05-26-15, 06:14 AM

If you do it right its painless. The smell of the gas and its coldness can scare them. Thats why I fill the container first then add extra in small amounts. It should not take very long. Vinegar and baking soda is inefficient and thats why it takes so long. Not to mention if you get vinegar on your mice sometimes the snakes wont take them if they smell funny.I dont recommend doing it that way.Dry ice is a better option if you want to go cheaper.
But I suggest you invest in the equipment, for less then 50 bucks and it lasts forever and you can always resell it in the end.

**Minkness** · 05-26-15, 07:38 AM

What equipment? The paintball canister? Also, the link you posted said it's shipped empty. Where do you get it refilled? How do you do a slow release so that you don't just blast the container? Any pics of your set up?

Also, where does one buy dry ice? Do you just keep it in the freezer?

Sasha2 · 05-27-15, 12:00 PM

If you read my original reply it said I get mine filled at a gun shop but pretty sure in most bigger cities you can go to a sporting goods store or paintball shop to get them refilled.
I just use the hose and slowly screw it in to control the flow but Im pretty sure they sell regulators for them.

No dry ice "melts" in the freezer, you have to go to a bigger store like walmart to buy dry ice and use it right away. So basically buy it the day you intend to put down a batch of mice.

I dont have pics because we moved and I currently dont breed any rodents so its stored away.