Hello,
I just wanted to get anyones opinion about whether or not you think feeding rodents to snakes that have been gassed by CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) is safe for the snake or not.
thanks,
Matt Oakley
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Feeding CO2 killed rodents to snakes
bloodpython171
May 02, 2007 09:02 AM
Replies (7)
JP
May 02, 2007 09:13 AM
100% safe...why would it not be? CO2 is the byproduct of respiration. You snake produces quite a bit of it. It's not toxic, and won't hurt your snakes. IN fact, a gassed rat is essentially the same as a constricted rat, without the internal injuries and broken ribs...
DZBReptiles
May 02, 2007 09:23 AM
Matt, It is generally considered safe to do so, not to mention the most humane. I don't know for a fact, but I would imagine that this is the method that all the large frozen rodent suppliers use. If you are doing it yourself it is recommended that you allow the feeder to sit and air out so the gas has a chance to dissipate before feeding.
Jeff
JP
May 02, 2007 09:52 AM
It makes up 20 some percent of our air. The reason it kills rats is it displaces O2...they suffocate. It has absolutley no effect on the quality of the prey...
morphed
May 02, 2007 10:43 AM
CO2 is safe like everyone else said. But after using this method in the past i cant see how anyone can say it is humane. They dont just fall asleep there is alot of well i wont go into detail but a quick wack or the seperation of the vertabre is a much quicker less painful death to the rat.
Just my opinions and observations.
Kim
JP
May 02, 2007 10:48 AM
Yeah...I agree. I think the thing is that on a huge scale, its much more convenient to gas a whole tub full than to wack each one individually...
amazonreptile
May 03, 2007 11:13 AM
>>It makes up 20 some percent of our air.
CO2 is present in our atmosphere at something like 600 parts per MILLION. Less than 1%.
Oxygen is 20% of our atmosphere, not CO2.
With all the hysteria RE global warming this information is everywhere.
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AMAZON REPTILE CENTER
JP
May 03, 2007 11:21 AM
yeah, you're right...its about .04%. Brainfart here. The point is that CO2 is a harmless natural substance, and not a toxin.
Sometimes people talk like they are "poisoning" the rats to death with CO2, much like rat poison or whatever. Just trying to point out that the CO2 kills the rats simply because it removes oxygen from the environment in which they happen to be in, therby asphyxiating them...
