Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just CO2 a rabbit tonight for the first time. I chose this method because I heard it was the most humane, and seemed like a clean way to do the job. The rabbits are for both human and animal consumption. I also learned that you do NOT put the coil on with the nozzle tuned on, or it gets all over you and sprays everywhere from the part that connects them, whoa wasnt expecting that!

I got the 20 oz tank, and a remote coil, dropped the end in the container with rabbit and turned it on. The rabbit after a minute started pannicking and gasping. It seemed to have suffocated more then the "going to sleep" I have heard. So did I do it too fast, too slow, or is this how it works? It seems if I did it correct, that a 22 shot to the head is quicker and more humane.
So did I do it right? Perhaps the gas should have been quicker or slower into the container?

Yep - you went to fast - the gas should slowly fill the kill tank so that the animal falls asleep without stress - once they are asleep you can flood the chamber to kill them.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

Insert Silly Quote Here

i just ordered the tank and regulator to set up a co2 tank. what pressure do you start off with when you first turn on the gas then what pressure do you turn it up to and how long do you leave it on to make sure they are gone for good

The presure can be set very low. The variable is the size of the tank. Remember that co2 is heaver than air and will fill the tank forceing all of the o2 out the top. If you put a lid or cover on that tank to reduce air currents, the tank will stay full of co2 just like it would if you had filled it with water.

The correct way to do it would be to fill the tank with co2 first and then place the animal in the tank. That would help with that slowly running out of air feeling.

I've killed thousands of mice and rats this way but have not done rabbits. I think it should still be the same.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

Actually, the correct way to do it is to put the animal in the chamber and very slowly turn up the gas. Pre charging the tank works fast but they tend to be in much more distress that way than filling it slowly.

Found this on Purdue's website. It is the set of guidlines they use for humanely euthanizing rodents.

http://www.purdue.edu/Research/vpr/rschadmin/rschoversight/animals/docs/Guidelines_for_the_Use_of_CO2_for_Euthanasia_of_Rodents.pdf
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4.40 normal BPs
1.0 pastel BP
1.0 yellow belly BP
1.0 het albino BP
1.0 het pied BP
1.1 albino BPs
1.1 sunglow/anery corns
0.0.1 sunbeam
0.1 66% het stripe red tail boa
0.0.2 Strawberry hermit crabs
1.0 parakeet
1.0 spoiled rotten dog (Diego)
a crap load of rats and mice