Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the quickest way (and most humane) to dispatch mice and rats older then fuzzies without a CO2 chamber? I am raising up some of my rats past the pinky stage for my 4 ft. corn and I am not understanding how you can get these rats/mice to stay still long enough to thunk them on the head to stun them. I've heard of the screwdriver holding their head down between the skull and shoulder blades and a quick firm pull on the tail to severe the spinal cord. Is this effective and humane? How easy is it to do? I've also heard of using a tub with a cup of water and dry ice in it to create CO2.

Any ideas? I will eventually get a CO2 chamber together as soon as I can find someone who supplies the CO2 tanks and the tubing necessary to accomplish that (does anyone sell these pre-made online?).

Thanks for the help in advance I've got six hungry mouths to feed.
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Chantel a.k.a. sillygirl
"I came, I saw, I adopted"

2.3.0 green anoles (Stumpy (M)), and the rest remain nameless.
2.2.0 green tree frogs (Romeo & Juliet, Bonnie & Clyde)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius (Cobalt froglets)
0.1 Anerythristic 'B' (Charcoal)corn snake (Popcorn)
0.1 Snow Corn (KandyKorn)
0.2 Amel Corns (KornSilk & KornMuffin)
0.0.1 Normal Corn (PepperKorn)
1.0 Creamsicle Corn (Kream)
0.0.1 Giant African Millipede
2.4 Domestic house cats (Bad Boy (m), Bart(m),Sasha(F),Little Bit(F),Spirit(F)
1.0 Rottweiler (Jake)
1.2 Rats (new additions with no names yet)
1.4 Mice (My step-daughter seems to think they are pets)
1.0 Husband (David, who loves all my critters too)

both ways work, cervical disslocation and dry ice. use lots of dry ice. i generally put a good amount in the bottom of a cooler then add water add paper towels over ice close the top for a minute then add rodents. air is almost all co2 at that point. i like cd but it takes some practice.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

I tried that screw driver thing and its not so simple I would probably get bit by the rat before it works. The only thing you have to do is get a pillow case put the rat in and the corner of a table or a concrete wall aim and fire.

cervical disslocation can be a tough thing to learn. it takes some time to get the hang of never been bit though. i only get bit putting them back after one of the stuborn live eaters refuses a meal. but eventually you can get the neck pin and snap the neck in a second. i like it much better than slamming them.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Just a comment on locating a CO2 tank.

Just about anywhere that sells paintball supplies, sells the CO2 canisters. WalMart, K's Merchendise, Dicks Sporting Goods, etc. Some places even refill them for you. The cost is about $20 for the canister.

There are many other places to find them but the paintball supply is the easiest.

I have not built mine yet, but I will very soon.

Troy

WHAT I DO IS GET AN OLD PILLOW CASE PLACE THE RODENT IN IT AND WITH ONE GOOD HIT ON THE FLOOR, ITS OVER. NO MESS, NO NOTHIN.

Why spend money to kill a rodent? Get it by the tail and smack its head on a door jam.Be a man they don't feel it.LOL

Chris S.

i've always just grabbed them by the tail and SLAMMED them onto the floor. never had a problem or mess. now my snake eats live. he's kinda vicious anyhow (rescued from crappy situation...and may have been wc)
he's a 3 1/2 foot corn, and he never misses a kill.

yeah, it sounds mean, but they're soooo brittle, it kills them instantly. it's like being hit by a mack truck.