Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there!!

I've seen this topic discussed before but the search feature for the archives is worthless.

I need to put down large quantities of pinks and fuzzies (hundreds at a time) but thought I read that CO2 will not do it.
Is this true? If so, how is that possible.......with the lack of oxygen they should die.
If I must freeze them, I know they will huddle together, but will their bodies freeze together or can they easily be pulled apart?

Thanks for your help.

Brian

CO2 will kill pinkies...eventually. But it takes MUCH longer to kill pinks with CO2 than even fuzzies. If you just freeze them, they will huddle together before they die. It takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to freeze them. I know that some people find freezing the pinks to death to be inhumane. But it is the best way I have found to do it, especially in numbers. What I do is put the live pinks in a plastic container and put that in the freezer. After about 3 hours (it would be REALLY cruel in my oppinion to put them in there and then take them out before they are dead) I take them out, separate them, and then vacuum seal them individually, or in small "dinner packs" of about six. Then I freeze those packs. The first "freeze" is just to kill them. They aren't really stuck together too bad after that point, so they aren't hard to separate. If you leave them in a bunch overnight, that starts getting trickier. Also, since I vacuum seal them, I have found that it is better that they be a little frozen first. They are, well...sturdier when mostly frozen. There have been people who ask "Why not just vacuum seal them while they are alive? If you take out all of the air, they'll die." My answer is, it's messy that way. They tend to "squash" if they aren't at least partially frozen first.

So...(I'm sorry for the long-winded answer) Yes freeze them dead, but not solid...then separate them, and freeze them solid.

I tend to take whatever litters or pinks or whatever I need in the freezer and put them into a deli cup or shoe box and let them freeze. Unless they are WET they don't freeze together. Next day I vacuum seal them.

If you are using dry ice you sort of have instant dead .....no O2
and instant freeze.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

When I freeze them, I put them in open deli cups. I do this so they are exposed to the air. I also only have one layer, so they aren't piled up. They are dead within about 1-2 minutes and frozen solid within 5 min. Also, they will empty their bladders as they die, so freezing them with a very small amount of shavings helps keep them dry, and from sticking together.

Just wondering if you meant 1 1/2 to 2 hours instead of 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, as that is much closer to what I experience. Maybe you are using a closed container that helps insulate them from the cold, so they last longer?

Rodney

yeah, unfortunately, I did mean that long. I live in a crappy apartment with crappy appliances. The freezer just plain blows. I'm moving next week however, so it is good to hear that it won't take anywhere near as long to freeze them in a decent frig.