Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I don't feed live. Half because of the dangers to the snake, half because I hate watching the rodent being constricted.

Anyway, how can I kill the rats I'm raising with as little pain as possible?
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-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons

Many of us use CO2 in a container. Scan down here or search the archives for info and pics.

Others of us, myself included, wack them. Hold the rat with it's belly in the palm of your hand, the tail up your arm and slam it's head on the edge of a shelf or counter. Death is instant.

DeMak

>>Others of us, myself included, wack them. Hold the rat with it's belly in the palm of your hand, the tail up your arm and slam it's head on the edge of a shelf or counter. Death is instant.

Ug. The reason I'm not inclined to Wack is that I'm afraid I won't do it hard enough, and I'll just have a rat that's in a lot of pain, but still conscious and alive. That's my major problem with it.
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-Irish
Email: animistdragon@sbcglobal.net
AIM: VoodooDragon137
YIM: [same as Email addy]
3.3.1 Ball Pythons

That's a common thought, but it's really not difficult. IMO, even if you don't have a clean kill the first time you try, the rat will probably be unconscious.

DeMak

Thats been my experience as well.. and I do whole litters at a time with the whacking method. The first hit either A. Knocks them out.. or B.. kills them outright. I've never invested in a CO2 chamber mainly because I find it easier to take them down in the basement, whack em, stack em and freeze em... I have pet rats too... but all the bad tempered ones I get... they get put down for rat food... I pick the least flighty of the new litters to keep for breeders.

>>So, I don't feed live. Half because of the dangers to the snake, half because I hate watching the rodent being constricted.
>>
>>Anyway, how can I kill the rats I'm raising with as little pain as possible?
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The method I use for all but the tiny pinks (which I drown/freeze) is cervical dislocation. Basics are a steel ruler, or a heavy enough sort of object. I use the steel carpenters square or the back of a butter knife blade. Rat on floor held in place by the base of the tail and steel rule very firmly behind head and fast and firm pull up on base (not tip....as tight to the body as poss.) of the tail up and away from the head pinned down by the blade/ruler. With adult rats you might want to go with CO2. I don't go to that big an animal on a regular basis. But adult rats will not go easy if they feel it coming. So if you are tentative you are stuck.
You can't be tentative. Decide you are gonna do it and do it. My dh calls me the professional killer.
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Sonya

I use cervical dislocation to get FK for the snakes that want that. I use my forceps on the back of the neck hold it down pretty tight. I then grasp the base of the tail and give it a good yank. The theory is it severes the spinal cord at the base of the skull. No more connetion from the body and the brain. It is a way that is approved for use in research. You will feel the spine seprate. Also beware they will twitch after death it is normal.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Put a bunch of rats in a 10 gal aquarium, put a bowl of water in the middle, and drop some dry ice in the water. The container will fog up, and when it clears, all the rats will be dead. This is the best way because they dont feel it, AND you dont have to snap their neck and worry about blood or anything.