Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I obtained (rescued you could say) a snake from a friend thats is really sick and under a ton of stress. Its at the point where would probably be a few hundred bucks in medicine even if that did work. At this point in thte snakes life its really not worth saving it b/c its already on the road to death.

Whats the best way to put a snake to death. Freezer?

thanks for you input

The best way to euthanize a reptile is to place it in the freezer.

What about Dry Ice in a sealed cooler??
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Joe Lydon
Got Boids?

Do they go to sleep, then die or stay awake in the freezer?
I never had to kill a snake.
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Tim W.
http://tsw.f2g.net

Snakes can hold their breath for hours, which makes carbon dioxide from dry ice and drowning no good for euthanasia.

The veterinarians recommend a dose of anaesthetic injected into a snake's body as most effective. They believe that the formation of ice crystals in the snake's body during freezing would be very painfull. If no anaesthetic is available, then they believe that crushing the brain with a hammer or similar tool is least painful.

I've killed snakes that I found badly injured on the road. Holding the head still enough to hit is difficult. IMHO, putting the snake in a 40 degree Fahrenheit refrigerator overnight should cool it to a comatose state where the head will stay reasonably still and may be enough to kill the snake without forming ice crystals.

Paul Hollander

I forgot to add that IMHO a four foot or larger boa is too big to kill with a hammer. Having a vet do the euthanasia would be the best idea. A shotgun blast to the snake's head would be a very distant second best, done only where local laws do not prohibit gunfire and at your own risk. Having seen some of the dangers from firearms, I'd spend the money for a vet.

Paul Hollander

If your willing to try a hammer blow to the head I would sooner suggest decapitation with a Machete (sp?) If you have a sharp Machete the blade can cut through 2" thick limbs with a good swing, so an animals neck should be a fairly easy medium to chop through..

I agree though that a Vet visit is the best course of action..
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

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