Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello-

Does anyone have any type of home-built CO2 chamber for sacrificing rats and who doesn't have access to the regular-sized standup CO2 tanks? I'm looking to built or put together one that could do just 50-100 rats every month or so.....the problem part is getting the CO2 tank..

Thanks!!

I had asked a similar question a couple months ago, and others told me to try sporting good stores that sell paint ball supplies.

Take a look at the pics. It is easy once you know what materials to buy. In the pics you should be able to see the CO2 cylinder (find at your local paint ball distributor - tank and valve cost me about 45.00 bucks) tubing is 3/8" ID with a 1/4" compression fitting to swedge down to 1/4" (no magic on this aspect, I simply used what I had available to me since my 5 gal bucket had a 3/8" ID bulk head union fitting on it but any kind of tubing will work just fine) and of course your 5 gallon bucket (or whatever you want to use - Wal-Mart tub, Sterlite tube, anything that will hold the CO2 long enough to do the job).

I also used "quick-connect" push in type fittings from John Guest (available usually at your local hardware store i.e. Home Depot, Lowes, etc. My CO2 chamber has many other functions other than just "preparing" food items.

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"New strategy R-2, Let the Wookie Win!!!"

>>My CO2 chamber has many other functions other than just "preparing" food items.
>>

OK, I'll ask. . . What other functions?

deg

LOL, I prepare my "CO-CO" bedding in it (because it is a 5 gal bucket so I put the water, put the brick, wala - bedding). I use it to dump the food from some of my "G-BIN" drop in feeder bins when I clean out the grow out vessels. I mix the rat foods in a ratio of 2:1:1 (2 lbs. Lab Block, 1 lbs. cheap dog food, 1 lbs. cheap cat food) before I dump that rat food into the huge trash can we use to house the feed. I also use it to haul some of "the fertilizer" around the yard as well. Therefore, my chamber is very multi-functional.
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"New strategy R-2, Let the Wookie Win!!!"

>>LOL, I prepare my "CO-CO" bedding in it (because it is a 5 gal bucket so I put the water, put the brick, wala - bedding). I use it to dump the food from some of my "G-BIN" drop in feeder bins when I clean out the grow out vessels. I mix the rat foods in a ratio of 2:1:1 (2 lbs. Lab Block, 1 lbs. cheap dog food, 1 lbs. cheap cat food) before I dump that rat food into the huge trash can we use to house the feed. I also use it to haul some of "the fertilizer" around the yard as well. Therefore, my chamber is very multi-functional.
>>-----

Yeap, sounds like it is multipurpose.

FYI for those that may not know, coco-peat and coconut husk chips are used by orchid growers and can be purchased through orchid supply vendors for much less than what I've seen them going for in pet stores. If memory serves, I purchased a 2 cubic foot bale of compressed coconut husk chips for $65 delivered. Once rehydrated, that yields about 6 or 7 cubic feet of CHC. I'll dig out suppler info if anyone is interested.

deg

Definite intrest here. Please advise.
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"New strategy R-2, Let the Wookie Win!!!"

>>Definite intrest here. Please advise.
>>-----
>>"New strategy R-2, Let the Wookie Win!!!"

Below is contact info for the source I've purchased coconut husk chips from. They don't have a website, so you'll have to contact them the old fashion way.

deg

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The Crystal Company has moved to;

1729 Larkin Williams Rd.
Fenton MO 63026-2024
314-966-5999
1-800-845-4777

Their phone numbers reamin the same
Their big bale of cocnut chips is still $55 including shipping.