euthanizing rats , how i kill mine

[karlsboa]

Let me start by saying I, like most other snake hobbyists do not enjoy killing rats but it is a necessary evil. Some people use c02 or dry ice and what that does is essentially eliminate the oxygen in the enclosure. I use Ziploc bags, I put one small or just weaned rat in the bag and flatten the battle remove most to the air. The rat dies in 2-3 minutes and only moves erratically for 5-10 seconds so I believe the suffering is minimal. He can still breathe but the oxygen is quickly used up and they don't cry as they do when feeding live. Then they are already individually bagged I then weigh them and use a marker to write their weight on the bag. I have not used this on a full grown rat but I imagine you would need a pretty strong bag.

 

[Kotori]

What your doing is strangulating them. You might as well choke them.

 

[radera5]

What your doing is strangulating them. You might as well choke them.

LMAO...not strangulating,........ suffocating!

 

[JColt]

Karl, you are causing an animal to suffer. Do a search here on proper procedure. It does not cost much to do it properly.

 

[Focal]

Rats can survive a very long time without air and do suffer. Suffocation and drowning are two of the worst methods of euthanasia IMO.

 

[radera5]

I tend to just use the "one hitter quitter" on 'em....instant death every time.

 

[karlsboa]

I should add that I kill very few rodents since I only have 4 snakes. If I had more I would probably do c02 but I have watched videos of c02 and dry ice and my bag method looks more peaceful and takes the same time. Its not like suffocating because they can still breathe, I leave a small amount of air in the bag. The 02 runs out and their breathing slows down and it looks like they are tired and go to sleep.

 

[snowgyre]

Death by suffocation is not considered euthanasia in scientific circles and such a death would never pass academic or laboratory standards. I don't even like using CO2, but gassing is the most effective way to kill large quantities of rodents. If you're only killing a few rodents a week, bash them over the head. It sounds brutal, but their skulls crush easily and the instant death provided by a crushed skull is a lot more humane than suffocation.

 

[Kotori]

Hah yeah suffocation .. But either way, it isn't humane, at all.

 

[RoadHouse of Retics]

So is the "one hitter quitter" the most humane way? Man I love that phrase.

 

[radera5]

So is the "one hitter quitter" the most humane way? Man I love that phrase.

I guess that all comes down to personal opinion lol and maybe a bit of common sense. I know if I had to choose I would want it to be one quick blow and be done. It sure doesn't appear to be painful that's for sure.

 

[P&A Pythons]

i use co2 (bottle with reg) in small doses to much flow can case discomfort for them be sure to keep co2 on for 20 min. after 10 there just sleepin 20 insures there done. u can also hold wooden dowel behind neck and pull tail to seperate spinal colum. this should only be done carefully because the skin can come off the tail and cause the rat alot of pain. then u could also do the one hit skull method but makes bloody mess

 

[radera5]

i use co2 (bottle with reg) in small doses to much flow can case discomfort for them be sure to keep co2 on for 20 min. after 10 there just sleepin 20 insures there done. u can also hold wooden dowel behind neck and pull tail to seperate spinal colum. this should only be done carefully because the skin can come off the tail and cause the rat alot of pain. then u could also do the one hit skull method but makes bloody mess

Not if you put the rat into a Coleman blow up air mattress bag

 

[Helenthereef]

u can also hold wooden dowel behind neck and pull tail to seperate spinal colum. this should only be done carefully because the skin can come off the tail and cause the rat alot of pain. then u could also do the one hit skull method but makes bloody mess

I worked in an animal lab for years. Here's the "How to" of hit-'em-on-the-head, which is without a doubt the most merciful for the rat, (C02 being only merciful for the human observer...)

1. If rat is tame, hold it on your left hand with its head looking over the back of your hand, front paws on top of your hand, back paws and tail hanging.
(- if rat is not tame you can quieten it down considerably by hanging it by its tail and spinning it a few times by twirling the tail between your fingers so it gets dizzy)

2. Hold tail in your right hand.

3. Stand in front of a hard surface such as kitchen or bathroom counter

4. Swing back of rat's head FIRMLY and without hesitation against hard surface to stun it. Once should do.

5. Place stunned rat quickly belly down on hard surface

6. Place something solid but not sharp (such as the edge of a wooden kitchen spatula, or as you say wooden dowel or sp0on handle) immediately behind the rat's skull.

7. Pull on the tail, not just backwards but also angled upwards about 45 degrees

8. You will feel the neck give way - it does not have to be hard (certainly not hard enough to have the tail skin come off, although it happens sometimes with mice)

9. Rat is now effectively dead. It will kick but this is reflex nerve action, not a concious struggle.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - buy a few frozen rats and practice with dead ones before you go on to live. This is only kind when it is done with certainty and confidence.