Pinkies

[ProXimuS]

So I've got two questions about these:
#1 How exactly do you go about scenting?
My snakey is currently eating silversides, and apperantly isn't a fan of pinkies, so how do I scent the mice with the fish?

#2 Does any one know how the frozen ones are killed...?
I was just looking at them up close for the first time, and they're even cuter in person:( I was hoping they're killed humanely, not just frozen alive.....

[guidofatherof5]

When I scent pinkies with fish I spray the fish with some water. Then I take the pinky and rub it on the fish.
Usually all that is needed is to scent the head of the pinky.

[ProXimuS]

Yaay! I think I spoke too soon. He decided to eat it anyways. I was sure he wasn't going to eat it, because I put it outside of his waterbowl and put some fish in his waterbowl. He completely passed the pinkie like it wasn't there and ate his fish, then went in his hide. Then, I tried putting it in his bowl, and a couple minutes later he went and ate it :D I will still try scenting next time, just to be sure. Thanks Steve:)

[Invisible Snake]

#2 Does any one know how the frozen ones are killed...?
I was just looking at them up close for the first time, and they're even cuter in person:( I was hoping they're killed humanely, not just frozen alive.....

Most of the major frozen feeder companies/brands euthanize the mice/rats with Carbon Dioxide (Co2) gas.

[ProXimuS]

Well, I guess that's not so bad...:rolleyes: I still feel bad, and they're sooooo cute!
But I can respect the fact that my babies gotta eat too.....If I didn't like him so much, there's no way I could/would deal with it:)

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I'ts possible he went for the pinkie that was in the water because it smelt of the fish you put in their before,or he associates his water bowl with food so took the pinkie out of habit.

[EasternGirl]

Believe it or not...freezing them alive wouldn't be the most inhumane way of euthanizing. I'm glad to hear that most companies use gas...but with freezing...they would just get cold...everything would slow down and they would basically go to sleep...it is actually a method used to euthanize sick snakes as well. Although the snake is usually cooled down in the fridge before going to the freezer. I am correct in this guys?

[mikem]

I'm 99.99% sure everyone used the Co2 method to euthanize feeders. I've heard putting them straight in the freezer is quite painful for them as ice forms in the blood. Pinkies probably wouldn't have that problem, but mice and larger would. When euthanizing snakes, you usually refrigerate them for a while before freezing. Of course, if they're at the very end and just barely alive, the cold would probably finish them off before ice started forming. I hate talking about putting animals down, but sometimes it has to be done. :(

[EasternGirl]

Right...and it seems much more humane than other ways I have heard of putting snakes down. If I had to do it...and I think every snake owner will face it at some point...I would use the fridge/freezer method. I had no idea about freezing directly being painful though...good to know, Mike.

[kimbosaur]

Believe it or not...freezing them alive wouldn't be the most inhumane way of euthanizing. I'm glad to hear that most companies use gas...but with freezing...they would just get cold...everything would slow down and they would basically go to sleep...it is actually a method used to euthanize sick snakes as well. Although the snake is usually cooled down in the fridge before going to the freezer. I am correct in this guys?

I definitely disagree here! It would be totally different for a cold-blooded animal and a warm-blooded animal. Think about all the things that happen to us when we get cold: hypothermia, frost bite, shock, etc. I think it would be much more humane to just chop off its head than to let it slowly freeze to death.

[guidofatherof5]

Do to some recent and even non-recent articles about the freezing method to euthanize reptiles I've stopped that practice.
The last thing I want to do is cause them any pain.
I now use CO2(dry ice).
I purchase a small chunk of it. It's usually wrapped in paper so I place that in a small cooler and place the snake inside after a cool down in the fridge.
I place the lid on and check on the process hours later.
I will try to locate the article, I think it was Reptile Mag.

[NickB]

Freezing has been widely shown to be an inhumane way of euthansia. It's interesting that freezing seems like common practice in the U.S, here in the U.K it is very much frowned upon. There are two main methods of euthansia which are widely deemed acceptable and they are Co2 which can be purchased at diy stores etc. and breaking the neck of the animal (This method is only really used on young rodents).

[chris-uk]

I tend to agree with Kimberly, the most humane way to euthanase a snake would probably be extreme brain injury - something like a chisel to the base of the skull to destroy the brainstem. Severing the head can allow the brain to continue living for some time though. However, when it's an animal that I've spent time with, a method that leaves it without massive external injury seems like a compromise. Freezing in liquid nitrogen would be quick enough to be humane, but not really practical. In the end, when we are faced with a need to euthanase a snake we are faced with a compromise between practical, speed and our feelings. The last being the least important, but a factor that can't be ignored.
Ideally I'd be able to use a gas chamber with an inert gas atmosphere would be ideal. An inert gas, ideally argon) has been shown to induce a hypoxic euphoria in humans (taken to the limit before brain damage occurs) whereas CO2 will cause hypoxia with a rise in the level of CO2 in the bloodstream which triggers a suffocation response. CO2 is obviously cheaper and easier to get hold of.

[ProXimuS]

If worse comes to worse, and I guess you were fiscally able to, can you take it to the vet and have it euthanized with a shot like dogs and cats? Or does this not work of snakes?

[guidofatherof5]

My vet has done that for a couple of my snakes after surgery. There was no reason to wake them. Cancer.

[kibakiba]

If you live somewhere that it's illegal to have them, no, you couldn't. I've asked before.