deformed pics

[Stefan-A]

Read an article on the subject myself a while back, some draft by some Australian authority and regarding euthanasia of different animals, from mammals to birds to reptiles etc. IIRC, the recommendation was a swift strike to the head, followed by decapitation followed by destruction of the brain. Freezing was deemed "not acceptable".

[Elliot]

That seems pretty humane to me, but for peole who are a little more timid it might be a bit much.

[Sputnik]

Do you think you might be able to use the same method you use for your mice? CO2, wasn't it?

[Elliot]

That's a good point, but wouldn't it take a lot longer to kill the snakes than the mice? I guess it wouldn't really matter though if it was still painless.

[Stefan-A]

Found the pdf. "Euthanasia of animals used for scientific purposes (Currently under revision) - Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching"

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ANZCCART/...Euthanasia.pdf

Recommended:
Barbiturates.

Acceptable with reservations:
Stunning + destruction of brain (the method I mentioned)

Not acceptable:
Inhaled agents - Halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane (reason: able to hold their breaths -> protracted induction)
Hypothermia - crystal formation painful
Decapitation alone - doesn't cause rapid unconsciousness

[drache]

I just really hope I don't ever have to do this

[Stefan-A]

Yeah, definitely the downside of keeping animals.

[adamanteus]

Yeah, definitely the downside of keeping animals.

Indeed. I guess if it comes to it, you just have to not give it too much thought and just get the job done.

[Thamnophis]

It helps when you put the animal in a bag er so. Than you can not see it. Make sure that you know exactly where the head is when you give it a blow.