My Household Zoo: A Touchy Subject: Feeder Euthanasia

Pet Project 365: 82/365

Perhaps it's a bit cynical, unusual, and even cruel that I was excited to have finally completed a euthanasia chamber for the Coppers' "food".

But if you ever dangle a living animal helplessly in front of its predator's face, because the predator doesn't posses the skills, sight, or desire to actually locate and secure their prey without help, you'll understand.

Feeling like Hitler somehow feels a tiny bit better than feeling like the ancient Romans.

Don't get me wrong. I love my snakes. I just don't like the "dirty work" that comes with owning them.

And thus, the best thing that I could do(in my mind), is construct a CO2 euthanasia chamber. So Jonathan and I set to work and did it. For any other snake owners out there that are looking for a more humane euthanasia method, kudos and you've found one of the right places. Here are some instructions on building the chamber.

You'll Need:

A paintball CO2 canister - Around $20

A remote line/coil - Around $30

(optional)Silicone - <$10

Appropriately sized plastic container - <$10

Soldering Iron - <$10

Instructions are pretty simple. Get the CO2 tank filled at your local sporting goods store. Use the soldering iron to first melt a hole near the top of the container to allow oxygen to escape as CO2 fills it, and then to melt a hole large enough for the quick release part of the remote coil. Do this by moving your soldering iron around the edges of the hole, making it progressively larger until it is large enough to fit the coil. If you'd like, use the silicone to seal the hole around the releasable portion of the remote coil. Attach the other end of the remote coil to the canister.Line the bottom of the container with paper towels or some other absorbent material and you are ready to go.