Quote:
CO2 will not harm the snake fursure, because I know it will not react in the stomach as it did in the rats lungs.
|
CO2 doesn't "react" in the lungs. It simply replaces the O2 that we rely on. All of us breathe in both O2 and CO2 (and several other gasses). When an animal is given pure CO2 to breathe, it simply asphixiates because the O2 in its body is replaced by the CO2. The animal may experience a few moments of dizziness, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate as its body speeds up breathing & heart rate in an effort to get more oxygen. However, this won't last long, as once the CO2 levels in the atmosphere it is breathing go up over 5%, asphixiation is certain within minutes. Then it will simply go to sleep.
Once it is dead, the CO2 in its body--specifically, its blood--has been converted to other forms, such as bicarbonate and carbaminos, that are not harmful to other life.