How many ASF colonies should I have for my snakes

[Johnny84]

I just recently started 3 colonies of ASFs...it will be next year before mine start to produce cuz they are still pretty young! But I also Have 2 groups of regular Ol'Rats that just gave me my first litter of 11 this week with hopefully 4 other rats prego! But all the questions above...I think there are alot of us with the same questions so you original breeders or long time breeders of ASFs and Rats...please send some suggestions our way!

Thanks in advance!

[JohnNJ]

I have bred ASF's for a while so my recommendation is breed rats.

That said, starting up colonies is like waiting for hair to grow on a bowling ball. You put them together and check on them every day. Weeks and months go by and nothing. Then one day you look and the tubs are full of babies. After a while you pull out the weanlings and surprise, there's more babies under them. This goes on for a while until there's less and less babies replacing the weanlings. Time for a new colony.

Set up new colonies while the inital groups are in full production mode so you don't go through a dry spell.

Go with regular rats unless you have a very specific need for ASF's.

[Johnny84]

I have bred ASF's for a while so my recommendation is breed rats.

That said, starting up colonies is like waiting for hair to grow on a bowling ball. You put them together and check on them every day. Weeks and months go by and nothing. Then one day you look and the tubs are full of babies. After a while you pull out the weanlings and surprise, there's more babies under them. This goes on for a while until there's less and less babies replacing the weanlings. Time for a new colony.

Set up new colonies while the inital groups are in full production mode so you don't go through a dry spell.

Go with regular rats unless you have a very specific need for ASF's.

Well like I said...Im new to breeding ASFs and Rats, Im going to give it a try either way and see what I like to work with better! IMO...its better to try it, then just not at all!

Also...great tip on starting a fresh set of colonies while your previous ones are in production! IYO...what was the longest you waited for colonies of ASFs to produce?

Thanks!

[Driver]

Go with regular rats unless you have a very specific need for ASF's.

I don't have a specific need for ASF's besides the smell. I'm using a room that is still close to the other rooms. So when I still have multiple rats in the room you can usually smell them in about a day or so.
Another reason is the fact that they wont out grow my snakes.