ASF or Regular Rats

[Hamsnacks]

So currently in the process of switching my Jungle Carpet Python over from Live Hamsters lol to Live Rats to then Frozen Rats.

I am in talks with a breeder who says he can supply me with a steady supply of ASF Rats and/or your Regular Rat.

If you guys had the choice, let's say for the sake of argument, same price, same supply, which would you go for?

Benefits of ASF: Smaller in size but pack more protein, heard they don't smell whatever that means lol.
Benefits of Regular: If this supplier ever left, you could find another supplier fairly easy.

If it was a Ball Python, I would definitely be going with ASF but since this snake is home to Australia it's slightly different.

Any opinions would be appreciated

[cchardwick]

Some say that snakes can have a preference for ASF and it's hard to switch. The problem with ASF is that they are listed on the Lacy Act and it's illegal to transport them across state lines. I also used to breed ASF along with rats and mice. The ASF produced so slowly that I'd consider them pets instead of a production snake food animal LOL. The only advantage of ASF over rats is that they don't get too big for ball pythons, but that's why I bought a couple retics to use up my old breeder rats. Personally I don't think I'd risk going with ASF because if the supply runs dry it may be hard to get more. It seemed like the time between litters and the growth rate was super slow compared to rats and mice. Although they did eat a lot less, probably because they grow so slow.

[EL-Ziggy]

I'd go with rats. Why make numerous transitions? I'd try to switch straight from live hamsters to f/t rats. If they're hungry enough they'll eat anything.

[Hamsnacks]

I'd go with rats. Why make numerous transitions? I'd try to switch straight from live hamsters to f/t rats. If they're hungry enough they'll eat anything.

Really hey, I have no experience switching a snakes diet and figured that was probably the best way to transisition but if you think there's a chance she'll switch without the middle step then that would definitely be easier on me. I'm also hoping she takes rats, as I heard many prefer mice. But the size difference is crazy and I don't want to be feeding her 3 or 4 mice in a sitting. When I could just do 1 large or medium rat.

[SDA]

If you can get ASF go with asf but good luck. Most vendors are not stocking them as nobody really buys them. Rats will always be easier to get but go asf if you can find it.

[CALM Pythons]

Snakes getting stuck on ASF's is boloney. Ive switched asf's, mice, rats, rabbits and whatever else was around. The problem is people feed the hell out of snakes these days. 20-30 years ago we fed every 3 weeks to a month and they always ate. Now they get to be picky with eating every week.
Ive seen a huge growth difference with Hatchlings eating ASF's but a Rat IMO is just as good really. If I were you id do whatever is easiest and cost effective for your situation.


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[Hamsnacks]

Snakes getting stuck on ASF's is boloney. Ive switched asf's, mice, rats, rabbits and whatever else was around. The problem is people feed the hell out of snakes these days. 20-30 years ago we fed every 3 weeks to a month and they always ate. Now they get to be picky with eating every week.
Ive seen a huge growth difference with Hatchlings eating ASF's but a Rat IMO is just as good really. If I were you id do whatever is easiest and cost effective for your situation.


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I always enjoy reading advise from a Veteran who's been in the hobby for years, the experience and knowledge is incredible. I found it really interesting how you mentioned how often the snakes are being fed, definitely have heard that from a few older guys that we feed snakes too often now.

So from your experience you saw a greater growth in hatchlings on ASF then hey. I think I might go with what you said and just go with what's available, do ASF and if for whatever reason not available, try the bigger rats. Cause you're correct, in the wild, no way a snake is going to get attached to a single type of meal.

Thank you!

[CALM Pythons]

I always enjoy reading advise from a Veteran who's been in the hobby for years, the experience and knowledge is incredible. I found it really interesting how you mentioned how often the snakes are being fed, definitely have heard that from a few older guys that we feed snakes too often now.

So from your experience you saw a greater growth in hatchlings on ASF then hey. I think I might go with what you said and just go with what's available, do ASF and if for whatever reason not available, try the bigger rats. Cause you're correct, in the wild, no way a snake is going to get attached to a single type of meal.

Thank you!

Yup a quicker growth, I wouldn't say they will grow to be Bigger adults, but not in just my own but also others by 6 months they seem to be twice the size of people feeding mice. If you choose ASF's & Rats be carful of live feeding. I Gas (fresh kill) all AFS's and Rat adults as they have teeth and struggle which can put a hole strait threw a snake.. I dont feed live Rats over (8weeks) to a Ball Python myself. Several newbies throw any size in live but i believe those are people that have bare min experience.
Mice is another story and i'll feed Jumbo/XL live if Its easier for me or if Im trying to Jump Start a fast at the time.


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[cchardwick]

I would say that most snakes won't get stuck on one prey item or another, but I do have a couple mousers that refuse to eat anything but mice. I've had three snakes over the last few years that were 'stuck' on mice. Occasionally I could trick them into eating a rat, but some are super picky and refuse anything else. One female refused rats on a weekly basis for over six months and when offered a live mouse immediately snapped it up. Not very common but it can happen.

I also saw a video on YouTube that monitored growth rate vs. size of prey. They fed one snake multiple smaller prey items and the other one large prey item. The one eating the bigger rodents grew about four times faster, it was totally unexpected and amazing to see. If you want the maximum growth rate for any snake you should feed fewer larger rodents instead of multiple smaller ones. I don't believe it really matters what kind they are (rats / ASF / mice), I think what matters the most is the size. In this experiment they used corn snakes and small mice vs. large mice.