1st time preggo ASF

[scubaboy]

In my first breeding colony of ASF 1.3.. I have two girls getting big and fat after 3 weeks together, do I need to separate or not??? Will the male and other female be ok with the two preggo females or best to remove??? Any help or advice would be great. Thanks...

[Freakie_frog]

I keep mine togethe all the time they should be fine just watch them.

[OhBalls]

No, do not separate. ASF rats are social and need to be together. An ASF removed and housed seperately can become depressed to the point of not eating and eventually die.

Congrats! They're so homely they're cute!

[frankykeno]

Leave them as the stable colony they are. ASF's communally raise their young. All nursing females will nurse all young in turn and even dad and the bigger babies will take a turn keeping the young ones warm and doing butt washing duties.

I've been told that removing adults out of their social group can cause major problems later when you try to return them. They may be then perceived as a stranger and attacked.

Here's a picture of an adult female on a young litter with two older littermates helping to mind the little ones. These aren't even her babies, their actual mother was off eating so "auntie and the big kids" took their turn minding the litter.



Btw, mind the adult male. The females can be quite protective of the young but he can be absolutely protective and isn't afraid of anything.