Questions for ASF breeders

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Here are some questions for ASF breeders

I have a small rat room and square inch is important, so not to waste any space I house my feeder colony in a racks.

I plan on doing the same with ASF as I entertain the idea of a colony that would be anywhere from 3.12 to 6.24

I plan on using tubs that are 22¼ X 16¾ X 6¾ so it will allow me to have a wheel inside each tubs to keep them busy and avoid chewing.

Now here are the questions: Are they like mice will they climb up side down to eat the food through the hardware cloth and drink from a valve like this http://www.agselect.com/ED/showdetl....D=179&CATID=12?

Is using a watering system even a possibility with them?

[mcbrayerreptiles]

They are not as good as mice are with the climbing up-side down thing....I just use shallow tubs so they can reach the food and water.....water systems are fine to use with them as long as they can reach them......they are dumb sometimes
Hope this helps..

[Mike Cavanaugh]

long reply.

Yes. They will walk on the screen, and eat upside down.

I would not use a watering system. they consume 1 /4 of the water that rats or mice consume. with such little drinking, unless you are going to start profesionally breeding, I would say it would be better to just use glass water bottles.

I don't have the exact setup you are talking about.... but I have tanks with DIY food hoppers. 1/4 inch hardware cloth feeding mazuri 6f. they have NO problem feeding from the hoppers, and often use them to climb to the top screen where they walk around upside down. Often times they will eat from the bottom of the hopper, and that is the same thing as eating from a rack top.

HOWEVER! I would caution you big time when it comes to putting these things in racks. They have the most nipples in the rodent family. They are also one of the BEST CHEWERS! On my 10 gallon tanks. they have litterally eaten away the black hard plastic tab around the enitre top of the tanks. (they still can't get out, but it demonstrates the chewing abilitly.) I put cut pieces of 2x4's in with them at all times. they will take a brick shaped piece and litterally try to make it into a ball shape. most of them like to chew on the actual steel wires of the hopper. none have been able to break it yet, but they sure are trying. The adult females are litterally pregnant constantly. the moment they give birth, they are re pregnated. They can go days without any food or water, and normaly eat and drink VERY little anyway. After they have children, they will attack anything that threatens them.... not run and hide, but lunge out and attack!

All these things can lead to disaster if you have a chew out. Much more so then rats and mice. All I am saying is you have to give this situation serious consideration before putting them into racks.

Lets say you have a chew out in one of your tubs. 1 male and 3 females escape. THAT is a MAJOR problem! that is 3 pregnant females! each of them are about to have 10 babies! You have a male loose that will immediately impregnate the females once they do have the babies! I know you said they are in a snake room... but trust me. they will find a way out in little time. either they will queeze under the door.... run out when you open the door (b4 you even realize there is a problem) or they will bite their way into a wall. remember, they will be fine for a couple days without any food or water, and only need to find a tiny bit of each to thrive.

One more thought. I am familiar with your rat racks, and love the designs. BUT, ASF's are INCREDIBLE JUMPERS when they are startled. I had one jump OUT of a 10 gallon tank once when startled. with control he jumped and landed perfectly on the top rim of the tank. that leads me to believe he could have probably jumped higher then that. every time you open those racks (that are only 6 inches high) you could have a problem. when their are babies in the tank, the male will litteraly jump across the entire tank to bite me. in your racks, he would litteraly be able to jump right out and attach himself to my belly!

Maybe wait and see how much they change after your first rounds of babies????

mike

[muddoc]

Deborah,
We have been keeping our colony in racks for the last year, with no problems. Most of our groups are in mouse racks that have small kitty ltter pans, and they seem to do great. We have never had a problem with them eating food above them, or had any problems with them drinking out of a Vari-flow valve stem. We do have our feeding group in a CB-70 sized rodent tub rack, and they do fine in there as well. Being that that tub is deeper (6.5 inches), we put a 2x4 block under the sipper so that they can reach it easier.

As Mike stated, they do breed very efficiently, so we typically keep the males and females seperated, until we are ready for a few litters.

I hope some of that was helpful.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

one more thought...

Remember guys and gals. it only takes a few of these getting out.... reproducing... and making it into the local news. Before they are completely and totally banned in the United States. Trust me, sooner or later it is going to happen. You think people freak out about a loose snake that will over run the country? imagine the panic when they hear about the attacking ASF's, that can tolerate a much larger temperature range then a snake. and it has the most nipples (i believe in all mammals). I can see the headlines now!

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Deborah,
We have been keeping our colony in racks for the last year, with no problems. Most of our groups are in mouse racks that have small kitty ltter pans, and they seem to do great. We have never had a problem with them eating food above them, or had any problems with them drinking out of a Vari-flow valve stem. We do have our feeding group in a CB-70 sized rodent tub rack, and they do fine in there as well. Being that that tub is deeper (6.5 inches), we put a 2x4 block under the sipper so that they can reach it easier.

As Mike stated, they do breed very efficiently, so we typically keep the males and females seperated, until we are ready for a few litters.

I hope some of that was helpful.

That's excatly what I wanted to hear before I start building the new rack, thanks Tim

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I would not use a watering system.

Well I probably will because the rack will be a 12 tubs rack (2 across and 6 down) top 3 to 4 levels will they regular rats to 2 to 3 levels will be for ASF (not sure yet are many tubs will be dedicated to ASF

HOWEVER! I would caution you big time when it comes to putting these things in racks. They have the most nipples in the rodent family. They are also one of the BEST CHEWERS!

I am aware of that fact which is why they are provided with a piece of wood and a wheel in their temporary tub (So far no chewing they've been TOO busy).

I just cannot afford having glass tank everywhere if I want to save space and be efficient on cleaning day.

Thanks for the feedback.

[littleindiangirl]

I've read over on the asf forums people having very good success with the tubs in a rack set up. I look forward to seeing what the Queen of Rodent Racks builds.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I've read over on the asf forums people having very good success with the tubs in a rack set up. I look forward to seeing what the Queen of Rodent Racks builds.

You want to come and help me build it

I am just done finishing a Birthing Rat rack, I have to get started on an BP hatchling rack and I have to start the new Rat/ASF rack.

If only my hubby was handy, I could give him directions and he could do the work

[JeffFlanagan]

As mcavana mentions, chew-out could be a problem in racks.

Mine have chewed off the plastic at the top of the aquariums too.

I built shelves above some snake racks, and keep 10 20-gallon aquariums in space I wasn't otherwise using.

Temperment varies. Mine are biters, but not the killing machines mcavana is raising. They seem to be getting mellower over time now that they're all used to my presence.