are ASF better than mice/rats

[bubba3689]

i was just wondering if ASF were better to feed then mice or rats. didnt know if they were any different of just preference thanks

[frankykeno]

I've fed all three prey types. I currently raise both ASF's and regular rats. Personally I don't think any one of them is necessarily better than the other. It's all about a healthy, well fed, well hydrated prey animal and a snake willing to eat that prey regularily.

If you are breeding your own feeders then it's all about what works for you (but always, what works for your snakes).

[Beardedragon]

I say so, just because most snakes will readily take asfs. I have a black pastel female that just started eating last week because of asfs, and ive had her for almost three months. Im not saying that they are any better nutrition wise, but for me just getting them to eat makes them better IMO. One of my snakes only eats mice, so mice are better then

[JeffFlanagan]

BPs thrive on rats, despite ASFRs being native prey, so I don't think there's any nutritional advantage to using ASFRs.

ASFRs produce very little odor compared to rats, though a few people think they smell horrible. If you're not one of those people, you may prefer breeding ASFR feeders rather than rats. I do so in my house. Rats stay in the garage.

They have larger litters than rats and become pregnant right after giving birth, but they're slow growers, so I think rats come out ahead in feeder production.

They tend to be more aggressive than rats, and a small rat sized ASFR is going to be a lot more mature than a small rat, but I've never had one bite a snake. The snakes hit these things fast.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Well, the answer to your question depends on if you are going to breed your own or not.

If you aren't going to breed your own, normal rats are better because they are easier to come by. If your normal source goes away, you normally don't have to look very far for another one.

If you are going to breed your own, then in MY opinion ASF's are absolutely the way to go. They are the EASIEST rodent to breed as long as you follow the rules (kind of like gremlins... LOL) and there smell is NOTHING compared to a normal rat or mouse.

[greghall]

I breed all three ASF's,rats ,mice but ASF's are great!

[Emilio]

I have to agree with Mike If you breeding your own prey ASF's are it, you really can't smell them. Take this from someone who bred rats for 9 months the difference is amazing. Oh yeah picky balls absolutely love them.

[bubba3689]

thanks for all the help. i was thinking about breeding my own. I was deciding on rats, ASF, and mice. I have a bp, and my friend has a bp and a redtail boa. It probably wont be to long before i get another bp and i have a female and my friend has a male and we plan on breeding when they mature. it is a 45 min drive to the nearest pet store and the rats there are 3-4 dollars depending on the size. so we we save tons in gas money. the bps are about the same size and taking large mice right now and the boa is taking medium mice. so we figured we would go in together and start breeding the prey. What would be a good ratio to start with for the 3 snakes. also can you mail order ASF is so what is a good place to get them

[mykaija]

--->sorry, to hijack...i am wanting to buy some asf's, 1 or 2 breeding groups, 1:2, or 1:3. im in s.w. wisc, i have gone to the asf boards, im getting desprate...the mice are stinking up the house, and the roomates, and kids are threatening to boycot...help please i heard they are less odoriferous than mice, but they are so hard to find...any help or ideas are so welcome

[Mike Cavanaugh]

thanks for all the help. i was thinking about breeding my own. I was deciding on rats, ASF, and mice. I have a bp, and my friend has a bp and a redtail boa. It probably wont be to long before i get another bp and i have a female and my friend has a male and we plan on breeding when they mature. it is a 45 min drive to the nearest pet store and the rats there are 3-4 dollars depending on the size. so we we save tons in gas money. the bps are about the same size and taking large mice right now and the boa is taking medium mice. so we figured we would go in together and start breeding the prey. What would be a good ratio to start with for the 3 snakes. also can you mail order ASF is so what is a good place to get them

for 3 snakes I would recomend 2 - 1.2 groups of ASF's. You can not ship live rodents. Only way to do it is by air frieght and that is WAY too expensive.

Where are you located?

--->sorry, to hijack...i am wanting to buy some asf's, 1 or 2 breeding groups, 1:2, or 1:3. im in s.w. wisc, i have gone to the asf boards, im getting desprate...the mice are stinking up the house, and the roomates, and kids are threatening to boycot...help please i heard they are less odoriferous than mice, but they are so hard to find...any help or ideas are so welcome

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