Leaping into ASFs

Well, I am getting a BP from a friend who is a picky ASF eater (no worries, I have a quarantine area all set up for the soon to arrive python), so I am picking up some ASFs tomorrow, 1.2 to breed, and another group of just males to feed off until my breeding group is productive.

I've kept all sorts of rodents, but as pets, not breeders. As much as I've browsed caresheets, I have a few questions.

I have three tanks I am going to use, a 10 gallon for the breeders, and I have a 15 gallon and a 40 gallon to use for growing out weanlings. I realize that with only two snakes, I'll have a lot of excess which I plan on CO2ing and freezing. But anyway, would the 15 long and 40 make OK growouts? Their footprint are pretty similar. And how many ASFs do you estimate I'll be able to house in those tanks before problems such as overcrowding arise?

I'd prefer at this time to use glass tanks with screens and screenclips to make sure no escapes happen. It seems to be the most secure system that is readily available.

Just keep in mind that the ASf's grow slowwwwwww. It will take at least 2-3 months from the time your first litter hits the ground til they are big enough to feed an adult BP.

I use glass tanks also, I am so paranoid about them getting loose.

I find it is easier to keep 2 sets of 10 rats in 2 10gallon tanks than keep 20 in a 20L. Clean-up is much easier. I have 6 10-gallon tanks for my 1.2 breeding colony. 1 tank for the breeding group and 5 tanks for the grow-outs. I have to wait a while to feed the grow-outs because I have 3 adult bps who need big rats and like llovelace said, they take a long time to grow - about 3-4 months in my case.

I bought 7 10-gallon tanks from craigslist for 20 bucks!

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Originally Posted by anatess

I bought 7 10-gallon tanks from craigslist for 20 bucks!

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Great Buy!!!!!!

I'll have to look out for such a deal on craigslist then. Not many tanks have been for sale recently, but you never know!

So I got three females and five males! All but one of the males will become snake food (and I already know which I am keeping!).

Even though they are breeders for snake food, I plan to spoil them. The females, currently without babies of course, are sweet enough to let me pet them and take treats from my fingers (if cat food can be considered a treat!). They'll probably get vicious when they have babies, but for now are nice enough. Haven't tried anything with the males, seeing as I don't want to get attached, hah.

Ive tried to feed out of my hand...They got the hand. Lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...eptASFs007.jpg

Mine are actually pretty friendly, not even a test nip. The breeder never handled them, but they are chill enough to hold, and don't even try to run. This is a male I am keeping, he is missing a chunk of his ear.

That is pretty cool. My wife and I handle our asf's without any problems unless their are babies in the tubs. My normal rats are way tamer but the asf's aren't to bad.

only thing I do different now is no wheel

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_1313.jpg

rodents are all similar

pygmy mouse setup

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_1393.jpg