Questions for ASF breeders

The only issues I've had with thinking about racking our ASF's is chewing and the worry the darn things will actually hop right out when I slide a tub open. I cannot believe how high these little things can jump when they set their mind to it!

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

The only issues I've had with thinking about racking our ASF's is chewing and the worry the darn things will actually hop right out when I slide a tub open. I cannot believe how high these little things can jump when they set their mind to it!

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The ones I have are in my rat rack right now (temporary measure) and they are doing great, no chewing (to busy with their wheel) and are not jumpy at all.

As far as tub chewing and rodents I notice that the main mistake people often make is either provide tubs with a ridge or allowing too big of a gap between the tub and the frame.

The ASF will likely stay in the temporary tub for a month or so before I start building a new rack so I guess by than I should know for sure which route I will chose.

Oh another DIY for ASF's I hope! :banana:

You know Deb Toledo's a lovely city, great zoo, you would love to move here (and build me a whole bunch of rodents racks!)

:D

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh another DIY for ASF's I hope! :banana:

You know Deb Toledo's a lovely city, great zoo, you would love to move here (and build me a whole bunch of rodents racks!):D

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Too cold, I enjoy the soutern weather too much ;)

Okay fine then! I'll just move south! :D

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Originally Posted by Deborah

The ones I have are in my rat rack right now (temporary measure) and they are doing great, no chewing (to busy with their wheel) and are not jumpy at all.

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Deborah,
Be careful with the wheel in you ASF tank. They are too busy to chew out because of the wheel, but they also may be too busy to breed. We had a 1.2 group in a tank when we first got them (there was a wheel in there with them). We also had a 1.2 group in a tub,. The group in the tub was on their second litters before we noticed anything in the tank (we had also removed the wheel before we got any action). So, it may be wise to take the wheel out if you want to have any offspring.

Just my two cents.

I don't have a rack but I got 1:2 asf's a few months ago. I was worried about chewouts so all my tubs I simply use 1/4" hardware cloth to line my tubs bottom and put my bedding on top of the mesh. It makes it a bit more work but I am 100% sure they won't chew out. I did have one male excape. They are FAST!!! I could NOT catch him but my cat did. They have reproduced like crazy! I have 3 litters in a 10 gallon size tub and today I am making a bigger cage so they have more room. I have had rats and mice and never seen such fast reproduction. I have their lab block in a 1/2 x 1/2 mesh hopper and they are fine eating out of that. I also have a wheel and they LOVE it. I also have a few hides for them. My new cage is going to have two wheels and two levels and will be entirely out of 1/4 x 1/4 mesh. They CAN get out of 1/2 x 1/2 (the little ones). The babies are SMALL SMALL!

I have never let them go without food or water but do know tempature is important. They don't reproduce or like the cold very much. It WILL kill them if it gets too cold.

As far as temperment mine seem to be ok. I have one female that will run to the top of her cage when she sees me because she knows she will get a treat. Now keep in mind I do treat them with extream caution. I just feed my fisrt 3 males and didn't have a problem (except one male getting excaping me. He didn't bite just jumped and in an eyeblink he was GONE) Today will be a test as I will be moving ALL of them to their new home.

You need need my (patent pending) big empty margarine tub ASF catcher! LOL It sounds silly but it worked for the two escapees we've had. If you know where the little rat went to hide block all escape routes but one. Wedge the margine tub in there open end to the rat making sure something is on top of the tub so it can't get over it. Slap your hand or stomp heavily on the opposite side of the rat. Darn things will dash right into the margine tub figuring it's a safe dark hide. Bingo! Flip the tub, slam on the lid FAST and you have one ASF handily caught without you getting bit or the rat getting hurt.

I use a brand of margarine that comes in a sort of brown colored tub so it's really nice and dark and they think they are running to safety. *evil laugh*

Tim, how odd yours wouldn't breed with a wheel in there. All our colonies have wheels and they seem to manage the deed just fine and regularily produce litters.

We have had them in racks for about a year, the only problem we had is we had to change our wire from 1/2" to 1/4". We have had nooooo chew throughs. If one did excape the cat loves to hunt them as they are more of a hunt than mice. ASF have almost no SMELL!! The minute we bring mice back in we can smell them.

We run 1 male to every 4-6 females per tub. If we put more than one male in we have big problems!!!!!!!:colbert::colbert::colbert:

The males will fight and chew each other the whole time.

We also learned to remove babies when at the hopper stage, as again the male issue comes up. Needless to say males disappear first out of every batch.

JBF

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Originally Posted by JeffFlanagan

Temperment varies. Mine are biters, but not the killing machines mcavana is raising.

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LOL!