ASF vs. Rats (live)

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Originally Posted by Danounet

Where would I get a ASF trio to get started?

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post an add in the for sale / wanted section of this forum. Be sure to list your exact location for the best results (closest intersection)

in my experience asfs dont fight back as much too. they just sit there and take it without struggling

asfs do smell better than rats and smell a million times better than mice. they have a unique smell, its not like your average rodent smell

I posted a wanted ad on CL in the pets section for asfs i found like 5 people in my area who offered to sell some

asf generally don't have much of a smell. odorless compared to a norweigen rat.

Thanx!

Oh, oh oh oh trust me ASF's are not odorless! I have about anywhere from 100 - 150 ASF's at all times, and I have never once NOT smelled them. They have a different odor that may not be as offensive to most people, but it's there, and I apparently find it quite offensive. Enough to gag.

In my experience feeding the 2, I would agree with others saying they are less dangerous than a regualr rat. Once placed in the snakes tub they dont go running around crazy like most rats, they usually just sit in a corner and wait for the snake to come and get them. This is why I like them, espically for the more skiddish snake.

As far as smell, I agree ASFs do stink...just a little less than a regular rat. The most I had in a rack at once was close to 80 and after a few days I could definately smell them. When people say they dont smell they must only have a trio or two.

Well thats a good thing then, I want just a trio since ive never breed rodents before lol. And I only have 3 juvi BPs, maybe 4 soon. :gj:

My experience is similar to most.

I've been feeding ASFs for about 6 mo. My snakes that are on ASFs are very shy feeders and I have noticed that the ASFs can avoid them for a longer time but when they are constricted they don't fight as much. I've had Norway rats fight like MAD when being constricted, biting and kicking. You wouldn't think it but their hind legs can cause a lot of damage too. Plus to help avoid injury in either case I keep an eye on them and if I notice a rat biting I use the forceps to move their head.

After keeping/breeding ASFs I will never keep mice again. They stunk up my whole house! I would say out of mice and rats, ASFs smell the least. But with weekly cleaning I NEVER smell them outside the snake room which is more than I could ever hope for.

Hope this helps :P

I've been feeding ASFs for a little over a month and have had over 50 in my room and I've never smelled them. I don't even clean weekly, I just changed substrate and I figure I'll just clean when it smells or starts looking kinda gross (gotta keep the snake food clean and tasty).

I smell snake poop a thousand times more than my asfs.