ASF good idea

Im thinking that I might want to start breeding my own feeders. I dont want mice for a long list of things that I dont want to have to write and rats get too big. I have a pet store that is about a half a mile from my house that carries ASF's and they are selling for about 4-7 dollars each. Would it be a good idea to start a little colony of them?
Also do they stink like mice?

There is no reason NOT to breed your own feeders.

You have to remember that you can freeze the excess rats OR you can sell them off/trade them off.

yes sir! go ahead and do it! if i could find some asf's in my area i think i would start a small breeding colony of them.

downfall to ASF is that they take forever to get up to size. You'll have 100 babies from a 1.4 colony before the first baby reaches true adulthood.

That is why I personally like gerbils for trouble feeders

With only a few snakes I would start a very small colony maybe a 1:1. They will have 12 to 20 babies per litter every 23 days. A breeding pair and a grow out tub is all you need really.

personally, for only 2 snakes...I would breed mice instead or buy frozen in bulk.

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Originally Posted by suzuki4life

personally, for only 2 snakes...I would breed mice instead or buy frozen in bulk.

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Yeah but mice grow too small and they stink real bad. besides that i like the ASFs look and exoticness (if there is such a word:P). And i do buy frozen just I wanted to get a colony started before the hatchling season starts....

Oh god mice are awful! I had only 2 tubs of them with a total of 7 mice and they were stinking me out of the house! I have a breeding rack with 12 mortar tubs FULL of rats and 4 large colonies of ASF's and all of them combined didnt stink as bad as the few mice I had.

I would definately breed some ASF's. They have very little odor, have huge litters and do well on lab blocks and a little alfalfa once in awhile. If you ever get too many there are always people looking for them that you can sell to. Just be sure you keep up with the rodent laws in your area and be aware of any changes that may happen. They are illegal in some states.

mice

1.3

keep them on pellet bedding and swap out nursing or pregnant moms. Don't change those cages until young are weaned...

odor shouldn't be bad.

Going to prewarn you

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Originally Posted by tnelsonflorida

With only a few snakes I would start a very small colony maybe a 1:1. They will have 12 to 20 babies per litter every 23 days. A breeding pair and a grow out tub is all you need really.

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That doesnt always happen, sometimes you will only get five babys, or they kill them before they reach adult hood.

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Originally Posted by jjsnakedude

Yeah but mice grow too small and they stink real bad. besides that i like the ASFs look and exoticness (if there is such a word:P). And i do buy frozen just I wanted to get a colony started before the hatchling season starts....

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Mice do stink, however you can prevent the stink if you look up ways to do it. Mice may grow to small, but it takes MONTHS for an asf to get to its full size. Thats the only reason why I stoped breeding them, they are great do not get me wrong, but I did not have the time or space to wait months to feed my adult snakes.

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

Going to prewarn you



That doesnt always happen, sometimes you will only get five babys, or they kill them before they reach adult hood.




Mice do stink, however you can prevent the stink if you look up ways to do it. Mice may grow to small, but it takes MONTHS for an asf to get to its full size. Thats the only reason why I stoped breeding them, they are great do not get me wrong, but I did not have the time or space to wait months to feed my adult snakes.

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When my snakes get bigger I will do rats but in the meantime when my bigger snake is barley topping 400 grams and i will be getting mabey 4 hatchlings this summer i dont want to start rats this early. :)