I guess I'm an ASF breeder now. Tips?

I picked up 5 ASFs at an exotic animal action but of course all of them were males :rolleyes: I was bummed because the closest breeder was 2 hours from me. Well, my mommy surprised me with an early birthday present....48 ASFs!!! :banana:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/ASFs/005.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/ASFs/006.jpg

I took the bread out, the lady who sold them had the bread in there for them. Her husband died suddenly and had retics. She already sold the snakes, but still had most of the ASFs. I'm not sure if it was a good deal, but my mom got them all for $50 plus a 50 pound bag of ground corn cob, and 5lbs of food.

I do have to say that those are the ugliest babies I've ever seen. Rat babies are WAY cute, these things are all gross and scraggly... The adults are cute...except for the bugged-out eyes part.

Well, around here no pet store carries them. However, when I do see them on Craigslist, or when the family owned store around us gets them in, they are usually four to five dollars a piece. If you were local to me, I would say it was a damn good deal.

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Originally Posted by bsash

Well, around here no pet store carries them. However, when I do see them on Craigslist, or when the family owned store around us gets them in, they are usually four to five dollars a piece. If you were local to me, I would say it was a damn good deal.

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Ok awesome! That's good to hear. We found a few for $6 a piece and one lady several hours from us who wanted $20 a piece! :rolleye2:

Do you keep them just like rats? My rack system is set up for one mom per tub-the tub they are in right now. I forgot to say those tubs are temporary, for a day or two till I get more racks/tubs built. Do the females do good when kept together when they have babies or are they like rats and possibly fight over the babies?

From what I have seen, yes, but much tighter on escape proofing. I personally have no experience with them, so I would suggest asking someone who is. I just wanted to say that it seemed like you got a good deal, congratulations!

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Originally Posted by bsash

From what I have seen, yes, but much tighter on escape proofing. I personally have no experience with them, so I would suggest asking someone who is. I just wanted to say that it seemed like you got a good deal, congratulations!

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Oh ok :P Well I'm happy to hear your opinion on their price! It makes me feel better about my mom spending that all that money on them. I'm really hoping to start breeding them to sell since there aren't any ASF breeders anywhere close to here. Even our pet stores don't carry them. I have plenty of rats to feed my snakes. My sister just text me to ask how many rats I have now, I just realized I'm only a few shy of 100 including the new ASFs!!!! *faints*

No problem, I like to try and help when I can. I am not allowed to breed anything here, just because if something were to escape, my mom would have my head. Good luck with your breeding, you should have plenty to go around, and I'm sure you will have enough buyers for them.

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Originally Posted by bsash

No problem, I like to try and help when I can. I am not allowed to breed anything here, just because if something were to escape, my mom would have my head. Good luck with your breeding, you should have plenty to go around, and I'm sure you will have enough buyers for them.

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Lol yeah, my fiance and I own a house. He can complain, but that's about it :rofl: My snake room doubles as my rat room so if they get loose they don't go far. I've only had one get loose in the year and a half I've had them here, and that was because I was keeping them in tanks. Now it's purely tubs and racks, no escapees!

Good to hear. Yeah, the guy I used to buy from built his own racks for them.

Lets see what I can add. We have raised ASF for some time. First do a search for Mike Cavenaugh's threads. I think he raises them exclusively. They are more bitey than rats,but if you are just smooth and easy they react well to calm handling.You need to go to 1/4" mesh on the top of your rack because the hoppers can get out. Except for the feed area which should stay 1/2" mesh. Also they never get bigger than a Ball Python can eat but they take longer to grow to maturity. There are some issues with males in with females. The Matriarch of the group sometimes will kill the male breeder. We have found that this does not happen as often when you put them in a clean tub, by putting him in first. Also do not swap rats from colony to colony. The tend to fight and sometimes kill the new arrival. Hope this helps.
Good Luck.

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Originally Posted by tonkatoyman

Lets see what I can add. We have raised ASF for some time. First do a search for Mike Cavenaugh's threads. I think he raises them exclusively. They are more bitey than rats,but if you are just smooth and easy they react well to calm handling.You need to go to 1/4" mesh on the top of your rack because the hoppers can get out. Except for the feed area which should stay 1/2" mesh. Also they never get bigger than a Ball Python can eat but they take longer to grow to maturity. There are some issues with males in with females. The Matriarch of the group sometimes will kill the male breeder. We have found that this does not happen as often when you put them in a clean tub, by putting him in first. Also do not swap rats from colony to colony. The tend to fight and sometimes kill the new arrival. Hope this helps.
Good Luck.

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Unless you're feeding hog feed, then youre gonna need that 1/4" still.



Put 1 male to 2 females. They will live and breed in that trio for the rest of their life. If the male dies, you can then take the females and add one to one established colony, and the other to another colony. NEVER remove the male and replace him with another, or sometimes even with himself.
Remember always...you can move females around how you like, but never males.

Babies are fine being left with the colony until theyre ready to be weaned.
Weaning is best a couple days after they open their eyes.
Your first litter will probably be eaten.
They eat babies sometimes, it is not a cause for concern.
Every 26-28 days you should have a litter, unless youre using more than just a 1.2 colony.

Anything else, PM Mike, he's the go to guy.
You can PM me as well, Ive been learning a lot about these guys since I got into them and have a fairly decent knowledge base about em.

Enjoy them though.

OH and...as for being aggressive...they're not really aggressive until they're in an established trio and have bred. Other than that they're little pushovers, timid yet curious.

I've bred them for a couple years now and believe that groups of 1.2 are the way to go. They are nippy very nervous in comparison to domestic rats and also smarter than rats. If you get an escapee he or she will not rest til they do it again.

Like most have posted there only drawback is growth rate. Good luck with them they are going to breed like crazy.

Well ill tell you this it took me 3 weeks to find 1 person who can get their hands on ASF's but they told me they don't refcommend me getting my pinstripe(who hasn't eaten in 4 months now but only has lost about 30 grams) hooked on something that is hard to find. Long story short he told me 3 bucks a piece so you made out just fine

Thanks for the info everyone! I'm working on my racks as we speak. I'm going to have 1.2 in each tub. And if I understood right, you leave the males in even when they have babies. The lady gave them to me in separate tubs (males in one females in the other) so I think I will have to wait till the babies are weaned before putting the females and males together in their 1.2 colonies?

Super-cute! I want some! :)

Welcome to the darkside....

Looks like you have been given decent advice so far. I personally NEVER change a breeding group. Once one dies, the other two ALWAYS get fed off.

Feel free to ask any questions you have as you get further along... we are happy to help!!

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Originally Posted by Emilio

I've bred them for a couple years now and believe that groups of 1.2 are the way to go. They are nippy very nervous in comparison to domestic rats and also smarter than rats. If you get an escapee he or she will not rest til they do it again.

Like most have posted there only drawback is growth rate. Good luck with them they are going to breed like crazy.

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I found that dropping black oil sunflower seeds into the tank when they start opening their eyes and exploring, and then for the first week that they're in the growout tub boosts growth.
Some say it's a bunch of fat, but I dont know, mine are nice and healthy looking and acting, just a little bigger out the gate.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Welcome to the darkside....

Looks like you have been given decent advice so far. I personally NEVER change a breeding group. Once one dies, the other two ALWAYS get fed off.

Feel free to ask any questions you have as you get further along... we are happy to help!!

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Mike Im with you on that, I go either way on it. It all depends on the age of the group. If they were fairly young, Ill set up a 1.1 and add the other female in in order to maximize her potential.

well i had mine for a while and I know that they not cheap most the time. I know in Delaware they sold like 15 bucks a piece when you find them , and they sodl under a fancy mice name ( lol makes no since with that name) I have mine in 3 large tansk but I know they were not breeding right and I learned why lol I wasw keeping soemthing like 2-9 ratio cause I didn't have enough water bottles/room to set up about a dozen tanks. I also found if I dumped the rodents into a clea ntub and then wiped the old cage down when I cleaned the males were not getting jumped as bad since it was all a new and clean set up for them.

I also founda chewing trick they liked for a hide/ chew area. I took a small piece of plywood( to fit inthe tank and screwed 4 pieces of 2x3 for legs making a mini table they will climb on hide under and chew on and it made out of scrap wood lol..

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

I found that dropping black oil sunflower seeds into the tank when they start opening their eyes and exploring, and then for the first week that they're in the growout tub boosts growth.
Some say it's a bunch of fat, but I dont know, mine are nice and healthy looking and acting, just a little bigger out the gate.




Mike Im with you on that, I go either way on it. It all depends on the age of the group. If they were fairly young, Ill set up a 1.1 and add the other female in in order to maximize her potential.

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I have to try the sunflower seeds then. I give them carrots, bread and pumpkin seeds to change it up sometimes.

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Originally Posted by Emilio

I have to try the sunflower seeds then. I give them carrots, bread and pumpkin seeds to change it up sometimes.

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If theyre making you happy with their production, give them popcorn as a treat...they go absolutely insane for it.

I give them any veggies that we have that are going bad, and at one point I gave them the rinds and core from a pineapple, they enjoyed that for a bit.

For the OP
Pricing, you got a good deal BTW. I sell trios for like 30 bucks cause I find that Im one of the few locally that has ASFs, and quality ones at that. The local pet store has them for like 5 bucks a piece but they only sell males, I sell feeders for 1-2 a piece.

All I have to say is, for the love of God dont give them a wheel! it will mess with their production and they will be on it 90% of the time whenever they are awake. If you did give them a wheel, dont take it out now, they will turn aggressive. When you set up new groups in the future dont give them wheels.

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

I found that dropping black oil sunflower seeds into the tank when they start opening their eyes and exploring, and then for the first week that they're in the growout tub boosts growth.
Some say it's a bunch of fat, but I dont know, mine are nice and healthy looking and acting, just a little bigger out the gate.

Mike Im with you on that, I go either way on it. It all depends on the age of the group. If they were fairly young, Ill set up a 1.1 and add the other female in in order to maximize her potential.

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Thanks for the info. I actually have sunflower seeds in the tubs right now. The lady gave me the sunflower seeds with the food. I thought it was weird, but it makes total sense now :rolleyes::rofl:

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Originally Posted by mechnut450

well i had mine for a while and I know that they not cheap most the time. I know in Delaware they sold like 15 bucks a piece when you find them , and they sodl under a fancy mice name ( lol makes no since with that name) I have mine in 3 large tansk but I know they were not breeding right and I learned why lol I wasw keeping soemthing like 2-9 ratio cause I didn't have enough water bottles/room to set up about a dozen tanks. I also found if I dumped the rodents into a clea ntub and then wiped the old cage down when I cleaned the males were not getting jumped as bad since it was all a new and clean set up for them.

I also founda chewing trick they liked for a hide/ chew area. I took a small piece of plywood( to fit inthe tank and screwed 4 pieces of 2x3 for legs making a mini table they will climb on hide under and chew on and it made out of scrap wood lol..

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Thanks for the advice! And holy cow that's expensive!!!

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

If theyre making you happy with their production, give them popcorn as a treat...they go absolutely insane for it.

I give them any veggies that we have that are going bad, and at one point I gave them the rinds and core from a pineapple, they enjoyed that for a bit.

For the OP
Pricing, you got a good deal BTW. I sell trios for like 30 bucks cause I find that Im one of the few locally that has ASFs, and quality ones at that. The local pet store has them for like 5 bucks a piece but they only sell males, I sell feeders for 1-2 a piece.

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Ok thanks for that. How do you decide if they really are buying them to feed and not to breed?

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

Thanks for the info. I actually have sunflower seeds in the tubs right now. The lady gave me the sunflower seeds with the food. I thought it was weird, but it makes total sense now :rolleyes::rofl:



Thanks for the advice! And holy cow that's expensive!!!



Ok thanks for that. How do you decide if they really are buying them to feed and not to breed?

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By controlling the sex of what you sell as a feeder. I will sell either all males or all females, and people that buy males one day will keep getting males, so I dont accidentally create breeding groups for cheap.

The only reason I do this is because I BATTLED my wife to get them into the house in the first place, and the care and love that I have for them wont allow me to be undersold so other people can get in on my hard work for cheap.

Oh and remember, sunflower seeds are for when they're little, because it contains a lot of fat. You dont want them on it constantly or theyll get fat and unhealthy. I find that if they gain a lot of baby fat throug sunflower seeds, theyll use it to grow faster and will run it off playing around in the grow out tub.

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

By controlling the sex of what you sell as a feeder. I will sell either all males or all females, and people that buy males one day will keep getting males, so I dont accidentally create breeding groups for cheap.

The only reason I do this is because I BATTLED my wife to get them into the house in the first place, and the care and love that I have for them wont allow me to be undersold so other people can get in on my hard work for cheap.

Oh and remember, sunflower seeds are for when they're little, because it contains a lot of fat. You dont want them on it constantly or theyll get fat and unhealthy. I find that if they gain a lot of baby fat throug sunflower seeds, theyll use it to grow faster and will run it off playing around in the grow out tub.

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Ok thanks very much! I was wondering how you did it. I really don't want to give people colonies either because they are a pain in the butt to get and I'm the only breeder within 2 hours. I'm selfish, I want them all to myself :D

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

Ok thanks very much! I was wondering how you did it. I really don't want to give people colonies either because they are a pain in the butt to get and I'm the only breeder within 2 hours. I'm selfish, I want them all to myself :D

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LOL yeah me too. Only breeder for a long ways. Just get really good at sexing them cause its hard to tell when theyre still pinks, but it can be done.

Hi Stephanie,

This s Mackenzie (*SSS*) and I am VERY interested in ASFR, trying to get my baby to eat ;)

I would imagine they would be kept just like rats or mice, don't see much of a diference other than orign and color.

Good luck with the babies!

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Originally Posted by Sadistic Serpent

Hi Stephanie,

This s Mackenzie (*SSS*) and I am VERY interested in ASFR, trying to get my baby to eat ;)

I would imagine they would be kept just like rats or mice, don't see much of a diference other than orign and color.

Good luck with the babies!

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I thought that was you! You keep them in 1.2 colonies, 1 male and 2 females and you never change them around or add more. The females tend to kill the males other wise, and don't produce as well in bigger colonies. You might have troubles finding ASFs because they aren't all the popular.

Haha, I know what you mean :) I've been looking everywhere, everyone seems very far away :( I'll guess I'll keep looking. Do you think 1.2 is to much for one snake? I'll probably be getting another snake once I got my problem feeding doing alright.

ASFR remind me of oppossums haha

you are building tubs for them. put a little thought into it, cause they are chewers. I had aluminum water bottle holders and they chewed them. I now use the sterilite 58 qt tubs from walmart I cut the center out of the top and install 1/4 inch hardware cloth (screen). I cut a hole in the top hardware cloth to place a food feeder made out of 1/2 hardware cloth that goes to about 4 inches from bottom of tub. this gives room for the bedding and keeps the food dry. I keep the water bottles on the outside of the tub and drill a hole for it to go thru. I put 1/4 harware screen on both side of the tub where the bottle goes thru so they can't chew it. I had them in these tubs for little over a year now with no problems. one good thing is they do smell, but no where near as bad as mice or rats.

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Originally Posted by don15681

you are building tubs for them. put a little thought into it, cause they are chewers. I had aluminum water bottle holders and they chewed them. I now use the sterilite 58 qt tubs from walmart I cut the center out of the top and install 1/4 inch hardware cloth (screen). I cut a hole in the top hardware cloth to place a food feeder made out of 1/2 hardware cloth that goes to about 4 inches from bottom of tub. this gives room for the bedding and keeps the food dry. I keep the water bottles on the outside of the tub and drill a hole for it to go thru. I put 1/4 harware screen on both side of the tub where the bottle goes thru so they can't chew it. I had them in these tubs for little over a year now with no problems. one good thing is they do smell, but no where near as bad as mice or rats.

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:rofl: Yep I found that out the hard way!!!! :taz:

Now I move the colony with babies one they are old enough to escape into a plastic tub as well! They can get out of every gosh darn little hole. And yes the water bottles are on the outside out of reach :taz: