Mice Living With ASF's

I have one female pregnant mouse (she is going to have her babies any day now, so excited!) but the thing is, I'm keeping her as a pet (I absolutely love her! She was meant to be a feeder, but she stole my heart ;)) And I am getting a few ASF's this June, and I will be putting them in a large 55 gallon tank, I was wondering if Snowball (the mouse) can live with the ASF? Will they breed together, or attack her?

No can do

I am no expert, but I would think that the African Soft Furs would kill her. I know rats will kill mice, and I would think that the African Soft Furs would to.

They will not breed, just like rat will not breed with mice, they will just kill your mouse/mice.

Rodent such as Mice, Rats and ASF need to be kept separated.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

No can do

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Originally Posted by bsash

I am no expert, but I would think that the African Soft Furs would kill her. I know rats will kill mice, and I would think that the African Soft Furs would to.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

They will not breed, just like rat will not breed with mice, they will just kill your mouse/mice.

Rodent such as Mice, Rats and ASF need to be kept separated.

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Thanks! I was just wondering, I think Snowball would love some companionship. I guess I'll just keep some of her daughters then.

I know there's been success with asf's and mice raising each others litters, along with rats raising asf babies. Beyond that I don't remember seeing anything specific, but I would think there's a chance that if raised together they might be ok. There's also the chance that they would kill each other. In the end the choice is up to you if you want to risk it or not.

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

I know there's been success with asf's and mice raising each others litters, along with rats raising asf babies. Beyond that I don't remember seeing anything specific, but I would think there's a chance that if raised together they might be ok. There's also the chance that they would kill each other. In the end the choice is up to you if you want to risk it or not.

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I'm DEFINITELY not risking it, I thought it would be nice for them to live together, and I thought ASFR raising the babies would be nice, but I won't even take a 0.01% of risking it.

i keep my feeder mice and asf in the same container and i have had no issues if you put them together when there young you will be fine if there adults you could have issues

I beg to differ with some of these posts. I once had a mouse living an ASF for almost a year and never had any problems. The babies might get killed but if the ASFs are raised with the mouse, I think they'd be ok.

Some people on pet mouse forums actually advise putting female ASF in with a male mouse. Male mice fight with other males, but mice are social so pet mouse fanciers don't want the males to have to live alone.
I've tried a male mouse in a group of male and female ASFs, and he ended up with scars all over his tail.

ive had lots of mice fostered by my ASFs, grew up together fine,now sticking adults together ??????

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Originally Posted by greghall

ive had lots of mice fostered by my ASFs, grew up together fine,now sticking adults together ??????

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I witnessed this myself last night. A huge tank full of combined asf and mice of both sexes. I never thought this possible. Found some pregnant mice in the tank and moved them to their own breeder tubs. I plan to do this experiment in the near future.
If a hybrid is possible, raising mice would become easier.

Hybridizing these two species is a bad idea... we don't know the genetic deformities that could be caused initially or further down the line.. just keep it to the same species. There's no reason not to. Plus, I doubt they would breed successfully anyway, or it would have happened already.

ASF's and mice will foster each others young and raise them as their own. If they grow up in such a way, they will be fine living in the same area.

However, putting an adult ASF in with an adult mouse will likely lead to blood and misfortune, and it's not a good idea. It's a big risk to take.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Hybridizing these two species is a bad idea... we don't know the genetic deformities that could be caused initially or further down the line.. just keep it to the same species. There's no reason not to. Plus, I doubt they would breed successfully anyway, or it would have happened already.

ASF's and mice will foster each others young and raise them as their own. If they grow up in such a way, they will be fine living in the same area.

However, putting an adult ASF in with an adult mouse will likely lead to blood and misfortune, and it's not a good idea. It's a big risk to take.

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and it would be a bad idea why? Hybrid species are EVERYWHERE. Mice barely will raise their own babies.

And time will tell if them co inhabiting will lead to blood shed. One poster has reported over a year together lead to nothing severe occurring.


I personally saw mice and asf sharing the same aquarium in a quantity of 50+ and no blood shed to report. EVERY animal in the tank was of breeding size.

if your going to do it I'd get just weened asfs putting adult anything together is a big no-no wanna see pull a adult soft fur out his colony for a couple weeks then put him back he will be a target for all in the colony to attack he might of been the dom male before being taken out but once out his smell is quickly forgotten then when put back in the rest of his short life will become even shorter( it might go a Lil different if you got vary tame asf but i dont see it going much differently.

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Originally Posted by ice#1

if your going to do it I'd get just weened asfs putting adult anything together is a big no-no wanna see pull a adult soft fur out his colony for a couple weeks then put him back he will be a target for all in the colony to attack he might of been the dom male before being taken out but once out his smell is quickly forgotten then when put back in the rest of his short life will become even shorter( it might go a Lil different if you got vary tame asf but i dont see it going much differently.

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not new to asf, I'll be okay.

Not going to argue on this one... just going to state my opinions and move on.

:soapbx:

1.) There is absolutely NO good reason for ASF's and MICE to be to be kept together. I'm sure it can be done... There have been instances where newbees leave a ball python together for weeks with a live rat without either eating each other. Does that mean it should be done?

2) ASF's are already illegal in some states. They will not breed with mice. Still, let the media get a hold of the idea of someone trying to breed normal mice with the relatively unknown aggressive, super breeding, african rodent and you can expect a country wide ban. Good job buddy.

3.) Look at what happened to Michael Vick for his involvement in dog fighting. He is now one of the most hated players in the history of the game. IMHO, anyone who throws an adult mouse in with an adult asf is just as guilty. I'm sure that Michael Vick had instances where dogs he put together refused to fight... does that make his actions OK?

Thank you and good day.

aggression is not guaranteed, it is assumed and has been proven wrong.

Mice produce more babies, just as often. Mice also grow faster.

Mice can also adapt to more climates than the asf that require heat to survive.


Can't stop media fear which is based upon stupidity. I just watched a show called "alien invaders" where a "snake wrangler" claimed an 8 ft python could easily kill him. Stupidity like this goes unanswered hence why the media wins.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

3.) Look at what happened to Michael Vick for his involvement in dog fighting. He is now one of the most hated players in the history of the game. IMHO, anyone who throws an adult mouse in with an adult asf is just as guilty. I'm sure that Michael Vick had instances where dogs he put together refused to fight... does that make his actions OK?

Thank you and good day.

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I guess by that logic anyone who has an indoor cat with an indoor dog in the same house should be locked up. Heck, i guess anyone with multiple animals of any kind kept with out being physically seperated is a criminal, because you never know when a fight might happen . . . .

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Originally Posted by piranhaking

I guess by that logic anyone who has an indoor cat with an indoor dog in the same house should be locked up. Heck, i guess anyone with multiple animals of any kind kept with out being physically seperated is a criminal, because you never know when a fight might happen . . . .

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If you had a better understanding of ASF's you would understand. :)

My dog loves cats. My ASF tho... You can't even put another ASF in there without some Evil Dead going on.

I have a colony of ASFs. Then I got 6 new ASFs from Mike Cavanaugh a few days ago. I wouldn't dare put them together. Somebody is going to die. Guaranteed. Note... these are all ASFs. No mice involved.

ASF's are rats, mice are not, cats can't breed with dogs, mice can't breed with asf's.

Like Mike said, it won't take much to make them illegal in every state, why do it.

i have had rats and ASF live together temporarily.....however if you put a mouse into a rat tub or ASF tub...they WILL kill it.

Pitoon

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

ASF's are rats, mice are not, cats can't breed with dogs, mice can't breed with asf's.

Like Mike said, it won't take much to make them illegal in every state, why do it.

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Mastomys natalensis is a mouse or at least a relative of one.

I have put adult mice in, with adult ASFs for extensive periods of time with absolutely no troubles what-so-ever.

This is a very VEEEERY common practice. :P

I have also kept ASF rats with Spiny Mice with no problems as well.
ASFs can foster mouse pups very easily as well.


The ASFs can be housed with male mice, female mice, or both!

And yes, they're a type of mouse, not rat, but will not breed with domestic mice, or domestic rats.
Although, I've never heard of putting ASFs and domestic rats together, it could be possible. Easiest way to test it is to introduce one of them into the other's cage inside of a clear plastic exercise ball and see how they react. :)




I think the problems you guys are having, may be from not having tame ASFs, perhaps?
Mine are 100% tame, do not bite, and are very handleable animals, as well as my mice, and I've had no problems introducing one to the other at any age.

Dont know if this is beating a dead horse, but I put 1.1 ASFs and 1.1 rats together right as they were weaned within days of each other. They have been growing together for 2.5 months now. They stick to opposing sides as far as sleeping, but they play, sleep, etc together. I thought it would be a cool rodent social experiment, to see what would happen. So far so good. I dont think breeding them is a possibility though, rats are way too big.

sleep = nap*

Rats and mice and ASFS will never interbreed.

But ASFs are very flexible with who they are housed with. I've kept them with Mice, and Spiny mice with no trouble at all. Rats, I don't know about but I supposed if they grow up together, they'll probably be fine.

I mean, I've seen someone who has a male mouse living with two female degus quite happily. So anything can happen if you ask me. :P