ASF Substitute?

My 2010 fire female is a very, very picky eater...UHG!! I recenly fed her ASF's her last couple feedings and she took them without hesitation. I was informed after the fact that they are illegal here in California..oopps :( So I'm just wondering if I were to breed hamster's or gerbils are either of those close to an ASF? And are they nutritious for bp's. I've heard that gerbils are closely related to ASF but that they are also highly aggressive. She doesn't eat f/t so I could do with out my snake being assaulted by her food.....any input?

Most of the time my ASF eaters will eat mice. Have you tried mice?

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Originally Posted by Emilio

Most of the time my ASF eaters will eat mice. Have you tried mice?

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I have...and i've had no luck with mice either...

Can you buy frosen pre-killed ASF's or is that still illegal? I don't know of anyone, however, that sels F/T ASF's.
Maybe try (if you can wrangle one up) getting an ASF scent on a regular small rat?

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Originally Posted by jamesa2580

Can you buy frosen pre-killed ASF's or is that still illegal? I don't know of anyone, however, that sels F/T ASF's.
Maybe try (if you can wrangle one up) getting an ASF scent on a regular small rat?

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I do have one frozen asf in my freezer now so that sounds like something i'll try. Im not sure what the laws are like on f/t asf's here. I actually know someone who breeds them here so occasionally getting my hands on them is not a problem. I just don't want to breed them myself.

Has anyone had any experience with feeding/breeding gerbils or hamsters or have any info on feeding/breeding gerbils or hamsters?

I know that gerbils are illegal too in California. :/

ASFs aren't hard to breed.. and if you can get them, I'd say go for it. It's what I wanted to do, but also being in CA, couldn't find any. DISCLAIMER- I'm not condoning 'illegal' activity :P (Just in case this is a borderline discussion)

I am not in california but if I remember correctly the ban was on live not frozen you should check that but if that is correct you can buy frozen. gerbils are from Mongolia and not related to ASFs other than they are all rodents. I seem to recall as someone pointed out that gerbils are illegal too in Cal. Hamsters might be as well following that logic of escapees. I don't know.

As for nutrition...

http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/zoo/Who...nal02May29.pdf

All of my snakes will usually take a rat after eating a ASF the previous week. I think they just get tired of eating the same thing. Try offering a rat the next feeding and keep some ASF's in the freezer for when she goes off food:)

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Originally Posted by koloo921

All of my snakes will usually take a rat after eating a ASF the previous week. I think they just get tired of eating the same thing. Try offering a rat the next feeding and keep some ASF's in the freezer for when she goes off food:)

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just tried that today.....no go

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Originally Posted by Misfit

I know that gerbils are illegal too in California. :/

ASFs aren't hard to breed.. and if you can get them, I'd say go for it. It's what I wanted to do, but also being in CA, couldn't find any. DISCLAIMER- I'm not condoning 'illegal' activity :P (Just in case this is a borderline discussion)

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Wow!! I didn't know that gerbils are illegal here too...now that you mention it i can't recall ever seeing any gerbils in pet stores here in CA...now I know why.

You also have to remember some bps are just finicky eaters sometimes they'll snap out of it in time.

I have a mojo female that eats when she wants its crazy sometimes she'll take 5 rat pups in a month then go off for a whole month. They'll eat when they want we all have one or two picky animals.

Just be patient stick to one prey item.

droid!!!!

Ive heard that hairless rats can be substituted. But It'll probably still be harder to find.

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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

Ive heard that hairless rats can be substituted. But It'll probably still be harder to find.

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I have a male hairless in my breeding colony, but still haven't produced any yet.

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Originally Posted by Emilio

You also have to remember some bps are just finicky eaters sometimes they'll snap out of it in time.

I have a mojo female that eats when she wants its crazy sometimes she'll take 5 rat pups in a month then go off for a whole month. They'll eat when they want we all have one or two picky animals.

Just be patient stick to one prey item.

droid!!!!

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When she refuses food how long should I wait until I offer again?

5 days between refusals. Any sooner can prolong the refusing.

one thing you can try is pre killed mouse left over night at opening of warm side hide.

and Calis ban on ASF is live only. If you can get it to eat a frozen asf then do that and order them if needed or get mice to work