Just got my first trio!!!

I just had to post some pics. They're so stinkin cute! And not aggressive at ALL. *Knock on wood* I can't wait for my babies to pop out ;)
Here they are in they're space ship:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/07/a6yvyve5.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/07/7epupury.jpg
Out and about in their tub:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/07/8a3e5edy.jpg
Janet and Pickles
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/07/u2aza3e7.jpg
Bianca, my personal favorite :)
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/07/u8y9e5e7.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/01/07/ynyvu7u8.jpg
Are there any tips from veteran ASF breeders? I've read up on the care sheet, so I'm familiar with the basics, but is there anything you wish you would have known when starting out?
Thanks!
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Kind of arbitrary question but is that their full grown size? o:

For the most part, yes. Although I believe if you let them get to about a year old, they balloon up.


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LOL they'll definitely get bigger.

Also. Get rid of that wheel. They're just going to ruin it lol

Watch yourself after they have babies. They are very protective little buggers. And those suckers can jump, and fast too. The hoppers are like popcorn. Or ping pong balls.

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Haha I'll keep that in mind. The lady that sold them to me said that's how big they would get lol. I guess I'll just have to wait and see!!


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Yah get a metal wheel. They will chew those plastic ones up like nothin.

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Haha I'll keep that in mind. The lady that sold them to me said that's how big they would get lol. I guess I'll just have to wait and see!!


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They don't get much bigger but that's definitely not full size lol

Yeah I figure they can use the plastic one til it's destroyed, I'm not too concerned about it, I got it for free from the neighbors :) I've got a bunch of cat toys I'm going to throw in there for em too.


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They are cute until they bite you to the bone, or until you see what they do to each other when they fight.

Based on what I've read about these guys, I'd be nervous about keeping them in a plastic tub that has so many angles and notches in it. You don't want them to have anywhere to get their teeth in. In the smooth cement tubs that a lot of people use, they have no corners where the rodent can get a solid grip on the plastic. This prevents them from chewing out.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Based on what I've read about these guys, I'd be nervous about keeping them in a plastic tub that has so many angles and notches in it. You don't want them to have anywhere to get their teeth in. In the smooth cement tubs that a lot of people use, they have no corners where the rodent can get a solid grip on the plastic. This prevents them from chewing out.

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Yeah I was kind of worried about that, but I was hoping if I kept them occupied with toys they would be less inclined to destroy their tub. I've got a 10 gal with a screen top that's not being used. I just didn't know if that would be big enough. So do you think a 10 would be big enough for three of these guys? Or should I just get a smooth tub? I'd like to be as frugal as possible :)


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They will chew. Doesn't matter how many toys you give them, they will start to chew the tub eventually. I use clear rubbermaid tubs that don't have much of a groove. the only chewing they do is the hole around where the water bottle comes in and they bite the edges of the lid where the mesh is.

Oh and the babies can squeeze through 1/2" hardware clothe, so beware!

Overall, ASFs are a pleasure to keep, but don't expect them to sit in your hand like pets once they start having litters. They are quite protective. I just let my ASFs do their thing and only bother them to steal babies or clean.

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

They will chew. Doesn't matter how many toys you give them, they will start to chew the tub eventually. I use clear rubbermaid tubs that don't have much of a groove. the only chewing they do is the hole around where the water bottle comes in and they bite the edges of the lid where the mesh is.

Oh and the babies can squeeze through 1/2" hardware clothe, so beware!

Overall, ASFs are a pleasure to keep, but don't expect them to sit in your hand like pets once they start having litters. They are quite protective. I just let my ASFs do their thing and only bother them to steal babies or clean.

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And yes, asf's will chew!!


Lol, glad I'm not the only one who "steals babies". I always tell my momma rats when I am there to " steal their babies" :p

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Awesome lol. Ok so I'll look for some smooth tubs this weekend. I have some aluminum screening, would that be ok? Or should I not risk it and go with the heavy duty stuff? Ive been playing with them everyday in hopes of keeping them as tame as possible when the first litters come around, but I've got some leather gloves on standby in case things go south :)

Hey all!
I think one of my girls is preggo!! She still seems small to me, but her belly is way bigger than the other girl and is firm and bulgy lol. Is there a way to know for sure? I tried to take some pics but she's such a wiggle worm!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/03/u2a2y9e7.jpg
In retrospect, I probably should have taken a pic of Bianca as well for comparison. Meh.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/03/junyjara.jpg

And here's my hopper that I made, just for kicks and giggles!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/03/pyqemu7u.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/03/9ety3e6a.jpg

I can usually tell by lifting them up by the tail. Usually they'll bulge out
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/03/mydymaba.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/03/ehu2u3ez.jpg

Good luck with them. On the topic of size, I've fed off retired breeders that were 120g + so they can get nice and big. Also, un-bred grow-up males get bigger than the un-bred grow up females. Just an fyi if you need bigger feeders.


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Thanks for the tips guys! I'll keep that in mind for the big breeders. When this group of breeders stops producing, I'll probably just grow them out and see how big they get :) They'll go to pet status then. I'm sentimental like that lol. As for now, I can definitely feel the bulge on her, whereas I can't with my white female. Hopefully I'll have babies within the next 2 weeks!!!

Guess who has 4 brand spankin new pinks!?!? This girl!!! :D Gah I'm so excited. What a nice surprise after a long day at work. I'd take some pics, but I don't want to freak out the new mama. She looks like she's hyperventilating as it is lol. Anyway, that's all, just wanted to share the good news haha.

UPDATE: Still only 4 babies :( I was hoping for more, but I'm happy as long as none are eaten lol. On the bright side, I think my other girl is about to drop. She's on the smaller side as well, so I won't count on too many squeakers out of her. But I can happily say that NONE have bitten me yet :D Even when I was petting mama on top of her babies. Hopefully she won't smarten up haha.

For those of you that have bred ASF, what color do you think the all pink one will be when grown?
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/08/qu5uny9a.jpg

Thanks guys

They look to be the normal white and browns:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/08/4ese6ejy.jpg

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

They look to be the normal white and browns:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/08/4ese6ejy.jpg

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Dang! I was hoping for something cool. I love the look of my almost-all-white girl. Maybe something cool will pop up with the next litter *fingers crossed*

Your animals could be hets.

My breeder didn't know his ASFs were het for ambers until his clients started telling him.

Ambers:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/08/atepu9us.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

Your animals could be hets.

My breeder didn't know his ASFs were het for ambers until his clients started telling him.

Ambers:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/08/atepu9us.jpg

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Ooh I would love some ambers. I'm hoping I'll see something interesting with the light baby, but I'm not keeping my hopes up. I might have to pick up some more breeding stock :) although I'm loving this group I have. They are absolute joys, and don't seem to mind me playing with their babies lol.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/juhy9ajy.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/azetabu3.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/7e5e2u4a.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/uhybugub.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Yeah I figure they can use the plastic one til it's destroyed, I'm not too concerned about it, I got it for free from the neighbors :) I've got a bunch of cat toys I'm going to throw in there for em too.


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Are they pets or feeders::D

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Originally Posted by Dnkreptiles

Are they pets or feeders::D

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Great question haha. I think they're pets now :) I'd been hearing all these horror stories about mean, aggressive little buggers, but these guys are just so sweet and full of personality. Maybe I'll start selling them as pets, and use the proceeds to buy my frozen feeders :D

I've honestly only had one colony that was crazy, and they didn't last long. They'd actually come at me when Id open their cage.

Everyone else are sweethearts