Set up suggestions and pelleted pine question

So it turns out one of my girls REALLY likes ASFs, so I'm going to start a little colony. I'm planning on a 1.3 or 1.4 group. I've got the sterilite tubs as shown on the sticky, and have built the hardware cloth top and hopper (but reinforced stuctural and potential escape points with stainless steel mesh). Gravity watering system components from RBI are arriving tomorrow according to fedex along with exercise wheels (will attach to lid). I have washers to reinforce the opening for the water nozzle, and was planning on adding a drain hole (also reinforced) to the bottom (if that watering system leaks I'd rather have a wet floor than a tub of drowned animals). Giant bag of Mazuri is also on the way.

What am I forgetting? I know there's something. I've set up one tub for breeders, and two for grow outs, should I make a fourth?

Also I have not settled on a substrate yet. I noticed some people like the pelleted pine, is that the same size pellets as the ones used for horses? Or is it smaller? Do they prefer one type of bedding over another? I want them to be comfy and happy.

Thanks!

I use aspen, because of allergies. I find it works. Don't forget chewing stuff like pieces of wood or even bird toys for them. So they dont chew through their bins.

Bird toys are a great idea thanks! The aspen is for your allergies?

I'm allergic to most wood shavings and it really irritates my asthma. I've found aspen to be the best, and of course, it's the most expensive.

And omg yes, bird toys. Or those jingly cat balls for 0.50 at the pet store! They knock em around and stuff.

I tried the pellets one time for my rats and hated them. I typically clean once a week, sometimes slightly longer if there's only a couple rats in the tub, but it was pretty stinky even before cleaning day. It also made the tubs really heavy and hard to manage, and the NOISE! My rats love to dig and throw the bedding around, and the sound of those pellets hitting the wall at 3 in the morning, OMG! I normally use kiln-dried pine, aspen if I find it on sale, and it works perfectly fine for me.

The pellets worked great for me. Mine was a chemical free wood stove pellets just from home depot. It was $4 for a 40# bag.

It smelled nice, absorbed well, and broke down into sawdust when wet.

The only problem I had with it is that its much heavier than shavings. I had a larger tub for my rats back when I used it and it made it a little more difficult to lift over the trash. (I'm weak!>_<)

I currently use shredded kiln dried pine. It smells nice, light and fluffy, easy to clean. And I'm sure its way more comfortable for the rats than sitting on the hard pellets.

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I've got the sterilite tubs as shown on the sticky

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Make sure they are as flat as possible with NO GROVES, those guys just like any rodent are good at finding weaknesses (grooves and ridges) they can use to start chewing their way out. Provide a piece of 2x2 for them to get occupied and have something to chew.

As far as bedding I have used pine pellets since 2007 and would never go back, you use very little and it is VERY absorbent. I use it in combination of pine shaving which is mainly offered to provide nesting material.

X2 on the bird toys. I have a little mirror with jingle bells hanging on the tub, and they looove to launch themselves onto it lol. I'd advise against any toys with bells if they're anywhere near your sleeping space :) How interested are you in genetic projects with them? If so, I'd make another tub for playing around with genes.

Just a note on the wheel, be careful with the ones that have bars that intersect with the running area. I have one group that tends to fall out, and the others keep running as he gets stuck in the bars and screams. Horrible sound, hope to never hear it again. And now he's got these huge sores on his back, may have to feed him off :/

Thanks everyone! I'll go pick up some bird toys and chewing wood, and I'll play around with the substrate since I'm not seeing a consensus. Mootworm, they'll be in a different room, with a door, but it looks like I'll be sending the wheels back for different ones as they could potentially do that. I hate to sound mean, but I'm not really concerned with genetic projects right now, they're food. Then again if my past behaviour is any indicator I'll just end up with new pets...

Haha I totally get that. They're food for me too (well, for my balls :)) I just like messing with genetics. There's much more instant gratification than with balls lol. You'll love how quick these things breed!

Get rid of the wheel all together there exercise will be the breeding itself. If you use a wheel they will produce less.

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Originally Posted by Emilio

Get rid of the wheel all together there exercise will be the breeding itself. If you use a wheel they will produce less.

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Just curious, what evidence do you have of this? I find that without a wheel, I have more fights break out. I have wheels in all of my tubs, and they're breeding up a storm lol.

I decided to just go with aspen, but they seem happy running on the wheels when they go the same direction. I got a 1.4 that came with about 20 babies (since they were still nursing), and 10 to feed off in the meantime. My troublesome feeder is suddenly eating like a pig, thanks for the help everyone!

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Just curious, what evidence do you have of this? I find that without a wheel, I have more fights break out. I have wheels in all of my tubs, and they're breeding up a storm lol.

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x2! I also find wheels to be a stress reliever for them, and helps keep skirmishes to a minimum. I know theyre just food makers for my snakes, but i like to think that keeping them occupied n happy keeps them makin babies....n i always have tons of litters :D

sent from my incubator

I eventually put a wheel in with my asfs too. They're not really obsessed with it like I've seen with other people's set ups, however, I do like that they keep themselves busy running rather than trying to chew out.

Just an update, but mine seem to REALLY like the wheel. As in four will get on there at a time and go for a group jog, and I seem to have babies coming out of my ears. I lost count at 40, and two more look ready to pop! One of them also seems to really enjoy the hanging wooden parrot swing I got them.