ASF growing up with thin to no fur?

ok i seen in the last 2-3 litters in all my colonies of asf that the youn have patching thin spots or are almost completey bald with only fuzz for hair. it totally wierd the litter before which were removed to finish aging and feeding off are fine.
I a mgiving fresh water beding and food every day. ( giving a mixture of seeds cereal, and some cat/dog food as minium filler)

the mix is like 20-25 lbs of seeds, 2-3 cups of cereal, and about a cup of each cat and dog food. (all dry kind)

Does anyone have any ideal what can be causing this ???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mechnut450

ok i seen in the last 2-3 litters in all my colonies of asf that the youn have patching thin spots or are almost completey bald with only fuzz for hair. it totally wierd the litter before which were removed to finish aging and feeding off are fine.
I a mgiving fresh water beding and food every day. ( giving a mixture of seeds cereal, and some cat/dog food as minium filler)

the mix is like 20-25 lbs of seeds, 2-3 cups of cereal, and about a cup of each cat and dog food. (all dry kind)

Does anyone have any ideal what can be causing this ???

---

Go get lab block ! It could be the food i breed them but have never seen anything like what your saying !

Feed them Mezuri 6F rodent breeder diet.

What you are feeding them does give them food, but not what they need for breeding.

Breeding an animal takes a huge toll on their bodies and you have to give them the best food you can.

Would you make a pregnant woman live off peanut butter and crackers, raman, and potato chips? No probably not, you would give her the best food you can to make her strong and make the baby strong.

Start with strong food and you should have strong breeders.

If you were not breeding them I would say what you are feeding would work,still not the best, but you are breeding them so they have to have nutrition and energy.

I hope this helps some, if you have any more questions feel free to PM me I will get back faster.

Mike

i use lab block and see fuzzy ones all the time,they eventually grow into there hair.this seems to be the norm for these guys,i don't think it's cause for concern.have fun!

yeahI figureing it was somethigno t due with the type of food I was given but I know the little 1.5 lb bag of block is noting ot them and at 4 bucks it not cheap around here I not bee nable ot find it at te feed stores ( they try to sell me pig and goat feed and that looks more like rabbit food

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mechnut450

yeahI figureing it was somethigno t due with the type of food I was given but I know the little 1.5 lb bag of block is noting ot them and at 4 bucks it not cheap around here I not bee nable ot find it at te feed stores ( they try to sell me pig and goat feed and that looks more like rabbit food

---

Buy the hog feed....

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=89199

My experiences are that this can be caused by 2 things. BAD substrate, or BAD food. by your description I would say that your food is likely the cause.

If cost is a concern, NOTHING beats the hog feed.

I will look into it I gve them a n apple last night and I bee ngetting an nastly look from mom and my niece since the asf cages are int mom room ( since she refuses to allow them to be in living roo lol..) I need to get a house so I can have a true reptile room, rodent room, and a computer room that not also my bedroom .

Quote:

---

My experiences are that this can be caused by 2 things. BAD substrate, or BAD food.

---

I am using the pine bedding from southern states for susctrate I not sure ifthat be an issue or not ( better bot be since I got 3 bales left to use )

I have got some hoppers right now with thin coats but they are growing into them very nicely I just leave them with the momma until they have a good coat even if I would normally take them out, it seems to help some.

Mike

i use hog food and i have never had a bald baby i also use aspen for bedding you can get both at a tractor suply store retivly cheep it cost me $35 a month to maintain 4 10gal trios 4 20gal quads and a 55gal grow up tank

I am surprised that some think red, irritated, balding skin is normal.

Its not normal, and is correctable.

that my thing though the skin not red it almost matches the pattern when the hair does come in later ...

well i got the hogg feed at southern states ( looks like rabbit pellets) and we'll see how ( if ) they inprove.

First of I want to state that I raise regular mice not ASF's but with that said I have experienced the same thing. Some of my mice seem to loose their hair or become bald or have little wispy hair. Some of them stay this way to adult some grow out of it and get normal hair again. Their skin is fine is has no sores or redness, just no hair. I DO feed Mazuri feed, have water available at all times, and change bedding often, I use pine shavings from Kotter and Smith (the best deal I can fine 9 cubic feet compressed for $5).

I have no idea what causes it but I dont think it is food, at least not for me. I buy 2-3 50# bags at a time from my feed store, I have a standing order in so it is fresh, hasnt been sitting around for months at a time.

Mice also have a recessive hairless and fuzzy genes. The ASF's with whispy hair does not seem to be related to a hairless or fuzzy gene.

mostly to update and get ideal whatot try next.

I had the asf on the goat/hog feed for almost amonth now andther beenno real change in the tin haird guys ( outside they now have a pink/red skin tone) they are eating the feed and anytihng else I happen to offer them. I am gonig ot try something else the next time I am gett supplies for them. I found them a great snack chew toy by acc. My niece gave them a dog chew bone ( milk bone ) and they go nuts on it i never seen a large scale tug of war over one .. I am consdiering it possible a reactin otthe brand/typ of pine i been getting since it from southern stata and not as dry feeling as the what ihad before.