How to hypnotize your ASF :P

[Rhasputin]

Figure i'll post this here too, just so people can see that when i say my ASFs are friendly, I mean it.



Something I've been working on with desensitizing the ASFs.
First I scruff them, and lift them out of the cage, and slowly cup my hand under them so they're laying on their backs. Then I distract them with gentle belly rubs, and eventually, let go of the scruff, and keep rubbing their bellies. Most of the girls enjoy or tollerate it, but the boys don't like to be scruffed at all!

The ASFs in the photos, are not being restrained by the scruff.

Now, these ASFs will let me pick them up and just hold them on their backs. Doesn't last long, but they'll let me. They'll also roll over sometimes, for cheek rubs.

[Mitch21]

LOL if I tried that with my ASFs, my hand would be bloody.

[snakeboymike]

what exactly are ASF's?

[larry918]

African Soft Fur Rats

[llovelace]

Too cute, but as Mitch stated above I'd also have bloody hands. I guess If i were keeping them as pets I would try this but mine are dtrictly breeders & feeders.

[Alexandra V]

LOL the first picture is just too cute - looks like she's in ASF heaven!

[melrappmel]

Figure i'll post this here too, just so people can see that when i say my ASFs are friendly, I mean it.



Something I've been working on with desensitizing the ASFs.
First I scruff them, and lift them out of the cage, and slowly cup my hand under them so they're laying on their backs. Then I distract them with gentle belly rubs, and eventually, let go of the scruff, and keep rubbing their bellies. Most of the girls enjoy or tollerate it, but the boys don't like to be scruffed at all!

The ASFs in the photos, are not being restrained by the scruff.

Now, these ASFs will let me pick them up and just hold them on their backs. Doesn't last long, but they'll let me. They'll also roll over sometimes, for cheek rubs.

are your ASF's pets or do you breed them for snake food?

[koloo921]

Wow! Your guys are too cute! My rats will do that, but I don't hold my ASF's. I always pet them in their cages though, and they don't bite. I have only been nipped a few times because I was reaching under mommas belly grabbing babies. If they do nip I give them a 3 sec. tail spin and never been bit by the same one again. They are smarter than you think.

[Rhasputin]

They are smart! You can train them to. They're very good at agility courses.

These are pets, and feeders. I breed them to try to improve on colour, and temperment and bring them to some sort of standard, but I also cull off a LOT since I'm breeding so selectively, and that means I have loads of feeders to sell.

[reptilegirl07]

They are smart! You can train them to. They're very good at agility courses.

These are pets, and feeders. I breed them to try to improve on colour, and temperment and bring them to some sort of standard, but I also cull off a LOT since I'm breeding so selectively, and that means I have loads of feeders to sell.

That's really neat! I don't know too many people working with ASF rats for temperament. I suppose they can be pretty good pets. The first group I had would chase me to bite me. This second set I bought don't do that and I can pretty much stick my hand in tubs and not have to worry about immediate attack, although there is one tan female in my whole collection that attacks. I should probably cull her so I can keep my colony tolerant of my presence!