asf 911~ questions on pinkies, mom and such and stuff

[jager08]

so guys!!!! I NEED Help! didnt expect babies until april! guess what came home to fine 9 baby mice all over the cage. so we picked them up and put mom in a home by her self..

LOTS OF QUESTIONS HELP

1. mom seems to be moving the babies around the cage in groups and not keeping any warm! i keep moving them back lol advice help?!
2. if mom rejects can i feed them ?? if so what ??
3. should i keep all them together ( the colonly to help) first litter no expericend moms

thought i had time to read and plan!
HELP!!

if anyone has advice or tips PLEASE SHARE THEM

[RobNJ]

When I started breeding ASF's, they would either neglect or eat the babies...I don't know why, or what has changed since, but they do ok now. I actually would take my ASF pinkies and put them in with nursing mice, which worked wonderfully.

[jager08]

so i dont have that option i wish! might call around to pet stores lol! so any thoughts....

i have now took mom and moved her in to a ziplock tuperware container( the containers not the baggie lol-- kinda forcing her to take care of the hoping mothering instincts would kick in here!! )

any other tips??

also can i feed them or not worth it ??

[RobNJ]

I wouldn't even know how to go about feeding pinkies other than a really, really small bottle...

I don't think separating them is the way to go though...don't quote me on this, but once a colony of ASF's is together and reproducing, separating them and re-introducing them can lead to pretty vicious behavior.

[Wapadi]

Ok first (and this is just my two cents!!!) Leave them alone! Put the mom back with the colony ASAP! I have never in 3 years of ASF breeding had a mom abandon her babies. They move them around constantly! They also do not always lay on top of the babies. I had one mom put all her babies in the food dishes every day! And everyday I would dump them out and she would put them back!


The only problem I ever had was occasionally a mom would eat the babies (like twice in 3 years of breeding). I hope this helps...She is probably just a very nervous first time mommy.

[jager08]

okay so here is where we stand! after some great advice---

everyone is back together! but all under a light ( just to help my neverous mom out)

i hope they make it!!!!!!

[truthsdeceit]

ASF's are a less is more rodent.

Keep up your cleaning routine and make sure they always have food and water.
Otherwise leave them alone.

ASF's need to stay in colonies. Unlike other rodents the back to back breeding doesn't seem to hurt the mothers at all, they're built for it. And if you do break a colony up for any length of time they might fight when you try to reintroduce them.

The entire colony will help take care of all the babies. Sometimes first time mothers are confused but usually they settle down if you leave them in peace. If this litter doesn't make it just be patient, she figure it out for sure next time.

[DooLittle]

I would leave them alone. She will figure it out. You are probably adding stress to the situation by messing with her, and her babies, and moving them. Yes, the colony will take care of the babies. No they don't sit on them 24/7. Our first litter the mommas killed the only two babies. Now they all take care of them. Even dad takes his turn checking on the kids. They are great moms, and very protective. Watch your self when messing with the babies. Take a breath, and smile, you have babies!

[jager08]

okay first litter was a bust( mom didnt want a thing to do with them) just a heads up new litter in town and everyone is doing great!! if i get a chance ill show some pics

[jager08]

ya!! we got a another litter of them so i have more pinkies then ill know what to do with!!!

lol

just in time for baby snakes lol