ASFs can't outgrow my snakes so I can keep them for months and months without a problem. I can't do that with the rats because they'll eventually get to be bigger than what my snakes can handle.
Sounds like an excuse to get a boa. My 0.1 BCI eats retired breeder female rats.
Asf rats have almost twice the protein as fancy rats! More is processed by the body and produces less waste. Rats are higher in fat than asf making them good for bulking up females for mating as the follicular growth depends on stored fatty content. Asf is better for breeder males as you want them big and healthy but lean and fit... Especially if he's gonna be in with multiple females that season. And yes they are hard to come by in most places and maybe even more expensive due to short supply. Here in Florida I just bought a tub full at $1.20 a pop. Enough to feed and enough to start a colony of my own. I love Family reptiles but taking an hour trip to lakeland for feeders is something I wanna keep to a minimum... Unless I'm looking for a new baby or 2.