ASF trio

[frankykeno]

We have a second ASF colony established with one young male and two young females. So far no babies yet and the male is a bit of a handful. He's been named Psycho Rat.

[Ginevive]

Oh btw Big Momma, my husband just informed me, is the mother of the just born litter so she is 103 grams not preggie. A nice sized female all in all.

Jen, we pull the ASF's to a seperate growing out/feeder tank when they are about 5 weeks old (same age I wean my regular rattties at). That way the big breeder tank doesn't get over-run, the breeder male doesn't start after breeding his own offspring and the breeder females don't get funny with their own adult daughters. Seems to work out nicely.

Sounds cool Aren't they weird creatures though. They really look more mouselike than ratlike to me. I am glad that I got them.. they are adding a little excitement to my feeder room.

[Ginevive]

We have a second ASF colony established with one young male and two young females. So far no babies yet and the male is a bit of a handful. He's been named Psycho Rat.

Argh, a psycho rat!? I can see this happening.. second colonies.. third ones. This is how I got into "big" rat breeding..

[monk90222]

I just cleaned my colony, I have about 20 in 1.3's or 1.4's all in 10gallon tanks...Its been about 2 weeks since I've cleaned them....I want to report..NO SMELL....none! and the pine was dry...if I went 2 weeks with regular rats they would be swimming in urine!


Also I am sick of chewed waterbottles...I wrapped the top of the bottles with aluminum tape...we'll see if it works...but I think it might??

[Reediculous]

Oh btw Big Momma, my husband just informed me, is the mother of the just born litter so she is 103 grams not preggie. A nice sized female all in all.

Jen, we pull the ASF's to a seperate growing out/feeder tank when they are about 5 weeks old (same age I wean my regular rattties at). That way the big breeder tank doesn't get over-run, the breeder male doesn't start after breeding his own offspring and the breeder females don't get funny with their own adult daughters. Seems to work out nicely.

At five weeks do they try and rip your fingers off, or are they pretty calm?

[Reediculous]

I just cleaned my colony, I have about 20 in 1.3's or 1.4's all in 10gallon tanks...Its been about 2 weeks since I've cleaned them....I want to report..NO SMELL....none! and the pine was dry...if I went 2 weeks with regular rats they would be swimming in urine!


Also I am sick of chewed waterbottles...I wrapped the top of the bottles with aluminum tape...we'll see if it works...but I think it might??

i wonder why they feel the need to chew the water bottles. I'm sure you have wood in there for them. Maybe they hate the sippers! who knows!

[frankykeno]

Also I am sick of chewed waterbottles...I wrapped the top of the bottles with aluminum tape...we'll see if it works...but I think it might??

Yes they will chew the tape, or at least mine will chew any thing like that and it's likely not particularily good for them.

At five weeks do they try and rip your fingers off, or are they pretty calm?

They are bouncy, fly out of your hands, whoohoooo I have no clue gravity works nutty rats. However they apparently taste good to the snakes that eat them! LOL Mike does most of the hands on work with the ASF's. He usually put a glove on for the adults if they have young with them (or with Psycho Rat) but he doesn't bother with gloves for the weanlings/feeder ASF's.

[Ginevive]

hm.. I have a glass water bottle for them now. I actually switched to those for my rats too, because I was sick of coming home to chewed bottles! I give them all stuff to chew too.. and don't let the water run out..

[monk90222]

I'm sure you have wood in there for them.

I have wood, cardboard, Oat grass and paper towel tubes in there for them to chew on...they chew up all of that and still feel the need to chew the waterbottles....

[Ginevive]

Is oat grass the same as oat straw? I actually use oat straw as horse bedding (it is not a food product and had the seeds removed for other purposes.) Should I give my ASFS some to chew on?