Are ASF's going to replace regular rats in the BP community?

[jglass38]

So my ASF breeding has been going on for about 2.5 months. After a slow start I now have them producing regularly. The downside is how slowly they grow. I have 4 groups of 1.3 and 1 group of 1.5 . I have a tub full of weans that seems to be the same size week after week. The upside is that they have worked to get some picky feeders going again. It's still a work in progress but at this point I can't say that they could ever replace rats for me.

[FIREball]

I agree, my 1st litter was born on July 5th and last night was the 1st night I had some that were small rat size. On the upside my het pied female who had stopped eating for months has eaten ASFs consistently for a couple months now.

[jglass38]

I agree, my 1st litter was born on July 5th and last night was the 1st night I had some that were small rat size. On the upside my het pied female who had stopped eating for months has eaten ASFs consistently for a couple months now.

You had 1.5 month old ASFs up to small rat size!? My 1.5 month olds are maybe rat pup size at most. They just don't grow.

[FIREball]

Yeah some grow faster thats for sure. I have a set that are 4 weeks old and they are tiny, small mouse size.

If I had a huge room that I could devote to my own rodents I would just breed ASFs but I dont so I will just stick to feeding some the ASFs and buy regular rats for the others.

[masta_ballZ]

ok people want them to grow faster, use cuddle bone, its healthy for them and helps with their growth. and believe me feed them veggies, lettuce and carrots.. ill be getting my video up soon and ill show you how i take care of them but gotta wait till friday or saturday thats cleaning days for me for the rats... ok

[Herpquest]

I have been breeding ASF rats for about six years now, and use them as just an additional food source to the mice and rats that I also breed for the snakes. Some of the snakes will go from eating mice to eating rat weaners, some won't - so I use ASF rats as an intermediary, and eventually onto rats.
I feed a 50/50 mix of rabbit food and wild bird seed, supplemented with a 'stir fry' and salad mix once per week.
Feeders are around the 60 - 70 gramme mark when fed to the snakes, with ex-breeders reaching 120 - 130 grammes.