Females not getting re-preggo

[ThyTempest]

So I am stunned that our ASF's are not getting preggo again after their first litters. We have a trio going and the first litter went well. The litters were about 2 weeks apart, like planned, and the second litter is now 3 weeks old. From what other people have said, I was expecting the mom's to be pregnant again right away, in which case the first mother should have given birth again by now, and the second one should be getting really close. Neither of them have shown any signs of pregnancy. I have been waiting to wean the babies in there right now until we see signs of impending birth.

Anyone have any ideas? Their diets, enclosures etc have not changed...Mazuri 9f in lab tanks.

[LostNFound]

just from a mommy perspective ... if I had a bunch of babies feeding off of me I woud NOT want to do it all over again and add more! LMAO other than that i really can't help ya sorry! I couldn't help myself hehehe

[ThyTempest]

Hey, not saying I would either...but still...I thought these guys were machines. Maybe it is the fact that they are still nursing, but I know other people have had them give birth while still nursing the previous litter almost ready to wean.

[llovelace]

Maybe you should pm Mike Cavanaugh on this, he's the only one I see on here on a regular basis re: asf's I know there are more, hope you get your answer

[littleindiangirl]

It'll come. If their eyes are open and they are running around and eating, wean them.

[RandyRemington]

Someone did post about noticing a gap between first and 2nd litters but I haven't been working with them long enough myself to confirm that.

What temperature range are your ASF's kept at? I've also heard of slowdowns in the winter. I'm keeping mine around 80 as I've heard of them breeding up to 95 but have experienced pinky loss in the low 70's. I don't know but would suspect if you are much cooler than 70 they might stop breeding all together.

[greghall]

sometimes there is a gap.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

It definately varies. sometimes there is a gap... most of the time there isn't.

[ThyTempest]

So just an update for everyone. We got our ASF's on November first, and just as expected, the older female gave us a litter before December rolled around. The younger female popped before New Years. The first female gave us her second and last litter around the end of January, maybe early February. Younger female still has not produced another litter, and the holdback female from the very first litter has still not shown anything.

I am getting very frustrated with this, especially since our picky/non-feeding bp started eating again this week. I could really use some more production.

They have been on Mazuri 9 and 6f, but I am getting a 23% protein Kent rodent diet next week to see how that goes. Any other suggestions not already mentioned? I am at my wits end and have decided that if they don't produce on the new food, the breeders are going to be considered feeders as soon as the rest of the youngins are fed off.

[shadi11]

I havent had an issue like that. My production has gone down. Mostly due to my fault. I didnt retire soon enough and start soon enough. I have had a few times where they were spaced apart. No clue what caused it.