feelings on asf's

[jcooper7211]

Just curious on everyones feelings on african soft furred rats? I have given up on to trying to feed my collection what i want and started feeding them what they want...which is africans.... i have started breeding my own asf's and since i have switched from mice and rats all of my snakes have eaten every week unless in shed, even my 4 year old 700 gram female albino that only ate about 4 rats a year has been eating regularly. but there seems to be alot of controversy over feeding africans people saying they aren't available or the snakes will get stuck on them. Like i said just curious how everyone feels. hope everyones season is going great!

[spitzu]

I've had all of my breeders exclusively on ASFs for nearly a year and I won't ever be switching to regular rats. Also, I think I'll use next year as a test run for the hatchlings I'll be selling. I'm curious to see how hard it will be to sell them as ASF eaters, because I *really* don't want to bother breeding rats/mice.

[snakesRkewl]

Also, I think I'll use next year as a test run for the hatchlings I'll be selling. I'm curious to see how hard it will be to sell them as ASF eaters, because I *really* don't want to bother breeding rats/mice.

Here's a good test run you can do now, make a thread with a poll asking people if they would buy an asf eating hatchling

[aldebono]

I think if I was in your situation with the female albino, I would do the same thing. I wouldn't plan on selling her but would like her to eat regularly and breed for me.

I think it depends on the animal. Some are pickier than others.

I don't think I would feed my babies ASF if I was planning to sell them. People may not have ASFs available, may not want to bother with an ASF feeder.

[Don]

I feed all my snakes that are my breeders and hold backs ASFs. However, those I have for sale, I feed frozen/thawed rats.

[Focal X]

Those little buggers scare the heck out of me! I just got a pair for fun but I don't think I will be switching from rats unless I have problem feeders.

[decensored]

I dislike ASF's for the following reasons..

1. They are hard to find (where I am: Toronto) So I would have to breed them..

2. Breeding them is more difficult than breeding rats for the following reasons (I have a small breeding colony):
- They take longer to grow than Norways,
- They will never get as big as Norways so you will have to feed multiples.
- They are bittey (even though people try to say other wise) they bite much more often than norways.

With that said there are benefits to breeding them:
- They smell less,
- They have larger litters.

3. BP's CAN get hooked on ASF. Not all will, but generally speaking if you have any picky snakes, gaurenteed once you get them feeding regularly on ASF you won't get them off of them. I have 3 BP's that I bought as adults that were fed ASF their whole life. I cannot for the life of me get them onto regular rats and with the market the way it is right now for rodents, its costing me a fortune.

I think that its pretty easy to get a hatchling onto norways even if they have had ASF their first few meals. I'm not 100% on that though.

Personally I would stick with regular rats but thats based mostly on factors that are effected by my location. What ever you decide good luck with everything.

Cheers.

[spitzu]

Here's a good test run you can do now, make a thread with a poll asking people if they would buy an asf eating hatchling

Great idea!