ASF Tell ALLS... Finally decided to reveal to my BP.net brothers and sisters....

[wolfy-hound]

That's awesome! I never used feed hoppers either, they weren't built into the racks I got, and I never installed any. Usually the food went on top of the rack wire, and if I used smaller food, it fell through and was in the substrate, and the rats did just fine.
I realized I was overfeeding the adults too! They wasted tons of food, hiding it everywhere and never eating it, since I'd put MORE food in when the stuff disappeared.

Thanks for posting.

[Beardedragon]

Interesting way you clean, that seems like a good idea because im my tubs the front is always the dirty part. If I still bred asfs id probably do that.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Forgot one thing.... the wheels are all history.

Why I wanted to get rid of them:

1.) They were a constant pain to deal with.
2.) The were expensive.
3.) Even the good metal chrome covered ones would wear out in less then a year.
4.) The wheels themselves were disgusting. They were caked with pee goop even though I attempted to spray them clean weekly. I noticed that a lot of the smell was coming from the wheel itself, and the glass behind the wheel that was also covered in pee goop.
5.) They got in the way when cleaning
6.) With literally 30 wheels spinning 24 / 7 at any given time at least 3 or 4 were squeaking. I am talking about LOUD squeaking that could be heard in the living room. It was driving everyone (especially my wife, kids, and dog) crazy. I constantly lubricated them but that was constant maintenance as they would always start again soon. Don't know what was worse, the constantly squeaking wheels or my wife pestering me about squeaky wheels.
7.) I wanted to see if they were even necessary.

When I first pulled them out, all hell broke loose. The breeding groups started fighting, babies and weiners were killed, and the males would CONSTANTLY bang their water bottles against the glass in protest. One male actually slammed the glass bottle and metal holder hard enough to put a crack in the tank glass!

The solution was that I fed 100% of them off, and set up all new breeding groups from kids that had never even seen a wheel. Now everyone is happy. I was surprised to see that removal of the wheels had no negative effects on breeding numbers, weight gain or general health. The only real change I noticed is that now the moms spend a lot more time with the babies... but still the baby growth rate is on average the same.

Wheels are obviously the choice of the keeper.... but I have proven to myself that they are NOT needed... and when you produce large numbers, life is much easier and cheaper without them.

So, if you look in my breeder tanks you will only see four things.

1.) Rats (and rat poop )
2.) Pine shavings
3.) Hog kibble on the substrate
4.) water bottle

[M&J in NC]

That makes sense. I just have a 1.3 colony, but I always like to save money. And you've just confirmed what I've been thinking about the wheel; It needs to go. I've had my ASFs for three weeks and they are absolutely obsessed with the wheel. Every time I go in to check on them (and I do mean every time) they are all four playing on the wheel together. I told my wife "I don't think we'll ever get babies because they can't stay off that wheel long enough."

Thanks for all the info.

[littleindiangirl]

Forgot one thing.... the wheels are all history.

Why I wanted to get rid of them:

1.) They were a constant pain to deal with.
2.) The were expensive.
3.) Even the good metal chrome covered ones would wear out in less then a year.
4.) The wheels themselves were disgusting. They were caked with pee goop even though I attempted to spray them clean weekly. I noticed that a lot of the smell was coming from the wheel itself, and the glass behind the wheel that was also covered in pee goop.
5.) They got in the way when cleaning
6.) With literally 30 wheels spinning 24 / 7 at any given time at least 3 or 4 were squeaking. I am talking about LOUD squeaking that could be heard in the living room. It was driving everyone (especially my wife, kids, and dog) crazy. I constantly lubricated them but that was constant maintenance as they would always start again soon. Don't know what was worse, the constantly squeaking wheels or my wife pestering me about squeaky wheels.
7.) I wanted to see if they were even necessary.

When I first pulled them out, all hell broke loose. The breeding groups started fighting, babies and weiners were killed, and the males would CONSTANTLY bang their water bottles against the glass in protest. One male actually slammed the glass bottle and metal holder hard enough to put a crack in the tank glass!

The solution was that I fed 100% of them off, and set up all new breeding groups from kids that had never even seen a wheel. Now everyone is happy. I was surprised to see that removal of the wheels had no negative effects on breeding numbers, weight gain or general health. The only real change I noticed is that now the moms spend a lot more time with the babies... but still the baby growth rate is on average the same.

Wheels are obviously the choice of the keeper.... but I have proven to myself that they are NOT needed... and when you produce large numbers, life is much easier and cheaper without them.

So, if you look in my breeder tanks you will only see four things.

1.) Rats (and rat poop )
2.) Pine shavings
3.) Hog kibble on the substrate
4.) water bottle

I agree with Mike 110% on wheels. If you do not want to maintain wheels and squeaking, and the possibly injury or death.. DO NOT INTRODUCE RATS TO WHEELS.

They go berserk at first without them, and it takes a few weeks of high stress before they calm back down, if they ever do.


Good write up Mike, it's always nice to see how someone else does things. (Although, I still dont know how you deal with all of those glass tanks! *back ache city* )

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Yes I believe the country acres is in fact a Purina product.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

(Although, I still dont know how you deal with all of those glass tanks! *back ache city* )

They are 10 gallon tanks. they only weigh like 5 lbs if that!

[juddb]

I loved the wheels when i first got them, but now i totally agree with you they are a pain in the butt! But i knew something would happen if i removed them, so every 3 days or so i take them down, scrub them and oil them (olive oil). Its only two so its not much trouble.

[nixer]

i did the same when i had my asfs.
i still use that feed for mice its $8.49 from tsc here.

[tiexecutioner]

can some one give me a website for the food/bedding?