Rats/ASF Hide or no Hide? Plus More

[Danounet]

Hi there, Im trying to set up a 10 gallon tank for feeders. It is my first BP former home and its convinient to use because it is just sitting there empty now. Im planning to breed rats or ASFs to feed my BPs.

I still havent decided yet, But it will most likely be ASFs since I could just get mice/rats feeders at most stores anyways.

My current set up is in the pictures bellow.

For substrate I use aspen because it is what I use with my BPs and I already have it. Is aspen ok for rodents?

As for a water bottle, I still havent gotten around to go and buy one. But is it realy necessary?

For food, Im not sure what I'll do yet, a hanger? a plate/bowl? At the moment I just drop the food in there.

What I realy have no clue yet is a Hide. Is it good for them to have a hide? I droped a reptile basics smallest Hide and the rat pup wont come out of there now. She only comes out to drink water and gather food most of the time. Seems like the rest of the tank is just going to waste lol. She goes in the wheel for a few seconds sometimes too.

As a side story about the rat. When I got her, I bought her together with another rat pup as feeders. I fed off one to one of my BPs, and I couldnt just find it to feed off this one, she was so cute . She is white with a black hood and stripe. Now she is teaching me about rodent husbandry lol.

Current Set Up


Rat out drinking Water

[llovelace]

My Asf's don't have hides, or wheels. I use lix-it brand water bottles, they can't chew this type of water bottle. you can't put a water bowl in or you will be changing/cleaning it constantly. for food I feed hog feed $10/ 50# bag I dump 1 cup every other day.

[Danounet]

My Asf's don't have hides, or wheels. I use lix-it brand water bottles, they can't chew this type of water bottle. you can't put a water bowl in or you will be changing/cleaning it constantly. for food I feed hog feed $10/ 50# bag I dump 1 cup every other day.

Thanx I'll look into those bottles, what about the aspen? is that ok?

[matt71915]

you dont need a hide or the corner litter pan, a water bowl works but youll find that they always manage to get bedding into it. dropping the food in is fine, they are rats... they will get to it. aspen works but you might be better off going to something cheaper like pine

[llovelace]

I use my aspen for the reptiles, you can get a 40# bag of kiln dried pine at TSC for like $6

[Danounet]

you dont need a hide or the corner litter pan, a water bowl works but youll find that they always manage to get bedding into it. dropping the food in is fine, they are rats... they will get to it. aspen works but you might be better off going to something cheaper like pine

I was asking about aspen because I already have it and use it with my BPs. But I dont wanna poison the rodents or anything. I dont want to have a separate bag of pine for my rodents. Thanx!

Another Question what would be a good ASF ratio to feed my BPs? 1.1? 1.2? 1.3? Im gonna have a total of 4 Juvi BPs

[llovelace]

I was asking about aspen because I already have it and use it with my BPs. But I dont wanna poison the rodents or anything. I dont want to have a separate bag of pine for my rodents. Thanx!

Since you only have 2 snakes and starting only 1 colony go with the aspen, but as you acquire more snakes (you will ), you will start more colonies. it will be cheaper for you to go with the pine for the rodents, pine does not have any ill effect on them.

[llovelace]

1.3 ratio and 2 grow out tubs for the weanlings.

[Danounet]

kool, Thank you soooooooooo much!

[matt71915]

I was asking about aspen because I already have it and use it with my BPs. But I dont wanna poison the rodents or anything. I dont want to have a separate bag of pine for my rodents. Thanx!

thats what i thought in the first place too, i bought one bag of aspen and it was gone before i knew it, so i say screw it ill buy 2 bags of pine for a little more than one bag of aspen. My wallet is much happier now