ASF- What's the craze?

[Jimi_Reptile]

I have a nice sized colony of three breeder bins holding one male and two females, and I also have two separate grow-outs for males and females. All in all there is about 100-125 AFS's in the rack and I only smell an odor out of the grow-out tubs after the bathroom corner is drenched. It's not usually bad, but after a week, it sometimes gets a little bit over the top if I don't spot the bathroom corners.

I have seen a tremendous difference in growth and alertnes in my snakes since I started feeding ASF's. I have a BP that had not eaten anything in 10 months, we had no choice but to tube feed her. We found a ASF breeder and bought a dozen or so and began our colonies. The first time we put a ASF in with that snake, she took it dead on no hesitation. tub was open for about five seconds before she took it. Since then, she's never missed a feeding.

The only bad thing about them is the breeders are breeding too fast! Before the oldest clutch is old enough to be weaned, there's a batch of chubs and pinks in the bin! I've been seeing that if I don't remove the oldest group before the third batch is born, the new pinks end up at the bottom of the pile and die of starvation and/or being crushed.

As for the social aspect of them, the grow-outs accept new batches of weaned babies with no problems. I have never had a death in a grow-out bin yet. I can pet and hold the grow-outs and not get bit. If I go anywhere near the breeders, they they charge, bite, and don't let go. I have been using a leather glove I usually use for my scorpions to get the adults out for cleaning day.

Rock on! \m/

[Animals As Leaders]

ASF's are over-rated I think. Take too long to get to the right size and for me thats enough for me not to like the idea. I'm thinking about getting A colony just for problem feeders, and getting babies going but thats it I wouldn't make it into an operation for all my snakes.

[Jimi_Reptile]

Well the speed of the breeding depends on what temperature the room is. I keep my ASF's in my snake room ( no odor, yay! ) and it is kept at a constant 80 degrees. If they are at a lower temp, they don't breed well if at all.

If you feed your grow-ups different foods, they grow quicker. I feed mine KENT 23% protein rodent diet and they go from weaned to adults in about a week and a half to two weeks.

[itskrystle]

I found a care sheet online that said 1/3 of their diet should be fresh fruit and veggies, do you guys do that? Just wondering if it's absolutely necessary to give fresh produce.

[Beardedragon]

The speed of breeding is great, but the speed of growth is terrible.

I spend forever growing them up, and then you have trouble with them killing each other.

Great for problem feeders though, but I never had the patience of raising them for feeders.

And, although they do not have a horrible smell, take a wiff of their pee corner.

[Animals As Leaders]

Well the speed of the breeding depends on what temperature the room is. I keep my ASF's in my snake room ( no odor, yay! ) and it is kept at a constant 80 degrees. If they are at a lower temp, they don't breed well if at all.

If you feed your grow-ups different foods, they grow quicker. I feed mine KENT 23% protein rodent diet and they go from weaned to adults in about a week and a half to two weeks.

I still find it kind of a waste when you can just go buy a rat? I really don't see them getting to the size I want in two weeks especially after countless people are saying its take longer then that. With rats I just add a little more pine and make sure I clean every 7 days and it really doens't smell that bad. And its funny how a lot of you say theres no smell. Then there are people that say the deffinately do...? Personally I don't get caught up with it. The only reason I think they are good is for problem feeders, but what I don't get that either. If they smell less like all you say then wouldn't it be just like any other rodent? When I feed mice to some of mine as feeders the feeding response is usually way higher due to the musty mouse smell, but with rats its a lot less of a smell and usually take a little more to entice them so wouldn't it be the same for these guys? Its all hype and your all nuts haha jk

[bigbearhook]

ASF make great feeders for colubrids as well. I also feed them to my Hogg Island Boa. Mine are all calm and don't bite. I use chew-proof water bottles and have wheels in all the tanks. The MAIN reason I breed them though is that my wife if literally DEATHLY allergic to normal rats. I have the ER bill to prove it just from going into the local pet store on cleaning day for 10 minutes. I like them but if I could I'd go with normal rats just for the size issue. I have to feed 3-4 ASFs to my adult breeder balls at a time. However, my snakes feed on these like CRACK!!! Even the corns and carpets seem to like them better!!!

[Animals As Leaders]

ASF make great feeders for colubrids as well. I also feed them to my Hogg Island Boa. Mine are all calm and don't bite. I use chew-proof water bottles and have wheels in all the tanks. The MAIN reason I breed them though is that my wife if literally DEATHLY allergic to normal rats. I have the ER bill to prove it just from going into the local pet store on cleaning day for 10 minutes. I like them but if I could I'd go with normal rats just for the size issue. I have to feed 3-4 ASFs to my adult breeder balls at a time. However, my snakes feed on these like CRACK!!! Even the corns and carpets seem to like them better!!!

Wow, good reason....

I really would like to see the response if I fed them. So many people say that they loooove them, so I would like to see if theres a difference. Looks like I'm going to have to pick some up at the next show.

[m00kfu]

Wow, good reason....

I really would like to see the response if I fed them. So many people say that they loooove them, so I would like to see if theres a difference. Looks like I'm going to have to pick some up at the next show.

I don't see much of a difference in my collection other than I have a few that prefer them over rats. The rest of the balls won't touch them.