Live feeding ASFs = Irresponsible?

[jsmorphs2]

Really? I've never experienced that problem. In fact, I've started most of my hatchlings on hopper ASF's and after three feedings, they switch beautifully to rat pups.

I've also fed off old ASF's to my established group of adults and they don't even blink when a rat is offered the next time.

I've had much the same experience with ASFs. There are a few picky eaters that will only take ASFs but I feel that a picky eater is a picky eater whether its stuck on mice, ASFs or some other rodent.

Personally ASFs were life savers so to speak. I had a girl hovering around 700g for a YEAR cause she only took one or two mice (40 grams or so) at a time. Once I started her on ASFs she would take one or two 60 gram'ers and she started growing like a weed. Some of the retired breeders I have (male and female) are close to 90 grams. That's a GREAT meal compared to a 30 or 40 gram mouse. That being said, you would have to feed a large (3-4k gram) snake multiple ASFs to consider it a good meal.

I've had a few ASFs bite a snake that struck and coiled it in a bad position but they generally don't seem to "fight" once coiled. Also, they don't have the same anatomy when it comes to rear legs like a Norway rat would use to kick and scratch a snake with.

Oh, and my ASFs are NOT aggressive with me. They will bite if you stick your finger in their face but I can go in and handle the babies and adults with no issues. They have NEVER charged me.