Got a ASF colony.

[JoeNapoli]

So I found a Colony of recently weaned ASF's and took the trip to get them Saturday. Ive looked at them and got them all setup but It is hard to sex them at this age with the Cotton Ball fur. I was told its around 4.6 when i got them. Ive read for hours and also watched every youtube video i can find and see mostly breeding 1.2, 1.3 or 1.4 groups like Norway's & Mice. The breeder I bought them from says they will breed fine in the Colony they're in? If this is so why do people separate them into smaller breeding groups? ...

Hi Chris. I was under the impression that colony was going into a 55 gallon glass tank (I thought that's what you had mentioned) and would not be kept in relatively small cages, like the one they were in when brought to you.

The colony you have there could breed just fine in a 55 gallon. I spoke with a breeder at an expo last year who claims she has >100 ASF's (including pups) in a 40 gallon. I personally wouldn't recommend an enclosure that crowded, but it can be done.

If you changed your mind about the 55g and will be using smaller enclosures you should split up that colony into smaller ones.

I had recommended Mike Cavanaugh's posts. If you haven't already seen this one it's worth a read:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?89199-ASF-Tell-ALLS-Finally-decided-to-reveal-to-my-BP-net-brothers-and-sisters

Have you seen the videos "ASF's in the kitchen" and "How to set up an African Soft Fur Rat colony" ?
If not, copy/paste these links:
youtube.com/watch?v=6waSUiMB_t4 especially hear what he says starting @ 8:10
youtube.com/watch?v=_sgsoL98k9Q especially hear what he says starting @ 3:05

Text me anytime, take care.