I raise ASF an rats. For the time an money rats out perform ASF all day long. ASF grow slow, very slow like a rat will be at 100g while the ASF is at 25g or less.
You can buy a prego rat to start with from an old school pet shop that keeps the males an females together.
If you come up to MD, I'll give you a ASF starter colony (1m/3F). I still keep ASF but the rats are taking over.
Good luck!