Sometimes I'm not sure of which babies belong with which mama since they communally nurse and seem to easily nurse litters of different ages. I used to be worried the newborn ASF's would have trouble getting a meal with their bigger sibs around but it never seems to be an issue and everyone seems to get fed.

I do find it hilarious that the mothers consistently use their food bowls as baby rat playpens. I keep 3 to 4 food dishes in there at all times because there are 3 large adults, usually a litter of newborns and then older sibs not yet weaned but also eating dry food. The females will use these dishes to park babies in and even the popcorn bouncing ASF pups will stay in the dish if mama puts them there. Very cute!

I just have to watch the protective adults when I need those dishes for filling and I have to scoot the pile of babies out. Big Daddy, the large male ASF isn't as nippy as he used to be but he doesn't like anyone messing with his family group.

My other male, Psycho, hasn't fathered a litter yet with his two females and he has about 2 more weeks or he's done. No production and a tendency to attack me everytime I feed his group isn't cutting it with me.

I'm with you D, I have a couple of BP's here that would be refusing if not for the ASF's. These rats have a definite place to fill in our snake collection.