ASF Breeding Question

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Ok... so far I have 4 - 10 gallon tanks.... each with 1.2 ASF's in them. they are still pretty young but all of them have just about reached adult size. the males are all definately sexually mature because they have all developed (for lack of better words) "sacks"... abd the females are the same size, some a tiny bit smaller

I plan on keeping the 10 gallon tanks because they work well for me and my limited storage / shelving.

The question is.... Right now there is a wheel in each tank. they do take up quite a bit of the room. I noticed one of the males chasing one of the females last night but he was unable to get her because she kept getting on the wheel.

From your experience, would it be OK for me to remove the wheels??? I am desperate for these guys to start producing! I assume that removing the wheels might help them conserve energy for more "productive" things!!!! No pun intended!

Will it cause them to get too fat? Or start fighting and eating each other???? any help you can give would be GREATLY appreciated!

Mike

[monk90222]

I have 10 gallon set-ups also (also I have some in racks) but I do not have wheels in there. I put 12" pieces of wood in each tank along with some paper towel tubes or other cardboard. They chew the heck out of all those things.....that uses up their extra energy.
You'll get preggos soon, the girls breed as soon as they're ready, and by your description they are almost ready....Good Luck

[Mike Cavanaugh]

it amazes me how much they both have changed.. (both the male and the females)

The males have developed huge testes... that stick out quite a bit.

The females were the biggest surprise. all I have to do is look at their bellies, and i instantly know if they are female or not. you can clearly see a long line of nipples on both sides through the fir. it kind of looks gross they are so well defined... These things were made to BREED BREED BREED!!!!

Haven't gotten bit yet, but now when they get ticked off they give me the evil eye.. sway from side to side, and the hair on the back of their neck stands up. I CANT WAIT to start feeding these things off! I will have none of the feeling sorry emotions that I experience with my mice and rats!!!!

Mike

[JeffFlanagan]

Haven't gotten bit yet, but now when they get ticked off they give me the evil eye.. sway from side to side, and the hair on the back of their neck stands up. I CANT WAIT to start feeding these things off! I will have none of the feeling sorry emotions that I experience with my mice and rats!!!!

To me, that's the best thing about ASFRs. Mice and especially rats can be good pets. ASFRs are just mean and I never feel bad about feeding them off.