How many per breeding group? How many per tank?

[frankykeno]

I lucked out and had a couple of 30 gallon tanks given to me free so I have 1.4 in each of those bigger tanks (as well as my 10 gallon tanks with 1.2 or 1.3 in them). Those 30's could likely easily take a 1.5 group but for now the 1.4 groups in them are doing great and pumping out young like crazy.

I pull my weanling ASF's about a week after their eyes are fully open and I observe them eating and using the water bottles. They spend about another week or so in mixed gender 10 gallon tanks before I seperate them by gender into my grow out feeder tanks.

[jglass38]

I am doing mostly 1.3 with a couple 1.4 groups. I am now pulling them as soon as the eyes are open and seeing less babies being killed. I still lose the occasional one in the breeding group and in the grow out tubs. So far none have stayed long enough to be separated by sex. I guess now I need to start holding back some for breeders to replace my current ones. Nice job on that food hopper! I am going to put a couple of those together and am working on plans for a watering system for my 10 gallon tanks as well.

[frankykeno]

You do have to plan a bit ahead with these rats, Jamie. They take awhile to hit their stride as a breeding group and considering they have a relatively short breeding life, it's always something I'm forgetting to plan for myself. I started putting labels on their tanks with the date that group produced their first young so I can get a better handle on when they will wind down and I should have a replacement group ready to go.

[jglass38]

You do have to plan a bit ahead with these rats, Jamie. They take awhile to hit their stride as a breeding group and considering they have a relatively short breeding life, it's always something I'm forgetting to plan for myself. I started putting labels on their tanks with the date that group produced their first young so I can get a better handle on when they will wind down and I should have a replacement group ready to go.

I am definitely going to do that. Do you set up your replacement groups while they are still young or when you need a new group do you just pull a male and 3 females from your raise up tubs? I don't have the space to always have 7 extra groups waiting to go if they need to be already together. Hope that makes sense.

[frankykeno]

I am definitely going to do that. Do you set up your replacement groups while they are still young or when you need a new group do you just pull a male and 3 females from your raise up tubs? I don't have the space to always have 7 extra groups waiting to go if they need to be already together. Hope that makes sense.

Yep sure does. When I first pull my weanlings I put them all in 10 gallon tanks just for a week or two to see that they are all healthy and adjusting to being without their family group. After that week I seperate the males and females into grow out feeder tanks since I do need some larger sized ASF's (some of my female balls would eat a whole damn little litter of ASF's if I didn't LOL). At that time I pull my future breeders and put the one male and X number of females in a 10 gallon tank.

It does mean I've got tanks full of not-as-yet producing groups taking up space but I'm just not sure if I can wait until they are bigger. I'd hate to see the females turn on the "stranger" male and kill him, wasting all my time in growing them to breeding size in the first place. They seem so unaccepting of new rats once they've started to grow up that I'm just hesitant to do it any other way right now.

[jglass38]

Yep sure does. When I first pull my weanlings I put them all in 10 gallon tanks just for a week or two to see that they are all healthy and adjusting to being without their family group. After that week I seperate the males and females into grow out feeder tanks since I do need some larger sized ASF's (some of my female balls would eat a whole damn little litter of ASF's if I didn't LOL). At that time I pull my future breeders and put the one male and X number of females in a 10 gallon tank.

It does mean I've got tanks full of not-as-yet producing groups taking up space but I'm just not sure if I can wait until they are bigger. I'd hate to see the females turn on the "stranger" male and kill him, wasting all my time in growing them to breeding size in the first place. They seem so unaccepting of new rats once they've started to grow up that I'm just hesitant to do it any other way right now.

Some good info there! I guess I need some more 10 gallon tanks. I am going to get to work on a watering system for the 10 gallon tanks. I can't stand filling bottles.

[littleindiangirl]

I have successfully put together two, 2 mo. old females from a holding bin (from the same litter) in with their father that was well full grown. I thought they might not take a male so close to full grown, but they did.

They are such excellent breeders, I get 17 and 18 from each one. That's a line I will hopefully maintain.

Just an update, still no chewing whatsoever in my tubs. Not a mark on them

[frankykeno]

Some good info there! I guess I need some more 10 gallon tanks. I am going to get to work on a watering system for the 10 gallon tanks. I can't stand filling bottles.

A buddy of Mike's just gave us this huge 55 gallon tank. If I can figure out how to divide it up into two seperate areas I think I may have an excellent and roomy male/female grow out tank. I'm thinking a thick piece of plexigass siliconed in might work to divide the thing.

[Somed00d]

I tried putting 3 trios in one tub of my rat rack and I can tell you having 3 males together is BAD. 1 male is perfect and the other 2 are beat up really bad. So whatever you do keep it to one male per tub. They dont harm the male babies just the adults.

[littleindiangirl]

I tried putting 3 trios in one tub of my rat rack and I can tell you having 3 males together is BAD. 1 male is perfect and the other 2 are beat up really bad. So whatever you do keep it to one male per tub. They dont harm the male babies just the adults.

Ya.. dont put a bunch of males together. You ever watch National geographic or go to the bar? LOL Males fight.