Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a few ASF's from a local guy who brought a bunch in a while ago. Things are a little weird right now. I am wondering what the average life span is on these guys? Are they easily sick? He is feeding dog food. I got 1.1 from him with 5 babies. 4.1 on the babies. I sold two males as food. kept two and the one female went to herem. both adults are dead. I got a 2.1 from a LPS that got them from a guy who got in on the same shipment a while ago. Well one small litter (5) about half raised and the mom just died. The dad either died or got murdered, but no head two days prier. I went to get more from the first guy and he had a mom with at least 15 babies w/o eyes open. she was seperated in the rack and she was dead the babies tring to nurse. I feed a high grain mix food. about 14 protien 6 fat. I have bred regular rats for a year at least. in pine. kept fairly warm. Any ideas?

How are they being housed? Is there some kind of hide or nesting box or PVC to hide in?

If the young are being eaten it could be a diet issue. I feed mine a good quality rodent lab block. Shuffling them around a lot tends to cause fighting and deaths as well.

>>How are they being housed? Is there some kind of hide or nesting box or PVC to hide in?
>>
>>If the young are being eaten it could be a diet issue. I feed mine a good quality rodent lab block. Shuffling them around a lot tends to cause fighting and deaths as well.

I feed mine a little lab block. But found the best results and growth with a bird seed supplemental feeding. I keep 1.3 in a cage and also put in toilet paper rolls or some form of carboard tube. And have plenty of babies almost to many. I also have a friend that raises his just on lab block. My protein is in the 15 percent range. I would try getting them from someone else. It may be something in your current rodent collection. I have bought mice from one guy and his do not survive at my house. But another guys does. Might be some germ or something your current collection has that is causing the others new ones to get sick.

They are in a 36 inch rubbermaid tote. they have a horse food from (IFA) a good source that I feed to my regular rats. it has corn, barley, wheat, ext. They seem to be eating ok. techically the story goes that one guy brought in 15 trios. Parted them out to a few breeders. I bought one set from him and an albino set from the LPS that had bought from one of the other guys. the male albino died. the feamale might of too. I forgot I lost a female the other day. I have about 15 babies right now so I hope I can set upa few herems.they all have box tops or small boxes for hide boxes. I do that with all my rats. 60-70 degrees. low dust kiln cured pine shavings.

The phenols in PINE shavings are HIGHLY toxic! If you must use shavings use a hardwood, like Aspen, instead.

I use paper and cardboard for bedding. The hulls from the sunflower seeds that they eat also get incorporated into the bedding.

Snakey Lakey

I second that. The pine might be what's doing them in. Get aspen, or if you can afford it, cell sorb plus works great for me.
-----
~Sara~
"If you look down on me, I am evil, If you look up to me, I am God, if you look straight at me, I Am you"
-Charles Manson

While pine may be toxic, it's not something that will kill them outright that quickly. It's more of a slow build-up of toxins within their system. Something else is killing them. Are they overcrowded?

I've seen rats/mice go downhill REALLY quick to pine, especially if they are living in dirty cages. It may not be the cause in this case, but it definately is something that needs to be changed. It may be cheap, but it's awful. They may be overcrowded, not have enough hiding spots (or any), or a number of other things.
-----
~Sara~
"If you look down on me, I am evil, If you look up to me, I am God, if you look straight at me, I Am you"
-Charles Manson