Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have you guys heard of these? A local petstore was selling them as "Natural Food For Ball Pythons"

Not much info available. Any thoughts?

ASFs are what balls eat in Africa - they are used primarily for enticing wild caught balls or picky feeders to eat.

As balls can sometimes imprint on food items - it's possible that your ball may only want ASFs after being fed some - if you don't have a ball that is a problem feeder and don't have a steady supply - then you might not want to take the chance.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

Oh, I don't have balls. Thanks for the info though. If there were a steady supply, would you consider them a preferable item for your breeders to eat. (I say breeders because you'd want your babies to eat what everyone else has, ie RATS and MICE)

They are kind of small to use for ball python "breeders"...All of my breeding females eat medium rats at about 150 grams each. Soft furs are usually under 50 grams, so I would have to feed 3 at a time. Plus, they cost me like $1.50 each while a medium rat is $1.75.

I wouldn't use them as a replacement for domestic rats unless I had a snake that just refused to eat!
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Thanks,
Amy
My Boids

>>They are kind of small to use for ball python "breeders"...All of my breeding females eat medium rats at about 150 grams each. Soft furs are usually under 50 grams, so I would have to feed 3 at a time. Plus, they cost me like $1.50 each while a medium rat is $1.75.
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>>I wouldn't use them as a replacement for domestic rats unless I had a snake that just refused to eat!
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>>Thanks,
>>Amy
>> My Boids

I breed them and find them easier to deal with. I have been bit once by the Asf. I got rid of most of my mice and had to get a tray for some smaller pinkies. The female mouse bit me and drew blood twice while cleaning. They don't smell as bad. You could go two weeks in between cleanings. They don't drink as much water so less urine output. I like them

I guess it depends how often do domestic rats and mice bite- about the same amount? The cleaning things sounds nice though!
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http://darkbloodwyvern.deviant.com

I breed them and they are mean as all get out. they would jump out of their cage to try and bite me. stick to normal rats.
that is my opinion.

captive born non-feeding balls here did not eat the ASFR......the big girls eat them but not non-feeding kids.

ratsnakes and milks and kings like them....they breed alot......so for small snake food they are great......

..they are mean......
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I have a few and I really like them. I have two ball pythons that are spotty eaters on normal rats but really dig the ASF's.
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-Diana
www.LunarBoids.com

What if you could get them frozen. So that mean is not the issue?

There are very few folks who sell FT. i can't any that will ship FT, only live pairs. if your snakes eat well on regular rats or mice, you really don't need exotic stuff. If you have picky eaters, just be sure you will always have access to if the rest of their life. changing a ball diet like that without a steady supply is just asking for long periods of fasting.
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http://darkbloodwyvern.deviant.com