Reptile & Amphibian Forums

some pics of my starter colony of ASF rats

The typical ASF attitude

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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

Have they drawn blood yet> =)

It's hard to tell, but I hope that's not cedar shavings.

Haha. No its not cedar.. well anymore. I switched to aspen today. Thanks for the heads up
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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

Does it prove any benefit to use Africans.

I can get those for $1.99 a pair at a local pet shop.

If your snake is eating something else reliably, then no not really. They are good to breed because they have little to no smell, unlike mice. They are also good for problem feeders, especially ball pythons since they are their natural prey.

>>If your snake is eating something else reliably, then no not really. They are good to breed because they have little to no smell, unlike mice. They are also good for problem feeders, especially ball pythons since they are their natural prey.

So yes for someone that breeds his own feeders in a bulk quantity it is a benefit. I don't understand the BP thing. I am sure they eat more than just that in the wild but the number of captive bred is climbing so I don't see why that is of any benefit in those situations.

These Rats look cool for one thing. They remind me of the African Painted Dogs. I was thinking about getting some for various reasons.

Good luck with the project. I would suggest to make something else out of it like breeding not only for feeders but for other people as pets but I take it giving the fact the local Mom And Pop shop is discounting them so much they are not yet that popular?

>>>>If your snake is eating something else reliably, then no not really. They are good to breed because they have little to no smell, unlike mice. They are also good for problem feeders, especially ball pythons since they are their natural prey.
>>
>>
>>So yes for someone that breeds his own feeders in a bulk quantity it is a benefit, I would imagine that they are then also more sanitary. I don't understand the BP thing. I am sure they eat more than just that in the wild but the number of captive bred is climbing so I don't see why that is of any benefit in those situations.
>>
>>These Rats look cool for one thing. They remind me of the African Painted Dogs. I was thinking about getting some for various reasons.
>>
>>
>>Good luck with the project. I would suggest to make something else out of it like breeding not only for feeders but for other people as pets but I take it giving the fact the local Mom And Pop shop is discounting them so much they are not yet that popular?

WOW! Where are you located. I am in Daytona Beach, FL, and if you can find them, they are about 7 or 8 dollars each!
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1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko
1.0 Anery, Goku
0.1 Amel, Sunny
2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel

Gypsy

>>WOW! Where are you located. I am in Daytona Beach, FL, and if you can find them, they are about 7 or 8 dollars each!
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>>1.2 Ghost Corns, Beetlejuice, Casper and Spooky
>>1.1 Charcoal het pewter, Smokey and Flame
>>1.1 Hypo het lavender, Rosy and Rocko
>>1.0 Anery, Goku
>>0.1 Amel, Sunny
>>2.0 Tabby Cats, Daddycat and his son Brat
>>0.1 Australian Shepherd, Angel
>>
>>Gypsy

Whitehall PA. They cant sell a single one of them but for some reason they still have not figured out that they should stop them from reproducing. They still have them ( males and females ) together...lol!

Sorry for the double post. I thought I was editing it instead for some dumb reason.

Hey, Im in Daytona Beach too, small world.
Anyway Ive never seen them
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1.0.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
1.0.0 Fire belly toad
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
cats, dog, ferret, rats, mice and hamsters

Just wondering whats wrong with the cedar shavings?
Thats what I have mine on. Everybody says the ASF are
so mean but Ive only been bit by one and it was when
I was playing with her babies and she barely bit me,
no blood.

Just wondering whats wrong with cedar bedding?

>>Just wondering whats wrong with cedar bedding?

Here is a link..

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/guineapigs/a/woodshavings.htm

It is very bad for all small animals especially when keeping them in quantities like you would when keeping them for breeding as feeder purposes.

Thanks for the info. Ive been useing cedar shavings for my ASF and mice for over a year now and havent seen any signs that it could be harming them. And just about anything in this world is harmful to breathe to some degree. I would use the pine shavings but the reason I use the cedar is it cuts down on the smell a little better.
Thanks
Vincnet

Yes, for anyone that didn't read the article. Pine and Cedar contain toxic caustics and phenols. When wet the oils will irritate the skin. When breathed in it scars and damages the lungs of the animals. The phenols will elevate liver enzymes that will eventually lead to liver disease and death.

The oils that are harmful to your snakes can be found on the skin and fur of your feeding animals.

Just don't keep them on cedar and pine.
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~C