The work of scrupulous selective breeding.

While there is debate that ASF’s are the cure-all for non-feeding ball pythons (out of my 40+ snakes, very few will regularly take ASFs at every meal), they are a really good size for a ball python and other animals that need whole prey animals.

I think this is much like the Red Eyed Dilute of the Norway Rat. ASF's are the Average Lifespan: 2-3 years in captivity I, of course, immediately named them, Gabbagoo, Cherry and Ginger. Thank you for the information! Menopause: Approx 12-15 mo. , as it is simply too easy to lose them and if taken to a pet store they could easily pick up diseases from animals there. I have given my rats wheels. I can’t say if the same is true for Europe, since in Europe most Fancy Rat breeders really try for companion animals and work towards a less bite prone, nervous animal. This is because the parent will always have genes that its offspring does not have, since a parent gives one half of it’s genes, and the other parent gives the second half. HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SPONTANEOUS RENAL LESIONS OF PRAOMYS (MASTOMYS) NATALENSIS Our observations see breeding starting about four months of age. This page was last updated: 11/19/2013. We’ve put a lot of work into each piece, and want to remind everyone that if you like what we do here, please make a link back to this page, rather than infringing on copyrights. I find a 1.2 or 1.3 is a successful ratio, although groups with more females can work if given proper space. ASF’s are very protective of their young and their relaxed behavior with you will change as soon as those pups are born. OR, you could create a new group from the animals you already own. I had at least one Amber colored female not develope any tumors until close to her second year. They don’t burrow, either, and, unlike gerbils, they don’t rip paper products to shreds as soon as it hits the bottom of the enclosure. Large ASF Rats: 50-89 grams in weight; 15 per package; same size as a small rat; Out of stock. Belly is a lighter color, but not white. In my house, the ASF cleaning takes the longest, and here is the reason why, ASF hoppers bolt around the cage avoiding being caught by me. Also known as soft fur rats, these guys are really neither rat nor mouse. If I were to stick my head over their tub, I can definitely smell them. Mastomys natalensis  Papilloma Virus  (MnPV), the Causative Agent  of Epithelial Proliferations: Characterization of  the Virus Particle You must fill out the following adoption questionnaire and provide proof of proper housing before you can adopt.Thank you for choosing TGR! They certainly have an odor.

I no longer offer all of these extras to my ASF rats. , For more reading on keeping ASF’s as pets, please visit the following link. Snake for sale - $100 Purchased a baby Rusty Rat snake about a month in a half ago, shortly after I got offered a better job with more hours... by trevorrivard - Warren, Michigan - - Oct 27, 2020 The tumors can be seen in the vaginal region as a clustered mass, along the tail as bumps, on the back and hind quarters as warty black growths, or on the face of the animal. Scientific Name: Praomys (Mastomys) Natalensis, (Mastomys Natalensis may be an outdated term) Okay, ditch the gloves and pony up! Average litter (in number): About a dozen. Unusual Laboratory Rodent Species: Research Uses, Care, and Associated Biohazards We recommend twenty gallon long tanks as a minimum as it allows for much more enrichment and space to roam. Localization of papillomavirus and virus-specific antigens in the skin of tumor-bearing Mastomys natalensis (GRA Giessen) Whether that’s chewing shavings, shelling seeds, gnawing whatever they can get their teeth on, these little guys have motor mouths that need to be busy almost all the time! African Natal Rats (a.k.a Soft Fur Rats or ASF’s for short) are a medium sized African rodent of particular interest to reptile hobbyists. Everytime. Sometimes they are intentionally aggressive, although this seems to wane as the group ages. We also regularly feed sunflower seeds. (Link to DIY for tubs). http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jean.wright93/mm/mm.htm, Thames Valley Rodents They are not a deep and rich brown color like the Cinnamons, and that is often the only way to tell the difference when the eyes are very dark. One thing I also found fascinating is that the weenlings if left in the cage help take care of the new babies. In short, for some people, the odor from ASF’s is not as offensive as it is for others, but they do have an odor. Line breeding can be achieved in many ways. Once the ASF are approx 4 weeks old, remove the young from the group and place them into a different cage/tub. http://books.google.com/books?id=DEq…snum=9#PPA4,M1, Tan C H; Tachezy R; Van Ranst M; Chan S Y; Bernard H U; Burk R D All my adults are handled daily and love to come out of the cage for some one-on-one attention. The diversity of gastric carcinoma Menopause: Approx 12-15 mo. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j…TRY=1&SRETRY=0. They are a community. I had become quiet attached to them, they however hate me. Each female has a litter every 4-5 weeks, and if you have 2 or 3 females, that’s the very real possibility of having 32-54 rats born every 4-5 weeks, that need to be “grown up” for a little over a month just to reach a common feeding size. The heads usually have a characteristic “Eye brows” pattern, and some symmetrical spots or stripes on the cheeks or side of the face. They don’t burrow, either, and, unlike gerbils, they don’t rip paper products to shreds as soon as it hits the bottom of the enclosure. These softy crosses are harder to breed and grow more slowly than other rodents, which is their big disadvantage, and makes them a bit more costly. African Soft Furs are perfect for your finicky ball python feeders. I can always tell the difference in the litters as to what is albino het and normal. Praomys Natalensis – African Soft Furred Rats are quickly becoming a favorite as feeders for small to medium sized snakes, birds of prey, and carnivorous lizards and amphibians. (Updated 2/17/09). The parents do not like it when you pull "weaner" rats or taking other babies and become defensive. The Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus: nucleotide sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic relationship of a rodent papillomavirus involved in tumorigenesis of cutaneous epithelia