They can be fed any vegetables, including carrots or beans. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. African soft fur rats are omnivores and eat seeds, veggies, and mealworms. In short, for some people, the odor from ASFs is not as offensive as it is for others, but they do have an odor. Many times, females will not have their first litter until 3-4 months of age. http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjdr/abstract.00002300-2 It totally depends on your budget. Its a good job she looks so cute when she is asleep Anyway she is in retirement now and Im hoping with no more babies coming along shell learn that I only bring her yummy food and dont steal her babies anymore. African soft fur rats are very social animals. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Or instructions on how to tell? They eat just as much as a domestic rat the same size, and also have the incredible ability to chew out of enclosures if not made secure enough or given enough space. Rats should not be fed food items like chocolate, caffeine, sweet potato, raw beans, or wild insects. The dominant Pied gene has been worked for generations to create an animal lacking almost all colored areas, except for the ears and a few random spots on the back. The African soft fur rat needs a food bowl, water bowl, litter house, and bedding. hi, ive tried googling but i cant find anything like my situation, my fiance works at a pet store where they breed asf rats for feeders. Is it safe to quarantine them in the same House as my Fancy Mouse? Glue the sized wire mesh and cut out hole properly. Feeders or not, they deserve respect. So you might be wondering why Alberta would stress so much about being rat free, then be ok with African Soft Fur Rats. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Be prepared for the loss of any fostered orphans. Natal Multimammate Rat, Common African Rat, Soft-furred or African Soft-furred Rat. Rats have been outlawed in Alberta since the 1950s. http://asfrats.info/viewforum.php?f=8& (No longer available), Or you can visit the ASFs breeders and information exchange forum the people i know live in a state where it is legal to own / breed ASF. Simply by putting them together in a group, you dont have to do anything other than provide good husbandry and remove the babies as they reach 4 weeks of age. Breeders breed them to feed their pet reptiles such as snakes, including ball pythons. However, a 20 x 10 x 12 long space will not be enough for more than a year.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'oxfordpets_com-box-4','ezslot_3',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-box-4-0'); Glass aquariums or tanks have their pros and cons. The ears are not pigmented, also being a light pink color. ASFs should be given plenty of room to breed. African soft fur rats are popularly known as 'miracle food' which help to grow healthier reptiles. It is a simple recessive gene. You CANNOT remove the male and reintroduce him to the colony while there are still young present. I handle all my adult every day and they are sweet gentle wonderful little guys, I just love them. Of course you can! The crumbles looked like chick feed. They also enjoy some seeds in their diet. Records show that some African soft fur rats as pets have lived for up to seven years, but this is uncommon. A: You can, but a fight will break out. Medium rats; Large rats; Jumbo rats; African Soft Fur rats (ASF) Rabbit Products. http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM-Rubyeyed.jpg As the name suggests, these rats are native to Africa. Thats a wonderful theory! Common Name: African Soft Furs, Natal Rats, Multimammate Rat, (Mice is an outdated term) Average Lifespan: 2-3 years in captivity. And they get along with each other very well. Male African soft fur rats can live together without any problem.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'oxfordpets_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-banner-1-0'); Moreover, fancy rats cannot live with mice. By sharing this story, I wish to give others hope and courage in overcoming their life challenges. They came to Canada in 1775 on the East coast and made their way westward. M. myboys2 . They get wood shavings, food, water, and the company of their colony mates. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. There are better options than these. We speculated that the stress of being removed from his breeding group was overwhelming for him, and he had to release the stress some way. In this case, you could go out and buy some more rats, maintain quarantine for a period of 3 months. Will decrease with age. Lives for up to three years. Only show this user . The cage or aquarium in which you keep them must be warm because these rats originate in southern Africa, which has a warm climate, which is what they prefer. This animal shows a head spot, it can be short or long and almost like a blaze on a horse. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. In the wild, a male mouse would live with a harem of female mice. Yes. http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM-Neue.Gruppe.jpg right is a Amber, left in the back is a cinnamon, but before her on the left, is a young one. And you are ready to use it. They ovulate every four days and give birth to a new litter every three to four weeks. African soft-furred rats are fairly crepuscular and generally active at random intervals throughout the day and night. A: By the tail, Q: Can I keep these as pets? They can live with mice. Yes, they are known to bite so it is best to maintain a distance while observing them. They will develop warty tumors, patchy hairloss, and osteoarthritis as they age past approx 9 months, although it can be younger, or delayed as much as 14 months. Typically, their undersides are lighter in color than their backs. You can google squamous cell carcinoma mastomys natalensis and read a lot of articles (some you have to pay for) that discuss the virus and the cause of these tumors. CrouchingToaster 3 yr. ago Interesting! While there is debate that ASFs 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 feed my ASF colonies Doggy Bag Dog Food from Tractor Supply. ASF rats are used mainly as feeders for reptiles. The interactions go like this: My girls squeak and go hide in a corner trying to avoid him. Im just telling it like it is. creative tips and more. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. All the females in the group will nurse and care for the litters indiscriminately, and you will often see the older pups and the father helping to take care of the pups. Ive decided I should probably put in a little note about cleaning the ASF tubs when there are pinks and pups, I often forget that people are new to breeding rats when they read this page, so I should try to cover all aspects. African soft-furred rats are called pups or kittens. Common Name: African Soft Furs, Natal Rats, Multimammate Rat, (Mice is an outdated term) Gestation: 21-23 days Introduce the new breeding group to each other. Unfortunately, Metal Monkey Exotics no longer keeps or breeds ASF rats! They are very protective, and they are kept in harem groups continuously because they will kill any new rats introduced. They love coming out of the cage for one-on-one play time. I have a much larger colony now and I have not witnessed any babies being eaten except for one that got sick and a few days later I saw the mother eating it. I have spoken to people like you and get similar stories. 2. A regularsize rat cage works great as well for a group of these, but just make sure the young rats can't fit through the bars. Yes, African Soft Fur Rats are legal in Alberta, because they are a different genus and subfamily as typical rats that Alberta actively keeps out of the Province. Any advise is welcome. Scoops are your best friend for the pinks, scoop those babies and put them in the bedding where the females usually place their nest. What kind of bedding Is Apt for African soft fur rats? Animal model: carcinoids and adenocarcinoma of the glandular stomach of Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis. http://www.biomedexperts.com/Abstracnship_of_a_rod, Rudolph R, Mller H Copyright 2023 Know Alberta | Powered by. Hi, Im from Germay and was wondering if you could help me identify this color. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. This does not influence our choices. Unfortunately, Metal Monkey Exotics no longer keeps or breeds ASF rats! Menopause: Approx 12-15 mo. Their common African name (natal multimammate mouse) literally means many-breasted mouse, so-named because the females possess extra teats, (8-14 pairs rather than the usual 5 or 6 pairs that other rodents have). I don't suppose anyone has some clear photos showing the difference between males/females at the hopper stage? African soft-furred rats are known for how rapidly they breed and this is beneficial for those who use them as prey for their reptile pets. Fingers Crossed Lol. Is there anything I could be doing differently to help them get along? South Dakota will let you keep a bear on your property, but domestic pigs are prohibited. Will decrease with age. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. Ill try to match this to some fancy rat terms, but I do like the word Pied and cant think of anything similar from the rat fancy world. General Pet Care Guide ASF (African Soft Furred Rat) Kookiee 1.44K subscribers Subscribe 4.3K views 2 years ago #asf #africa #rat This is my general care guide on African Soft Furred. (aka african soft furred rat) states they should be fed a hamster/gerbil seed mix. Omnivorous - eats a complete rodent food supplemented by meal worms, fruit, vegetables. African soft fur rats are classified as a Least Concern species by the IUCN (International Union For Conservation Of Nature). Pet Mice and Pet Rats: Can They Live Together? r/AfricanSoftFur: A page for fans of the African Soft Fur Rats, also known as AFS's, African Soft Fur mice, Multimammates, & Multi mice. Its also not a bad idea to leave some of the old shavings with the pinks, because they are very in tune to the smell of their surroundings. Once these animals are found and bred, we could get a lot more colors like the Norway Rat has. He is basicallyGandalf. In fact, this is very comfortable bedding for African soft fur rats. No, they have little to no smell. From then on I let them do their own thing and understood that my little family of ASFs were growing up and didnt care much for me trying to hold them. Litter Size: 3-17; average is 9-12 per litter. Is that normal? http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art?artid=2042366, Keniti KOZIMA, Takeshi MUROHASHI, Jun SOGA and Kenji TAZAWA The first time I got bit it didnt draw any blood, but it did hurt like hell and was a little rough for such a small sized animal. http://www.batwrangler.net/multimammate/ (no longer available), Ken-ichi Mafune, Kaiyo Takubo Natural habitat is forests or deserts. A: Sure thing! I spent some time just observing these guys in their new home. I find that the hets have white ears and are cinnamon. First Litter: Approx 3.5 months of age. Are African Soft Fur Rats Legal In Alberta? They certainly have an odor. This reinforces that biting behavior, because it teaches them that they can bite and are left alone. If the group is given a wheel, I found that attaching it to the lid of the tub was beneficial in leaving more floor space for the young pups. In Germany, I believe they refer to Pieds as Check[ers]. Your privacy is important to us. Gestation: 21-23 days Q: Do I need to include a hide in their enclosure? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. African soft fur rats are popularly known as 'miracle food' which help to grow healthier reptiles. I just counted 840 in my garage. Okay, ditch the gloves and pony up! The edging of the color is hardly ever straight, often with intermittent spots of white and color giving a very checkered, piebald pattern. The Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus: nucleotide sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic relationship of a rodent papillomavirus involved in tumorigenesis of cutaneous epithelia http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjourn1Unusual.shtml, KlausWayss, DenisReyes-Mayes and ManfredVolm They are widely used in the scientific community to study diseases that are also common to man, like degenerative joint disease, renal disease and carcinoid tumors of the stomach. In the wild, they fetch food by themselves. I, of course, immediately named them, Gabbagoo, Cherry and Ginger. Live feeder rats. Got her from a feeding mice breeder, going to see him tomorrow again, and will take a carefull look at his animals again. Unlike wire cages, aquariums offer a clear view for the rats, which they cannot easily escape. 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, thats 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. If you do want to keep these animals as companion pets, remember that it will be difficult, but not impossible. I always have an extra tub on hand, either a temporary tub to hold one of the groups while Iclean, or a tub that is already made into a housing tub. The hopper and water bottle is low enough to the ground to allow young pups to reach, but they do not have easy access to chew any of the top of the enclosure. Using the box cutter, cut out the inside. When you first start working with them, you may notice they hold completely still and close their eyes. In the wild, these rodents fetch food and other requirements by themselves. Keep the sessions short and positive, and slowly work up to longer sessions. Adult African soft fur rats grow to a size of 6 inches, with tails of about 4.5 inches in length. The primary reasons are that these rodents have only been domesticated recently and still have wild instincts. My name is Mike and I breed African Soft Furred Rats in Poughkeepsie, NY to feed my pet snakes. I bred specifically a Cinnamon Pied female to a Ruby Eyed Self male (pictured above). Its all very easy to do. The white spotting gene has variable strength. Female African soft fur rats cannot breed with male fancy mice. I plan on adopting them. That would help explain the Agouti in the Ruby X Cinnamon cross. They will nip you if you are not quick enough. African soft fur rats have little or no smell. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Alberta is currently the largest rat free land mass on earth. If you want to create a new group of rats, you can take your adult male, and two or three of his daughters to start a new colony, while leaving a young male offspring in the original colony to take over his spot. Age, disease, production issues; regardless the reason, it is sometimes necessary to break up groups and start over. http://www.freewebs.com/abcexotics/multimammatemice.htm, Batwrangler.net (a small listing of personal blogs, a great source of technical information) I am certain that the Ruby Eyed and Cinnamon are in fact two different genes at work. Thanks in advance. Loose bedding is not recommended because they use it to push around the cage, and too loose of bedding will make it harder for them to get around. Average Life Span: Average is 2 - 3 years, Gestation Period: 21 - 26 days (average 23), Litter Size: 10 - 50+ (easy to be overrun). For example, a metal running wheel is ideal for them to run on and release excess energy. It was amusing to see, but also a little nerve wracking. A: Add additional protein to your ASFs diet, and make sure you have water available 24/7, Q: How do you pick up an ASF? You will commonly find these rats in southern Africa and West Africa. HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SPONTANEOUS RENAL LESIONS OF PRAOMYS (MASTOMYS) NATALENSIS http://www.springerlink.com/content/lg3430177178j132/, J. Nafz, M. Ohnesorge, E. Stockfleth, F. Rsl and I. Nindl Thank you for reading! So now you have a group that no longer needs to be producing for whatever reason, or you want to completely swap members. For a group of 1.3, the smallest amount of space I personally give is approx the same floor space as a ten gallon tank, or a 56 qt plastic tub. This is a normal room temperature. http://www.sciencedirect.com/sciencef533d0be858763, J. D. Randeria They have a small mouth with sturdy teeth which they use to bite through their food and also use in an attack as a form of defense. These rodents are not ideally kept as pets, however, they are raised by reptile hobbyists since they are good quality meat for reptile pets. Handling ASFs daily will sustain a good relationship between you and your rats. Inbreeding can be done too, and may be easier in some cases. I purchased a group of one male pied, and two females, one female being an Amber, and the other a Cinnamon. Not only that, they actually seem to enjoy each others' company. I've never seen mice of this color so I thought maybe they could possibly be African Soft Furs. You will likely find one day that your starting group is getting old, or is not producing the numbers you need. However, the wild population of African soft fur rats has declined in recent years. Their gestation period is usually no more than 21 days and they ovulate every 4 days which usually results in a new litter every 3-4 weeks. I use pine pellet and pine flake shavings for their bedding to help with the potential of odor, but so far I haven't had that ghastly smell you can get with other rodents. View pictures. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art?artid=2042366, Keniti KOZIMA, Takeshi MUROHASHI, Jun SOGA and Kenji TAZAWA Undercoats are blue on the wild type agouti color, Amber on the cinnamon creates a richer yellow color lacking the blue undercoat (Argente in Europe). Rump near tail may also have spots and a more defined head stripe. These are available in the US from some breeders. http://inas-dragons-lair.de/images/stories/vzm/VZM_Weisse.jpg. I fed them off every week to my snakes, and out of 40 something snakes, only one girl shows any sort of preference and will ONLY takes ASFs. I have gone through quite a few wheels for these buggers, and the only ones we have available in local pet shops are the powder coated (painted) metal wire wheels. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Moreover, they can also consume squash and pumpkin. Wire cages give good ventilation, huge space to climb, and great opportunities to provide hanging toys. They require higher protein feed (which the cat food would provide) if breeding, pregnant or nursing & they . Rats have been outlawed in Alberta since the 1950s. here We have a comprehensive guide on African Soft Fur Rat: Care, Info and Factsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'oxfordpets_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',139,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The cage you chose for your African soft fur rat is highly important for their well-beingness. To p Live African Soft Furred Rats for Feeders, Breeders and Pets if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'oxfordpets_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); This is, in fact, good for the African soft fur rats. HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SPONTANEOUS RENAL LESIONS OF PRAOMYS (MASTOMYS) NATALENSIS Moreover, you can also use recycled paper product litter. They BITE!!! Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. However, here stop their only advantage over our rats. Moreover, you can be creative with patterns and colours. The cons are that you cant be creative with it and it is hard to clean it. They are known to breed rapidly so their populations remain quite stable. Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days They have been introduced into North America recently, but they are not endemic. However, this should not deceive you since they are known to bite if not tamed. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. Luckily, Fancy Mice and African Soft-furs, despite being different species and not all that closely related, have similar care requirements that allow them to be housed together. (Link to DIY for tubs). Adult African soft fur rats grow to a size of 6 inches, with tails of about 4.5 inches in length. So far, it would seem that the tumors develop after 9 -12months of age, although not all will get this condition. Elegant RUSSIAN fur coat, timeless style, extremely cozy, wonderful fit and comfy to wear, HIGH . It is easiest to form a new breeding group when the animals are young, or when the females havent yet had litters. Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days Gestation: 21-23 days First Litter: Approx 3.5 months of age. Reply Quote. It's common for first time moms, A: When she is producing single digit litters, A: Their fur changes and isn't as soft or "fresh". Unusual Laboratory Rodent Species: Research Uses, Care, and Associated Biohazards We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Corn tends to mold so is best avoided. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Cohabiting with fancy mice Fancy mice can be highly territorial when living with others. The gestation period is not more than two days. This is not healthy for ALL small pets! As Mentioned above African soft for rats are different than the main most common rat that causes a nuisance. http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjourn1Unusual.shtml, KlausWayss, DenisReyes-Mayes and ManfredVolm I havent had any of these rats die from abuse in the colony, and I actually leave them with the mothers until they reach a bigger size; due to their condition they grow much slower than their non-disabled siblings. 1. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. The reason they are mostly raised as food is that they smell less than regular rat. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'oxfordpets_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_9',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Welcome To The Oxford Family! Q: Why do I keep finding half eaten' babies? These rats will reach an average weight of approximately 2.1 ounces, and their fur varies between yellow, brown, and grey. Using pest control like poison and traps, as well as teaching people about how to identify and avoid rats has led to Alberta being basically rat free. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. They are a royal pain because they depend on humans for their own survival, which means they dig in our garbage, ruin crops, spread disease and more. Unless your African soft fur rat gets dirty, you do not need to bathe him frequently. Or, it might be due to their environment and lack of suitable food sources. Fancy Mice and African Soft-furs are an exception to this rule, however, and make a great choice for solo male mice. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Moreover, these rodents frequently find shelter and build nests in barns, homes, and outbuildings. In Alabama, you cannot possess any member of Cervidae (deer). Mastomys natalensis Papilloma Virus (MnPV), the Causative Agent of Epithelial Proliferations: Characterization of the Virus Particle We wouldnt steal your works, please dont take ours. By this time, the female that gave birth to the weaners will very likely already have given birth to her next litter, or will very soon and be HUGE. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. Black rats are considered to be the most dangerous rat species and household pests. They're definitely not an interactive pet. Ball Pythons LOVE THEM. Adults are usually fed to ball pythons and other reptiles as they are a source of good quality meat. Alberta has very strict anti-rat policies and wildlife management laws. These rats attain sexual maturity when they are two to three months old and ovulate every four days. Is an African soft fur rat a rat or a mouse? It's common for first time moms. When I started working with these ASF rats, I actually found their odor quite nauseating and overpowering. They can be easily gassed with CO2, and frozen for later use. It is lacking any white spotting on the body. Igrab them by the base of the tail, unless the female is VERYlarge and ready to give birth, then she gets a ride in a scoop (. many people have been using an unmedicated hog feed in their colonies. Note: African soft furs cannot reproduce with a rat or mouse. G. Smith Creek Hardwood Shavings; Great Lakes is all about . http://asfrats.info (No longer available), Russell Tofts Article on ASFs (A good read, although may be outdated.) Originally from Africa. My starter rats are het for ruby eye and are pandas. German. For more reading on keeping ASFs as pets, please visit the following link. It is only really noticeable in their back legs. This decline may be due to competition with other rodents, like the black rat. An African soft-furred rat is 4.7 in (12 cm) in length, which is five times bigger than the smallest rodent in the world, the pygmy jerboa which measures 1.6 in (4 cm). I might stop by the shelter today and check them out ;D, I went to the shelter today and they were aware that they were ASF and not mice. There are better alternative litters available. She ist molting right now, and her eyes seem to turn redisch.
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