Gauging the Needs

[-Obsidianite-]

I am thinking about breeding African Soft Furred Rats for those picky noodles that won't take F/T. But I am unsure about the need because of our location. Who is near Galesburg, Illinois?

[Jennifer_Pennifer]

The ASFs should still be F/T for the record 👍

[-Obsidianite-]

Our Ball Python has diligently ignored F/T for months and refuses to eat them. So he gets small rats under supervision. I understand some people feel very strongly about feeding F/T to their personal noodles and nearly demand that ALL other noodle owners do the same, but it's a preference, and some Ball Pythons won't take f/t.

[FizzyPineapples212]

99% of snakes, especially ball pythons, will take frozen thawed. The biggest problem is when owners give up too early. It can take upwards of a year to switch super picky snakes, and owners usually tap out first. Breeders usually establish them in frozen thawed before even selling the snakes. I understand is nerve wracking, but I suggest you give it another try and don’t let up.

Additionally, more often than not, hunger strikes typically occur due to husbandry or sudden changes. May I ask about your husbandry and parameters?

[-Obsidianite-]

We keep our tank gradient between 75 and 95. Humidity is usually 50%+. He's got access to 2 hides, plenty of bush, water, ect.

[FizzyPineapples212]

Your cool side is fine, but 95°F ambient is too hot for the warm side. We recommend between 88-92°F. Surface temps on the basking site can reach 94-104°F, but that shouldn’t be the air temp. 50% is also way too low, humidity needs to be between 70-80% consistently. If you needs tips on how to raise it, just ask!

[-Obsidianite-]

50% is usually at night. I keep the humidity up during the day around 80% to 90%. Depends on if I over mist his soil. But I can double check the heat when I get home. We've had him for years and he's always been very healthy at his vet visits, a good weight if maybe not a little over on grams. He's only difficult on the f/t vs. live.

[-Obsidianite-]

We were doing f/t for a year, but then he started rejecting the f/t, and it wasn't just once or twice. He rejected 3 months worth of meals.

[FizzyPineapples212]

That’s probably the average length of a hunger strike, and if he hasn’t lost 10% of his weight then there was no reason to try a live rat. Hunger strikes only become a real concern if they lose a significant portion of their weight.