They love coming out of the cage for one-on-one play time. They can be fed any vegetables, including carrots or beans. The rubys will still be pale but at this point get darker and darker until you can not tell the difference except fot the red eyes. Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days Gestation: 21-23 days First Litter: Approx 3.5 months of age. I find that the hets have white ears and are cinnamon. of age. African soft fur rats are classified as a Least Concern species by the IUCN (International Union For Conservation Of Nature). They were pretty jumpy and easily startled. This animal is just what the name says. Significance of gastric endocrine tumor and age-related gut peptide alterations in Mastomys many people have been using an unmedicated hog feed in their colonies. Is it safe to quarantine them in the same House as my Fancy Mouse? They are easy to clean, effective, and affordable. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Common brands of feed for ASFs include Harlan Teklad, Mazuri, LabDiet, Zeigler and Kent rodent feeds. Alberta is currently the largest rat free land mass on earth. A: When she is producing single digit litters, Q: How can you tell if an ASF is old? My local shelter has three "mice" up for adoption. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. This is not healthy for ALL small pets! Grooming seems to be so much fun for soft furs. This is the wild type color and pattern. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. This does not mean that a female will get pregnant immediately and have her first litter at 12 weeks of age. The ears are not pigmented, also being a light pink color. And you are ready to use it. . Cohabiting Mice & ASF - Rocky Point Rattery African soft fur rats are omnivores and eat seeds, veggies, and mealworms. As you can see, they are both very similar and related, right down to the fact they are both rodents. I bred specifically a Cinnamon Pied female to a Ruby Eyed Self male (pictured above). In Alabama, you cannot possess any member of Cervidae (deer). Just make you have at least two. Litter Size: 3-17; average is 9-12 per litter. The animals appear a dark gray color when young, and lightening to a dark brown color as an adult, with a cool blue belly. (Link to small listing of US breeders). Maybe you can tell me if she could be one. http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-p2&size=largest You will commonly find these rats in southern Africa and West Africa. Predators of African soft fur rats include reptiles like python. Can anyone with experience with introducing female ASFs to male mice tell me if this is normal? The African soft fur rat is capable of being raised as a pet and being tamed as well. Therefore, you can go for a bigger cage to provide good space for moving around. General Pet Care Guide ASF (African Soft Furred Rat) - YouTube Have an extra housing tub, place in bedding, fill food and water, and what ever extras you give your rats. Note: African soft furs cannot reproduce with a rat or mouse. Persistence of Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus in multiple organs identifies novel targets for infection The work of scrupulous selective breeding. ASFs are prone to spontaneous, fast growing warty tumors. They never attempted to bite me (in the first few weeks), but they did pee on me quite a bit while I handled them. The confusion with the names, as far as I can see, is outline from this article Because of controversies many years ago, Mastomys was never phylogenetically classified as a genus, but remains a subgenus, designated Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis. found here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6197364. Gestation: 21-23 days My stories are somtimes different. Chemical carcinogenesis by the two-stage protocol in the skin of Mastomys natalensis (Muridae) using topical initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and topical promotion with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate Every time they get brave enough to come towards him he immediately tries to hump them and they run away again. When picked up, they would try to jump straight off my hand without even batting an eye. Weaned $1 each Smalls $1.50 each Mediums $2.00 each Also have females for $.50. African soft fur rats are omnivores and eat seeds, veggies, and mealworms. http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/78/9/4797, Robert K. Jackson (have to scroll down to Mastomys) African soft fur rats are very social animals. When I achieve that I am going to introduce ambers. .Quality, Service, Price. That would help explain the Agouti in the Ruby X Cinnamon cross. Gorgeous RUSSIAN marmot mink fur coat, EXCELLENT. In fact, this is very comfortable bedding for African soft fur rats. Other objects you can give them for entertainment include paper towel tubes, hammocks bought from a pet store, or cardboard boxes. Bring them small treats like a dog biscuit, seeds, yogurt drops, raisins, and work with the animal a few times a day, so they learn that you are safe, and even bring them yummy treats! It is recommended that a male mouse be housed with no fewer than two female ASF. The hets are cinnamon with white ears in my case. Common Name: African Soft Furs, Natal Rats, Multimammate Rat, (Mice is an outdated term) Average Lifespan: 2-3 years in captivity Adult Weight: Males: 100- 130g; Females: 90-115g Litter Size: 3-17; average is 9-12 per litter. For example, a metal running wheel is ideal for them to run on and release excess energy. An African soft furred rat has a long tail and four feet with small claws. http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjourn1Unusual.shtml, KlausWayss, DenisReyes-Mayes and ManfredVolm http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/41/2/315, K.Wayss, E.Amtmann, G.Frstenberger, G.Sauer and M.Volm All members of the group will be protective of the young. However, they can still socialise together. Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! The gestation period lasts 21 days and they may have six to 22 babies per litter. Some people call Ambers Albinos, and some people call the white spotted Pieds. However, reptile breeders use them as a food source as they multiply quickly. Line breeding can be achieved in many ways. African Soft-furred Information and Exchange (No longer available), If you would like to find ASFs near your area, this webpage has a small current listing of ASF breeders. Lets just make that clear right here and now. I've never seen mice of this color so I thought maybe they could possibly be African Soft Furs. [1] The Natal multimammate rat is the natural host of the Lassa fever virus. An African soft-furred rat's habitat constitutes forests and deserts in the wild. This is most common in southern and western states of the US. The best part about owning and breeding ASFs is they produce very little smell! They can also be raised as pets, although this is rare. right is a Amber, left in the back is a cinnamon, but before her on the left, is a young one. Grab the dirty tub with the first group, place it as close as you can to the new clean tub. 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. I have been able to break up and create new groups this way, but please make sure you pay attention to the individual dynamics to ensure there is minimal stress and the best chance for reintroduction of new animals. 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). She ist molting right now, and her eyes seem to turn redisch. Weve 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. The best way I can describe the problem is that the rats extend their legs at the hip joint, splayed straight out sideways instead of underneath them to walk. Fun African Soft-furred Rat Facts For Kids | Kidadl As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Moreover, you can be creative with patterns and colours. Re: where do you get your african soft fur rats. Its my understaind, line breeding would be the smarter choice. I ask, because ASF are on the lacey act and illegal to cross state lines it is a felony charge, just FYI. 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. You just have to shower it with soap and water. Moreover, 3 African soft fur rats per colony is a good choice. Typically, their undersides are lighter in color than their backs. hes male, and hes eating and walking and grooming fine, as fine as he can due to his eyes not being open yet. He had access to wood, food, and water all night. However, these rats also inhabit human settlements. These soft fur rats are primarily omnivores and feed on mealworms and vegetables, seeds, and other food. Eyes are black, ears are pigmented dark. Note: African soft furs cannot reproduce with a rat or mouse. Q: When should I retire a female? Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. It is only really noticeable in their back legs. They are, however, utterly adorable. They are not that enjoyable, hard to breed (production is low compare to rats and mice), escape artists, more aggressive and some snakes will not touch them. For most small companion animals, cohabiting different species is definitely a no. Not only that, they actually seem to enjoy each others' company. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Want to make this as hassle free as possible? The diversity of gastric carcinoma They are known to breed rapidly so their populations remain quite stable. Localization of papillomavirus and virus-specific antigens in the skin of tumor-bearing Mastomys natalensis (GRA Giessen) I charge $15 for each baby I sell and they sell at that price. http://books.google.com/books?id=DEqsnum=9#PPA4,M1, Tan C H; Tachezy R; Van Ranst M; Chan S Y; Bernard H U; Burk R D I would have to do some more breeding to see if that works out in my colonies, because at the moment, I believe I have an all Agouti group that had both the light colored cinnamon/rubys (so hard to tell apart when young), and Ambers. I am always curious about the genetics with rats, and I bred my original male to two of his daughters. There are a few breeders that have managed to breed rats that are tamer, but they are . 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. 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. ASFs love wheels. My starter rats are het for ruby eye and are pandas. Fancy mice can be highly territorial when living with others. In short, for some people, the odor from ASFs is not as offensive as it is for others, but they do have an odor. Come drive down and load up your trunk. Blog Entries. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'oxfordpets_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-oxfordpets_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Wire cages are most preferred. . This work details the effects of living with undiagnosed infections like rickettsia (like Lyme). I do not support other methods, Iunderstand some commonly practiced methods may be approved by the AVMA, but only for qualified and supervised professionals in a controlled environment. They ovulate every 4 days. 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. M. myboys2 . http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/reprint/78/9/4797, Robert K. Jackson (have to scroll down to Mastomys) This gene seems to quite variable in strength, as some have very little of a head spot or stripe, while other animals can have a very strong and wide head stripe. Theyve done exceptionally well without the fluff. Only show this user . The primary reasons are that these rodents have only been domesticated recently and still have wild instincts. The fact that the Norway Rat (Also known as the brown rat) is in the genus of Rattus, and the African Soft Fur Rat is in the genus of Mastomys, makes them different enough in the eyes of the Alberta Provincial Government to make one legal, and one illegal. Tan C H; Tachezy R; Van Ranst M; Chan S Y; Bernard H U; Burk R D, The Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus: nucleotide sequence, genome organization, and phylogenetic relationship of a rodent papillomavirus involved in tumorigenesis of cutaneous epithelia, http://www.biomedexperts.com/Abstracnship_of_a_rod, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1266439, http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/41/2/315, K.Wayss, E.Amtmann, G.Frstenberger, G.Sauer and M.Volm, http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-p2&size=largest, http://www.springerlink.com/content/lg3430177178j132/, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j84058/abstract, http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjdr/abstract.00002300-2, http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjdr/ab195628!8091!-1, http://www.springerlink.com/content/pw8826314054212w/, http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/88/10/2670, Iris Helfrich, Min Chen, Rainer Schmidt, Gerhard Frstenberger, Annette Kopp-Schneider, David Trick, Hermann-Josef Grne, Harald zur Hausen, and Frank Rsl, Robert K. Jackson (have to scroll down to Mastomys), http://dels.nas.edu/ilar_n/ilarjourn1Unusual.shtm, KlausWayss, DenisReyes-Mayes and ManfredVolm, http://www.springerlink.com/content/w5222w4581321370/, Anton J. Bilchika, Ola Nilssona, Irvin M. Modlin, Karl A. Zuckera and Thomas E. Adrian, http://www.sciencedirect.com/sciencef533d0be858763, http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art?artid=2042366, http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jTRY=1&SRETRY=0, Black Pastel Orange Dream Spider Yellowbelly, http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jean.wright93/mm/mm.htm, http://www.freewebs.com/abcexotics/multimammatemice.htm, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2366624/. Originally from Africa. The hets are cinnamon with white ears in my case , For more reading on keeping ASFs as pets, please visit the following link. Q: Why do I keep finding half eaten' babies? 1976 Mar;23(2):143-50. 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. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. If you're wanting to do a trail mix of unsalted nuts go to your nearest grocery store and pick out unsalted nuts in the bulk department. Q: Why do I keep finding half eaten' babies? They have two rounded ears on either side of their face. Frequently Asked Questions about Alberta, Canada. Thanks for understanding! Come join the discussion about breeds, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! The white spotting can leave a small cape near the base of the neck covering the shoulder blades or can be as little as to touch just the base of the tail with some spots of white. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. I also give mine toilet/paper towel rolls so that can shred it, play with it, or chew on it. Alberta is well known as a rat free place, but the African Soft Fur Rat is something different. Its humane to keep these rats in a cage as long as they are kept in groups of three or more. Q: Do I need to include a hide in their enclosure? 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. Belly is a lighter color, but not white. They almost always need to be doing something. It was amusing to see, but also a little nerve wracking. Induction of epidermal tumor growth in the skin of Mastomys natalensis by transfer of virus-containing tumor tissue from a squamous cell carcinoma Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days I can always tell the difference in the litters as to what is albino het and normal. You'll want to keep them active with something to chew on. I was thrilled. http://www.springerlink.com/content/lg3430177178j132/, J. Nafz, M. Ohnesorge, E. Stockfleth, F. Rsl and I. Nindl Typically, their undersides are lighter in color than their backs. By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. African Soft Furred Rats | Rat Forum But even though they are food for other animals and reptiles, African soft fur rats make good pets. Offering untreated wood blocks and paper products to gnaw and shred is favorable but not mandatory. They are super cute and fascinating to watch, not so much to handle. African Soft Furred Rats For Sale - Texas - AmericanListed They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. They are also illegal to own in many states (like in GA where I live). http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j84058/abstract Aspen shavings are safe and effective, plus they are not at all costly. Unfortunately, Metal Monkey Exotics no longer keeps or breeds ASF rats! Thanks for the comment Leslie, its good to hear people are working towards creating a pet friendly African Soft Furred! African soft fur rats are also known as multimammate mice or Natal rats. It does seem possible to breed away from this issue through outbreeding with other rats from different sources. If they think they are in danger, they scramble everywhere! 2254 Views 18 Replies 9 Participants Last post by lovinmyworm, Sep 19, 2008. The edging of the color is hardly ever straight, often with intermittent spots of white and color giving a very checkered, piebald pattern. (Example: Prevue Hamster Wheels 7 are made of Nickel and will not rust), Nervous System/ Muscle weakness (possibly hereditary). The African soft-furred rat exact population is not evaluated. African soft fur rats are classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN). They have very poor muscle control; however they can crawl/drag/roll around the cage although it is very sad to watch. That's it, I'm done with African Soft Fur Rats! - Ball-Pythons.net They have had hides, easy to reach water and food. The female can give birth to as few as 4 pinks, or as many as 20+ her first time. I should have taken a picture, but Ididnt remember to before she was euthanized and destroyed. Gestation: 21-23 days. Mice are naturally social creatures. Line breeding is when the parent animal is bred back to its offspring. When you want to start the handling, keep the sessions short and positive. Sexual Maturity: 54-63 days. Alberta has very strict anti-rat policies and wildlife management laws. They ovulate every four days and give birth to a new litter every three to four weeks. and i heard you can keep female asf rats with a male mouse, but i havent heard much about a male asf rat with female mice. i heard that the male asf rat would be too big and hurt the mice, but ive also heard that it could be ok. so we're kinda stuck we've only had him for a day, so hes still very young so we have time, but id like get him a friend as soon as possible because hes probably very lonely and confused. We wouldnt steal your works, please dont take ours. If you keep them all together with a pinch or two of the old bedding, they are more likely to stay put. I suggest buying a very young animal from a breeder who knows that their animals are not as likely to bite as other breeders colonies, and when you get these animals, get the same sex so you never breed them. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Elegant RUSSIAN fur coat, timeless style, extremely cozy, wonderful fit and comfy to wear, HIGH . http://www.sapphiretigress.com/Softfurs.htm (No longer available), If you are looking for ASF breeders in your state, follow this link. They are largely silent beings compared to various other animals. When they do communicate, it's usually through pheromones and ultrasonic vocalizations. These soft fur rats are primarily omnivores and feed on mealworms and vegetables, seeds, and other food. I got two female ASFs because two separate breeders suggested them for my male mouse who had been acting very depressed. Live African Soft Furred Rats for Feeders, Breeders and Pets - Facebook How long do African soft fur rats take to grow? When raised, they can be fed mealworms, vegetables, and seeds. CrouchingToaster 3 yr. ago There are better alternative litters available. I hope this helps! The Truth about Breeding ASF Rats (African Soft Furs) - YouTube 0:00 12:53 The Truth about Breeding ASF Rats (African Soft Furs) Zen Orc 3.53K subscribers Subscribe 5.2K views 3 years ago I. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. My point is, to me, they honestly smell just terrible. They are also bred in captivity where they are usually raised in cages or an aquarium. Much like the Domestic Norway Rat, the hairs are banded Agouti. Is there anything I could be doing differently to help them get along? It will make it easier down the road. Their small adult size compared to the Norway rat makes them ideal to keep, because they are often the perfect feeding size for months and will not outgrow the feeding limits for most carnivores like a Norway rat will. The offspring would all have the head spot, because each would be heterozygous for white spotting because pied is homozygous. Or instructions on how to tell? One guy told me some of his rats have 15-20 babies. Also like the Domestic Norway Rat, the Ambers are a bright orange-yellow color. I cant 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. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Feb 20, 2008. It's common for first time moms. AfricanSoftFur - Reddit They make excellent feeder animals, where the few limitations are outweighed by the benefits in regards to space, odor, and production reliability. Another strange thing I have seen them do is crumbling their food. 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. Moreover, these rodents frequently find shelter and build nests in barns, homes, and outbuildings. When feeding live, always monitor to make sure the animal is not harmed by the rat. Increased Incidence of Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Mastomys natalensis Papillomavirus E6 Transgenic Mice during Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis I just wanted to give a positive review of these sweeties, with regular handling from an early age, they will turn out to be wonderful pets. Many states in the US found it appropriate to ban the ownership of these rats based on this and other facts associated with Praomys Natalensis.