How often do African soft fur rats breed?

Soft fur rats are able to breed at only 2 months old! They can have as few as 6 and as many as 22 babies per litter! Fruits and vegetables should be at least 1/3 of their diet as well as a good quality rodent pellet type food.

How many babies do African soft fur rats have?

They are also very prolific breeders often having litters of 20 or more young at a time and they are virtually odorless in small groups.

Are African soft furred rats actually rats?

African Soft-furred Rats or Natal Multimammate Mice Despite their common names, African Soft-furs (ASF) are neither mice nor rats, although they do belong in the same taxonomic family.

When can ASF rats breed?

Age when first breeding normally occurs: 3 to 4 months (approx.) Known as “multimammate” for their extraordinary number of teats (most females have 8 to 12 pair instead of the usual 5 or 6 pair found in most female rodents), these are prolific breeders who live best in a permanent community colony.

Can African soft fur rats eat carrots?

Most rats love a variety of vegetables, including broccoli, corn, squash, carrots, greens, asparagus, cauliflower, cucumber, peas and parsnip. These vegetables can provide a rat’s diet with a range of crucial minerals, but it’s important not to go overboard with these as large amounts of roughage can cause diarrhea.

Are African soft furred rats good pets?

Because they aren’t bred for temperament or pets, but for feeders, most ASF are pretty nippy, and being the size of a small rat, they can deliver a fairly painful bite. They also tend to be somewhat shy and reserved.

How do you successfully breed rats?

The Rat Mating Process You can breed rats by simply putting a pair together for 10 days, insuring they are together through two heat cycles. But since the female might fight the male, a better way is to put the pair together only when the female is in heat.

What foods are bad for rats?

What Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet Rat

• Chocolate.
• Caffeine.
• Any foods with d-limonene in them, including lemon peels and mango.
• Raw beans or sweet potato.
• Wild insects.

Can rats eat raw potatoes?

However, you should avoid potatoes that have turned green as they contain solanine, a toxic chemical that can cause digestive issues in rats. Also, be sure to peel and dice your potatoes. Only give your rat the meat of the potato.

How long do African soft furred rats live?

As the soft furred rat moniker suggests they have very long silky fur. They have a range of colourations such as the natural agouti brown, cinnamon and various pied markings. They live between 2-3 years. They cannot be kept in a plastic or wooden cage since they are such avid chewers.

Is it hard to breed rats?

Rats are very easy to breed. In fact, many people end up with unplanned baby rats! Rats can reach sexual maturity at 5 weeks of age, so the sexes should be separated prior to this age. Rats do not have a breeding season, although very hot or cold temperatures will reduce breeding.

What time of year do rats have babies?

In rural areas, they tend to breed during the warm summer months, which means, come the winter, undetected infestations could already be substantial. Urban mice and rats tend to breed throughout the year with warm, indoor nesting sites. However, rats and mice are more than capable of breeding all year round.

What kind of animals eat African soft rats?

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. They are a great source of food for medium sized snakes and a natural prey for Ball pythons and other African animals. Natal rats are often referred to as a “miracle food”.

How old do soft fur rats have to be to breed?

Soft fur rats are able to breed at only 2 months old! They can have as few as 6 and as many as 22 babies per litter! Fruits and vegetables should be at least 1/3 of their diet as well as a good quality rodent pellet type food. They live in large colonies in the wild and they are happier in larger colonies though just keeping a couple is acceptable.

Is there such a thing as a soft fur rat?

The African Soft Fur Rat though new to the pet trade is a unique little rodent with unusual qualities.

Is it safe to remove ASF from African soft rats?

Just because a rats eyes are open, it doesn’t mean it’s fully weaned. Study them and make sure they are not still on their mother’s teat. Removal of an ASF from its mother before it is fully weaned will cause physical stress to the baby and stunt its growth. A heartfelt thank you to all those participating in building this site.