Soft-furred rats

Praomys natalensis

I hate it as much as you might, but This page is best seen in Internet Explorer.

Latest addition: Keeping ASFs (natals) as pets! Skip to interview with kstanton@nb.sympatico.ca.

soft fur rats soft furred rats African fur rats little African soft furs

I hope y'all had a wonderful holiday season, and Happy New Year!

New observations:

Rats on a wheel: When two gerbils try to get on the same wheel, one goes flying. When five softies get on a wheel, they all work together and no one goes flying. I just found that really interesting. If you're going to test this out, please remember that they have tails and get a wheel that doesn't have slats to keep the tails from getting caught.

I now have a tank sitting next to my desk. They are very, very quiet little guys, and it's so nice that they don't smell like regular rats.

Proliferation seems to be between that of gerbils but well behind mice and other rat varieties.

Sexual maturity: They're not like mice. Our observations see breeding starting about four months of age.

Adult size: About twice the size of an adult mouse.

Average litter (in number): About a dozen.

Average litters per year per female: Our opinion, three to four, based on working on a large colony and their offspring for six months. Add 09/03/08: Hub is having more success with 1.5 pairings - keep you posted.

Male to female ratio for breeding: Depending on size of colony depends on ratio. We're working with 1.3 to 1.5 pairings.

Food: We use Mazuri mouse and rat food. They eat seeds and vegetables in the wild.

Value as feeding snakes: The wild caught ball pythons are most receptive to eating soft furs, an African native food source.

**Big positive difference in stink factor versus other rat varieties.** They do have an odor. It is actually quite distinct from other rats, but it takes longer for the smell to overtake everything in the house the way other rats can. This does not mean you let it go until it stinks to high heaven! Keep the tanks changed regularly!

Temperament: Nippy, but not so much mean as just testing environment and establishing that you're putting your hands in their home. The parents do not like it when you pull "weaner" rats or taking other babies and become defensive.

Colonizing: In our experience, we have only noticed problems introducing newcomers to a colony if:
1). There are babies. 2). There is another male. 3). Males fight for their females unless they grew up together.

Toss in a female...good to go. Leaving baby males to grow up with dad is fine.

Sexing: Very easy.

Ball python breeders like these guys because they are a native food source for ball pythons. They are a little nippy, but the behavior seems to stem more from a curiosity and to let the handler know that his hand is in their territory. Their hair is extremely soft, and they are very unusual but good-looking rodents. Breeders are trending towards the soft-furred rats especially for the wild-caught African ball pythons, as these rodents smell like home to wild-caught snakes. Although they smell like home to the snakes, they don't make your home smell like other rats do. Our initial impression was that newcomers were welcome, and that rang true in small groups, but the more softies in a colony, the harder it is to introduce newcomers. They do grow more slowly than other rodents, which is their big disadvantage. 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.

Their colors are quite variegated. It would be interesting to see a site devoted to soft-furred genetics.

The brick is there to make sure they can reach their water bottle, which is placed a little too high because of the hanger not being long enough for the tank.

A cage cover is a must for soft-furred rats. As you can see to the left, they are very adept climbers. This tank is 18" tall, and he's made it on top of the water bottle. They are also chewers, shredding the plastic cap piece on their water bottles frequently. This needs closely monitored, or else you get wet cages, which, of course, need changed.

Like rats, mom have an "auntie" system. If one set of pinkies loses a mom, or if the mom neglects them, another mom will take over.

Baby soft furs even have soft fur as pinkies. Please take a good look at their ears. They are so intricate and delicate. They're quite beautiful.

They are extremely curious and, like all rats, very, very protective of their young. They are a community. Like mice, rats, and gerbils, they all participate in the rearing of the young. If you have many rodents, sometimes it's hard to tell who actually gave birth, because with many of the females lactating, it doesn't matter who's doing the feeding as long as they get fed. It's not at all unusual to see two or three different-sized juvies at the same female milk bar.

Notice that even the pinkies have fur! Check out the delicate ears!

Keeping ASFs as pets.

I recently had an e-mail interview with kstanton@nb.sympatico.ca. Here are the details from that:

I breed Natals and have no problem with them being aggresive, nasty or timid. All my adults are handled daily and love to come out of the cage for some one-on-one attention. I sell the babies at 4 - 6 weeks old for $15 each and people are buying them as pets. Have never had anyone say they were unhappy with their purchase, but get lots of "I just love them, they are so cute, I am so glad I got them, etc.." With daily handling from a early age they do make gentle, sweet pets. I just want to tell some good stories about them. I sell them on "Kijiji" in the Atlantic Canada area.

Here's my reply:

I am heartened to hear this, because they are sooooo soft. I've never been bitten, and if they nip, it's usually because it seems to be their way of getting to know what's new in their environment.

If I might ask a few questions and have your permission to post your answers?

1. How large are your colonies?

2. Are your colonies the direct descendents of your first few handled ASFs?

3. Do they seem to communicate to the others in the colony that you're okay, not an intruder, etc?

4. Do you find that you need to keep the colonies small in order for them to gain your trust?

I had another question from another e-mail regarding how to deal with an aggressive female, a 1 M to 3 F colony. If you've dealt with this kind of situation before, I'd really like your opinion on that.

Thank you for writing. Any information I get helps to make the website better. How did you wish for me to post your seller information? Just your e-mail and the Kijiji link?

Here's the reply:

I have 4 pairs and 1 trio that are adults. The panda shaded ones are the favorites so I am setting up a 1M to 7F colony of just the ones with white heads and rumps. Hope to get more of that pattern born.

All my natals are from the first 2 breeding pairs that I owned. I have a black pair and a brown pair, I cross breed the babies from these two. I buy new pinkies now and then and just add them to an already existing litter to introduce new blood. The females accept them as their own after giving them a good wash.

My original 4, I aquired when they were 5 days old and I hand feed them every 4 hours with a eyedropper and pablum for 2 1/2 weeks. I think this may of be why they are so calm and friendly, I am their mother.

Because I only have 11 adults I am able to send the required time with them each day ,so they are calm. The babies seem to take their cue for the parents and are not afraid of me. They do seem to work as a big family unit.

I have never set up a large colony before so the panda group will be my first. I plan to put them in a very large cage and spend time with them as I do the smaller groups.

I have found that a first time mom will be more protective of the pups than she will be on her 2nd or 3rd litter. They get more relaxed as time goes on. To make it easier to handle the pups, I simply remove the adults. They love coming out so they gladly leave the babies.

I am always updating my Kijiji ads, I advertise in the Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton area. You can also include my email.

Here's the e-mail again, for those who have questions: kstanton@nb.sympatico.ca

Thank you again for the opportunity! Here's the pictures from kstanton:

Sources! Get your ASFs here!

List your ASF site/contact information here if you sell the softies. It's FREE. Just send me an e-mail.

***Most breeders aren't going to ship because the only legal way to ship these animals is through airlines pet shipping ($100-200) plus costs extra for a chew proof shipping container plus vet certs for each animal? I'm getting a lot of people asking me to ship and I'm sure others are as well. Perhaps if folks know ahead of time... (This is posted at the request of Shadera Lorrain <magickalmorphs@gmail.com>***

Alabama:

Sun Coast Aquariums: Western Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama: We sell live African Soft Furs for $5 each. Our colony is doing well and rapidly growing. Please call Eric at 850.496.0993 or e-mail ericm@suncoastaquariums.com if interested. Thank you!

California: ASFs are illegal in your state.

Florida:

AwesomeASFs@gmail.com Orange and Seminole Counties. Can deliver to Lakeland and Sarasota areas if given enough notice. Bred for temperament and handled daily. Pets only. $10 each.

Georgia:

mccaavv@yahoo.com - My ASF colony consists of 4 unrelated lines... Soon to be 6. I usually sell for $5.00 each and make special arrangements with people who buy regularly. Serving the locale of Northeast Florida/Southern Georgia.

Greg Bennett - Servicing Cumming, Georgia. Phone # (678) 858-1867. I sell not only live but frozen and can ship frozen to east coast customers. E-mail Mr. Bennett.

ASFs are illegal in Georgia. This came from a conversation with Todd Nimms at GaDNR (Wildlife Resources Division at 770-918-6404).

Kentucky: ASFs are illegal in your state.

Lousiana:

Zoo-Zoom - Brett & Lori Matte - The Little Zoo on Wheels Exotic Animal Exhibitors, Educator's & Rescuer's www.zoo-zoom.com 337-845-5124 www.myspace.com/zoozoomla

Michigan:

Metal Monkey Exotics - We are located in Mid-Michigan, supplying the Bay, Saginaw and Midland
counties. Offering new breeder groups, single or multiple feeders live or frozen. E-mail us for availability and pricing.
Visit us at www.metalmonkeyexotics.com
E-mail: connie@metalmonkeyexotics.com

Missouri: ASFs are illegal in your state. - Thank you, Connie!

Nebraska:

John Russell - Serving Lincoln, Omaha, and Southeast Nebraska. I (generally) have hundreds of rats available from pinkies to mature. Prices range from $0.50 to $3.00 depending on size. You can email or call me at 402-474-0100.

Nevada:

Sin City Reptiles: Las Vegas, Nevada. I supply all the western states. The price for the ASF's is $5 $3. You can me by phone or email.

sincityreptiles@yahoo.com or call 702-349-8927

Nevada rules and regulations .pdf file - please read carefully before purchasing ASFs. http://www.ndow.org/about/license/pdf/inst04/wildlife_import.pdf

Ohio:

info@scalekids.com - Our ASF colonies are producing well and we are currently able to offer starter groups of healthy young ASF for future breeding groups. Prices are $5.00 per rat, with discounts offered for multiple groupings purchased. We are located in Toledo, Ohio.

www.valleyexoticszoo.com - Jamie Beneke, serving Southwestern Ohio

The West Side Rattery - Rena breeds fancy rats as well as ASFs in the Columbus area.

Oregon:

Annie Wahto: Eugene, OR. We sell ASFs, mice and rats. E-mail is snakegurl13@live.com. Phone: 503-839-0805 or 541-579-9359

Pennsylvania:

We have ASFs in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. We have 3 unrelated lines at this time. We sell them from pinkie size to sub-adult. They are $5 each, or $12 for a 1.2 trio. Other quantities are available. Please e-mail me at matthewm@dejazzd.com.

Tennessee:

Music City Reptiles - Serving Nashville, Tennessee. Phone # (615) 557-4573.

Joe Savage - Serving Nashville, Tennessee. Phone # (615) 477-4110. I have been breeding various color strains of ASF rats for the last year and have quite an extensive colony. Since these rats are so rare and I take special care for them, I am selling them alive for $25.00 per trio. I will ship them alive at the buyer's expense overnight. If there is any interest, please get back to me.

Texas:

Contact - Kevin Hornby - lies_all_lies@hotmail.com. Location - DFW Texas. Cost - $5 per ASF. Phone - 469-323-4492. Shipping - Buyer's expense

Utah:

Konstatin Pavlov - I am in Utah (Salt Lake City) and sell trios for $20. (E-mail kpavlov@utah.gov)

West Virginia:

Magical Morphs: magickalmorphs@gmail.com - I breed ASF rats for my snakes and always have some extras I can pass on to others. I'm located in central WV, and I usually have weaners and juveniles for sale. I charge $3 per rat.

Wisconsin:

Tender Tails Rodentry: Paige and Tim LeMaster, tendertailsrats@gmail.com. All colors and markings. Prices vary depending on how many I have at any given time. I recently put a colony together of 3rd generations from my selective breeding program (for tameness,) and expect to have many for sale in the future.

This page is copyrighted by Sapphire Tigress of sapphiretigress.com, posted initially on 11/19/2007. Last updated 12/29/2009. All rights reserved. Please feel free to post a link at your site. If you'd like to use my pictures, contact me for details or make it so when the picture is clicked, it goes right back here. Thanks!

free hit counters

buy for sale African soft furred seller sellers purchase rats