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Post by bitbyter on Mar 29, 2015 17:18:05 GMT -5
Yeah, as they get older their litters generally get smaller and they won't always get pregnant back to back. At least that's what I've heard.
I'm starting to see signs of pregnancy in my second colony.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 17:57:08 GMT -5
If you started a new colony from the offspring would you have to bring in a new male or new females? Just wondering on the effects of inbreeding. I know in some animals it can cause much smaller litters? If that is the case with ASF you might end up breeding that into your lines and end up having to start all over again.
Just a thought, I've never bred any animals never mind raised colonies of rats.
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Post by msav on Mar 29, 2015 19:11:04 GMT -5
apparently ASF's do very well with inbreeding and line breeding,
Just from what I have read. verdict is still out on actual experience.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 29, 2015 19:45:18 GMT -5
The guy I got them from said that problems usually don't show up in ASF's before 20 generations of inbreeding (brother and sister, brother and sister, brother and sister, 20 times from successive litters). He's been breeding feeders for quite a number of years.
NOTE: inbreeding doesn't have to be brother to sister. It can be father to daughter or mother to son, etc. Line breeding usually requires a generation in between relationships when bred (Grandfather to Granddaughter, Uncle to Niece, etc). At least, that's my understanding.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 30, 2015 8:03:17 GMT -5
That's interesting. I'm not much of a biologist, just know some of the basics and I have no idea about rat genes in specific. Just about out of curiosity. So bitbyter, does that mean your original group were from an sibling or relation mating? Just wondering about the effects for close relation breeding over 20 generations, and how far off your rats might be. Think I've said before, I wish I wasn't such a big wuss and could raise and kill my own food for the ferrets. I would be much happier knowing they had a great life but I don't think I could ever bring myself to kill them, or stop myself becoming attached. I write this while my gerbil is in her topper next to me asking for some treats.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 30, 2015 8:34:07 GMT -5
No idea. I started with my original group. Bought a second from him and my third and fourth groups will be sons / daughters of the above two. All other offspring will be feeders. When these groups start getting to old, they'll be retired and a new group of sons / daughters will take over.
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