African Soft Fur Rats:

ASF's or Mastomys Natalensis originates from Sub-Saharan Africa, in a wide variety of biomes from the savannas, forests, and among farms and villages. Contrary to their name, they are not technically rats, but mice! They are highly adaptable and extremely social mammals and are known for their great roles as feed for reptiles and also as pets.

Use: ASF's have been used as lab mice in scientific studies since 1939. As feeders, they make a great meal for reptiles such as small to medium Pythons and smaller species of Boa. They are a better source of protein and calcium than other rodents and often times, when a Ball Python is not willing to take a mouse or rat, they will be willing to take an ASF. Because of their social tendencies, ASF's also make great pets. They may however nibble more than your standard rat, but that is due to their natural wild instincts.

Interesting Fact: in 1972, the ASF was found to be the primary reservoir of the Lassa Virus, an immunosuppressing virus. Discovered in 1969, the virus causes a hemorrhagic fever known as Lassa Fever as it effects almost every tissue in the human body. There is no known vaccine for the Lassa Virus, but it is endemic in Sierra Leone, Republic of Guinea, Nigeria, and Liberia. Annually, there are in between 300k and 500k cases and 5k deaths per year.