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Gambian Giant Pouched Rat Breeders

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Article By Christine Ham

POSITIVES OF POUCHED RATS AS PETS
The African Pouch rat can make a wonderful, challenging , unique pet for the right person. It is preferable to buy one that is about 8 weeks old so it can bond better with its new family. When raised with love and understanding they can make loving , affectionate pets - one does have to remember that these are still wild animals and not a domestic animal that has been raised in captivity for hundreds of generations like many other rodents.

These giants can be very playful, mischievous with their owners and look forward to coming out of their cages to play. The best place to let the Pouch rat run around is in a small room or closed off hallway so they cannot get into much trouble or loose interaction with its owner. They tend to love to lick their owners whenever possible.

Pouch rats also learn their names relatively quickly and can even, with patience, learn tricks and come when they are called.

NEGATIVES OF POUCHED RATS AS PETS
Pouch rats should still always be remembered that they are not a domestic animal but a wild animal that can still shows wild traits. They can be temperamental ( spaying/neutering does help with this problem) and at times protective of their territory i.e. cage/toys. They need daily interaction to keep up the bonding - one just cannot ignore it for a week or two and come back thinking it will still be a wonderful pet. Males are also very well known for “marking” their loved ones with dribbles of urine.

ANECDOTES
When we were raising our Pouch rats our favorite breeding male “Mwizi” or also known as “Papa rat” would unlock his cage and go for his walk-abouts! He would “visit” the girls and chew up papers but no matter what we would always find him the next morning curled up snug in his own bed. We got to using locks with keys because nothing else would keep him in his cage!

HOUSING
When it comes to housing for a single rat the largest ferret or cat cage will work only if they are able to get out on a daily basis. These guys love to run and jump. They are very clean animals - preferring to use one area as a toilet so litter box training can be done with some patience.

OTHER PETS
Pouch rats, when brought into a home with other animals at a young age, can learn to play/interact with other animals. I would still use caution though with animals that are bigger than them -such as dogs, cats etc. Some Pouch rats have even been raised with fancy domestic rats and grown to become inseparable from their smaller companions.

TOYS
One can also supply Pouches with a variety of toys to help keep them busy when you are not able play. Such as medium to large parrot toys, “ Nylabone” dog toys, 100% cotton rope toys, a wheel ( which would have to be custom made - at least 17 inches), pieces of arbutus or manzanita wood for chewing.

DIET
The Pouch rat is an omnivore, their diet in the wild consists of insects, snails, nuts, seeds, and fruit. In captivity they are relatively easy to feed. A good parrot mix ( remove chili peppers), which then can be supplemented with mixes nuts (no salt), dry dog food or Omnivore dry diet, rodent blocks, monkey biscuits, dried fruits and raisins. On a daily basis they require about quarter to half a cup of fresh fruit/vegetable matter. For treats one can offer cooked pasta, whole grain breads, cooked eggs, and even a little yogurt. Now remember because of their wonderful cheek pouches they can carry a large amount of food - so, on the occasion, they will empty out their food dishes only to store it someplace else. Fresh clean water daily is a must - one can also offer them a good rodent multi-vitamin in their water.

With lots of love, daily handling, good diet/care Pouch rats can live a long, happy, healthy life. Average life span in captivity is 8 years, but some have been known to live up to 10 years.

Positives of Gambian Rats as pets?
RMR: When handled from an early age, and given the proper care, pouched rats may become very talkative, affectionate, and sociable little creatures. A popular game was tag. Where they chase down your toes or fingers as you're trying to watch television. When they catch them, you get a thorough bath of kisses.
CP: There are a lot of positives to having a GPR as a pet, although all I have to go by is Basil, I wouldn't recommend them to a home with small children, as Basil is very protective of his "house".
RGC: FAIRLY TAME; CLEAN (DEFECATE IN ONE CORNER OF CAGE); NO EXTERNAL PARASITES, EXCEPT FOR HARMLESS EARWIGS; EASY TO TRAIN; LONGLEVITY (UP TO 7 YEARS).
D: If raised from a young age, they can be very friendly. They are smart, often litter train themselves, playful, and curious. They're also a very fun animal to observe.

Negatives of Gambian Rats as pets?
RMR: Pouched rats require a large cage, at least ferret sized, with lots of toys and levels to keep themselves entertained when you're away.
CP: He will not tolerate just anyone sticking their hands in or on his cage, although, now that he is a little older, he has mellowed. He is not a pet that likes to be cuddled, he comes to you, and will sit on your lap (actually my husband's lap) for just a couple minutes, and will "allow" you to pet him, but when it's time for him to move on, he goes. I have tried to pick him up when he didn't want me to, and he will give a yell, and then shrink out of your grip, much like a small child will do that doesn't want to be picked up. He will let me pick him up and walk him around for a couple of minutes, and he does like to ride around on your shoulders. I get a slight reaction to him after I handle him, I break out in hives in the places that have come in contact with him, I only mention this because I have heard that it is not uncommon for this to happen. It goes away within an hour or so, and it is the only reaction I have, and I am the only one in the house that gets it.
RGC: MALE CAN BECOME VISCIOUS WHEN FEMALE IN OESTRUS; VERY STRONG BITE; SUSCEPTIBLE TO ENDOCRINE DISORDERS IN OLD AGE THAT EXPRESS AS PEELING SKIN; CLEANING CCAGE CAN BE A BURDEN; EAT A LOT; ONLY A MATRIARC FEMALE BREEDS AND IT MAY BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND THIS FEMALE AS THESE RATS LIVE IN COLONIES OF 20-30 STRONG IN THE WILD.
D: They need a lot of attention and a special diet. They can become grouchy when disturbed, and sometimes defensive of their "nest." They don't like to be picked up very much, they're more of a "lap" pet. They need to be introduced to a lot of new people and things at a young age, so they will continue to be accepting as they get older.

Anecdotes/stories about your Gambian Rat?
RMR: The thing I loved most about raising pouched rats, was the "hugs" they gave. Whenever I reached into the cage of my bottle raised baby, he would wrap his tiny paws around my wrist and hold onto me while he lavished "kisses" all over my hand and arm. My female was a fastidious house keeper. Whenever she used the potty, she would push the soiled bedding through the bars on her cage door, letting it fall into a neat pile on the floor below. For someone else it might have been a problem, but I had a cement floor in the rodentry, so it actually made cleaning up after her easier. I only needed to sweep the floor once a day, and wash her cage out once a week. When she was in with the male, she did the same for his cage. I could almost hear her thoughts as she scolded him and cleaned the house... "What a slob of a husband you turned out to be Just look at this place, it's disgusting! Now get your lazy rear off the couch and help me clean up this mess!"
CP: I have many stories about Basil! He has been with us since he was around 10 months old, He is extremely intelligent!! Basil has trained himself to use the toilet! (there is proof of this, I of course have taken pictures!) When we first got Basil, he used to love to play with me, but that was turning into a "bloody scene", he wasn't biting me in the way an animal will bite you if he is scared or angry, he was playing. He would grab my arm and wrestle with me! I had learned that the only way to stop him, was to pin him down, (much easier said than done! they are very strong!) So, I got the idea to get him a hand puppet (to save my skin) I waited for him to come out, and posed myself to attack him first that night, so when he did come around the corner, I popped the hand puppet out in front of him, and scared him so bad he went back to his cage and would not come out!! So I bought him a rope pull toy that you would by for a dog, and since then, we played tug o'war. (the hand puppet was a big mouse) .
RGC: THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STORY ABOUT MY TWO GIANT RATS IS MY TRAINING OF THEM TO WALK ON LEADS.
D: This interview is based on a young Gambian at a few months of age. He litter trained himself the day I got him, at the age of seven weeks. Though timid, he was accepting of me, and within a few days, he was taking treats from me, napping in my lap, and play fighting with my hand. He also loves to lick my hands.

Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell?
RMR: Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell? They have a faint "ratty" odor which will become stronger if their cages are not kept clean. For the most part they're pretty odorless, nothing like our ferrets were... whew!
CP: I don't notice an odor from him, unless he has stored something in his cage, which he hates for me to clean! I have had pulling contests with him over the cage! I will be trying to get the cage outside, pulling it out the door, and Basil hanging off the other side pulling back for all he is worth! I have to get someone to distract him so I can get the cage outside. (it is a ferret cage, about 4' high and about 2 and 1/2 feet wide).
RGC: NO. THEY HAVE A UNIQUE SKIN SMELL THAT RESEMBLES SWEET PEARS.
D: The only thing about my male Gambian that smells is his litter box. If changed daily, there is no smell.

What is their average life span?
RMR: I've heard of pouched rats living to be 7 or 8 years old in captivity, but as we learn more about them and their needs, I don't doubt if we couldn't extend that to 9 or 10 years.
CP: I understand their life span to be about 8 yrs.
RGC: 7 YEARS.
D: 7-8 years

Do they enjoy interaction?
RMR: They love to be petted and groomed by their human "pets" and will rush to their cage door chirping gleefully when you enter the room, then dish out LOTS of "kisses" when you finally take them out of their cage to play.
CP: Basil does enjoy interaction, In fact, when he goes to the Dr, he acts like a little angel.. He completely sucks up to her!! He is pretty well behaved in the car, but, I put him in a travel cage, but, I have taken him on a few outings, and I have never had trouble with him. He is really pretty relaxed and friendly out of the cage, however he will give a very light nip, and it scares most people. I believe this to be affectionate. He also will lick you, and that can scare people also. He can be quite playful and mischievous, He will sneak up on you (usually on the back of the couch) and will nip your ears! But mostly, he is sweet. If he wants your attention, he will climb up your leg, this works quite well for him!
RGC: WITH PEOPLE, YES. THEY MAY DISLIKE EACH OTHER, THOUGH, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE NOT FROM THE SAME LITTER.
D: Bristol seems to enjoy it. He likes to play fight with me, and play on my lap while I'm doing things. He also likes to chase my hand around his cage.

What is their general personality, disposition, and attitude?
RMR: I think that depends a lot on the way they were handled as babies. If they're well socialized, they should be out going and confident. If wild caught or neglected as youngsters, they'll be timid and possibly aggressive, especially when cornered.
RGC: THEY ARE USUALLY QUIET AND FRIENDLY; THEY OFTEN EMIT A GRINDING NOISE FROM THEIR TEETH WHEN ONE OPENS THEIR CAGE - THIS IS A SIGN OF FRIENDSHIP, NOT AGGRESSION; THEY MAY MAKE A NOISE THAT RESEMBLES THAT OF A GUINEA-PIG.
D: Bristol is always quiet when first waking up. He sits calmly for a while. After he wakes up, he's usually playful, runs around, etc. He does get scared when he smells/hears someone that he doesn't know, and sometimes hides his head from them if they come near. (Something I have to work him out of, still, while he's young.)

Are they sweet and petable, or mischievous and playful?
RMR: My bottled baby just couldn't get enough of people. He would crawl out of his skin to get close to you. The older ones were bought as adults, and were a bit more nervous. They'd let you pet them and play a bit with you, but they didn't like to be picked up. Yet even the older ones were mischievous. The big male scared me near to death one night when he jumped out and grabbed my ankle in a "ratty hug". There's nothing quite like having a huge rat land on your foot when you're not expecting it, I'm here to tell you!
RGC: MINE ARE SWEET AND PETABLE. IT DOES, HOWEVER, DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL RAT.
D: When he first wakes up, and for a while after, or when tired, he's sweet and petable. Later he becomes mischievous and playful.

How destructive are they for an average household?
RMR: Don't let them get into your best couch, that's for sure. They can chew cat sized holes into furniture twice as fast as an entire colony of fancy rats! Generally speaking, you'd want to supervise any play time outside of their cage. Giving them plenty of toys to play with should help curb any furniture chewing.
CP: The only thing Basil has torn up, has been a backgammon board, he pulled it behind a wall unit and ripped the inside of it to shreds, otherwise there has been no real damage, I have heard they can be quite destructive, but, I have prairie dogs, and nothing is more destructive than they are!
RGC: VERY - THEY SHOULD BE KEPT IN THEIR OWN CAGE.
D: The only thing I've ever noticed Bristol chewing is some newspaper in his cage. He has several toys in there, including plush ones, but he just carries them around.

Do they climb or tear up furniture?
RGC: YES
D: He never has.

Are there any problems associated with their claws?
RMR: Even when they give "ratty hugs" they never scratched me. I gave them wooden structures to play on however, so that may have helped in keeping the claws trimmed.
CP: We haven't experienced any problems with his nails, but, we take him to visit the vet to clip them, He HATES this with a passion, it usually takes 2 or 3 people to hold him down for it!! we have gotten down a system of wrapping him in a towel, and holding him upside down for the back nails, and the front nails we just have to hang on tight!! I must note here that he has never attempted to bite anyone during a "clipping adventure".
RGC: THEY CAN SCRATCH THE SENSITIVE AREAS OF ONE'S SKIN QUIET BADLY. REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE THE SIZE OF A CAT. SOME PEOPLE ARE PREDISPOSED TO ALLERGIC REACTIONS FROM THEIR CLAWS, LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKIN ECZEMA.
D: He sometimes grabs my hand or fingers, but I've never felt any claws.

How messy are their droppings?
RMR: If the pouched rat is healthy, they should be firm and well shaped, just like a fancy rat (but larger). Very easy to clean up. Wet stool is a definite warning sign, and the rat should be taken to a good exotic vet.
RGC: THEY ARE CLEAN AS THEY DEFECATE IN ONE CORNER OF THEIR CAGE.
D: Not runny at all, very small and neat.

Can they be litter box trained?
RMR: I'd certainly believe so, although I never tried it with mine. My female was certainly more fastidious about potty manners then the males, but that may have just been her personality.
CP: If Basil does not use the toilet, which is rare, he will leave his droppings in a corner, and he has a corner he uses in his cage, otherwise there isn't a problem. I don't know if they can be litter trained, I would imagine they can be since Basil uses the toilet
RGC: YES.
D: Yes. Bristol uses a bowl of water to defecate in (don't know why but he likes to do it in water) and a small ferret litter pan to urinate in. Also, he trained himself, all I had to do was provide the litter pan and bowl. I'm sure they could use the litter pan for both duties, but he has the extra room in his cage, so I give him the bowl as well.

Can they be trained?
RMR: A resounding YES! I sometimes wondered if they weren't smarter then my dogs! In my opinion, the pouched rats are much more intelligent then our domestic rats. My youngster was quick to learn his name, simple tricks, and even to walk on a small dog halter and leash. On the down side of that, they are so intelligent that they can also learn bad behavior, like biting, from improper training or handling. Owners must be consistent in training, just as if they were raising a puppy. And on that note: Pouched rats should never be physically punished, but rather scolded firmly, just as a mother rat might scold her disobedient youngster. You can also put them back into their cage for a "time-out" to help curb bad behavior.
CP: These Rats can most definitely be trained, they are incredibly intelligent, and learn very quickly!
RGC: YES.
D: I'm sure of it, Gambians are very smart.

How are they with other pets, larger and smaller?
RMR: When he was an infant, I kept my bottled baby in with some young fancy rats. They kept him groomed and warm whenever he wasn't with me. After each meal, they would lick any stray drops of milk off his face. It was darling. But as he got older, I slowly weaned the fancy's out.
CP: Basil doesn't pay much attention to our other pets, except the prairie dogs, and that is only when they try to steal his newspaper shredding through the bars of his cage, otherwise, he doesn't bother with them, I once had a panther chameleon, and the chameleon, used to like to sit on the top of Basil's cage, and Basil never paid too much attention to him, but, that is the only animal that he allowed around his cage without having a fit.
RGC: BEST TO AVOID CONTACT, ESPECIALLY WITH DOGS.
D: He seemed scared of the cat, don't know about anything else.

What size cage do they need?
RMR: A large, multiple floored ferret cage is probably the best that most people could afford. But if you have the money, they would thrive in a larger run.
RGC: AT LEAST ONE CUBIC METER PER RAT
D: As large as possible.

What do you feed them?
RMR: I fed them rodent block, fresh vegetables, dried & fresh fruit, parrot mix, captive bred crickets & mealworms, quality dog kibble that had no added dyes, and raw, unshelled nuts. Never feed anything with processed sugars, salt, or fat. For example: chocolate, candy, french fries, etc are all big NO NO's. Don't be surprised if you feed your pouched rat, then turn around and find the dish empty and the rat looking at you for more. They've probably shoved the whole dish full into their mouths and hidden it in their "pantry" for later snacking.
CP: Basil will eat most anything, I have never given him red meat, but, I have given him chicken and scrambled eggs. I didn't give him chicken until he swiped a leftover chicken breast off of a plate!! I didn't know he would eat any type of meat! He loves bananas, most green veggies, and corn is one of his favorites. Living in Florida we have a lot of citrus fruit around, I found that he really likes tangerines! I usually find out what he likes either when I offer it to him just to see, or he takes it! I also feed him lab blocks, and once in awhile he likes hay. He also likes crickets, when we had the chameleon, they would get loose, and he would catch and eat them.
RGC: TID-BITS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; DOG-FOOD; COOKED CHICKEN; WILD NUTS AND GRASS SEEDS.
D: Dog food, a good parrot mix (red peppers removed), bread, various fruits and vegetables, and cereal. Also, small bits of meat.

What vaccinations/vet care do they require?
RMR: I only had one vet bill in all the time I had my pouched rats, and it was for just over $300. My baby rat went to bed looking fine, and woke up lethargic and cold. I rushed him in to the animal hospital and they discovered he was also a little dehydrated. Even my exotic vet was at a loss for the cause, so they kept him overnight for observation. The next morning he was fine, and none of us could explain it. He never had any more problems, and my only theory was that maybe he had eaten something while he was out playing and it had made him sick. For the most part, the pouched rats seem to be pretty healthy animals.
CP: I have asked our vet what shots, if any do they require, she said there are none to date, that she knows of. He doesn't have to go to the vet often at all, I will take him in to say Hi, they love him at the vet's office, She has pictures of him posted throughout the clinic. Other rat owners (regular hooded rats, etc) have talked to me and said "Oh! You're Basil's mom"
RGC: NONE.
D: As of now, unknown.

At what age would it be best to get one?
RMR: I'd recommend a youngster, somewhere around 8 weeks. A bottle fed baby is preferable, as they have had lots of human interaction and will usually be much easier to tame and train. If you have a nearby breeder, and are an experienced exotic handler, you could try getting one a little younger and bottle feeding it yourself. But never accept a baby that is younger then 6 weeks that must be shipped to you from out of state, as the transport can be very stressful on them.
CP: We feel the best age to get them is when they are young, probably younger than Basil was when we got him, We had quite an adjustment period.
RGC: AS A BABY, I.E. AGED 2 MONTHS
D: About 7 weeks of age, or earlier if you're experienced and can bottle-feed baby.

Other Consideration for owners of Gambian Rats?
RMR: Pouched rats can't be ignored, they need to have lots of human interaction if they are to be happy and sociable animals. And you can't forget that they are still essentially new to the pet trade. Their temperament and personality will sometimes reflect their wild past, so owners need to be very patient when working with them.
RGC: SEE MY TWO DETAILED WEBSITE ARTICLES AT: http://www.altpet.net/rodents/cricetomys/
D: You need to be willing to spend time bonding with the animal, and sometimes going out of your way to get it a varied diet. It needs to be introduced to new people and places from a young age. Toys should be offered to them. Also, I've found they are very sensitive to a lack of humidity in the air. I live in Michigan, and the winter air caused ringtail in my Gambian. To solve this, I have bought a new humidifier for the room he's in, and have added various watery fruits and veggies to his diet. Also, These rats are still rare on the pet market, and are fairly costly to get a healthy baby from a good breeder. It's not yet talked to a breeder who didn't have a long waiting list of people wanting a baby Gambian.

What kind of person should own these animals?
RMR: Definitely a mature teen or adult with time and money to burn. Remember the size of the animal and the size of the wound that they could inflict if they are hurt. Unlike fancy rats, a bite from a pouched rat would probably require stitches. Not to say that they can't get along with children, because my youngest pouched rat was very fond of my four year old daughter. But she's also very experienced in handling small animals, and was careful to never hurt him.
CP: The type of person that should own this animal should have patience, and not allow themselves to be intimidated when their rat displays aggressive behavior, when you let them know you are afraid of them, they will take full advantage of it. They are very intelligent, I can't stress this enough! I have to lock his cage with a hanger, because he will let himself out in the middle of the night and come visit in the bed!
RGC: A RAT LOVER!
D: Someone experienced with animals who is patient, willing to spend some extra time and money, and able to do all of the above. I don't think these would make good pets for those with young children around, they could hurt the rat and in turn be bitten badly.