General Information:
There are four species of African pouched rats:
It's difficult to distinguish between the Emin's pouched rat and the Gambian pouched rat, but here are a few features that may help you differentiate between the two:
As their name suggests, African pouched rats - informally referred to as 'pouchies'- are native to Africa and are amongst the largest muroids in the world. They're found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa - Emin's pouched rats are more commonly found around the edges of forests.
Unlike many rats, pouched rats have cheek pouches which they use to store large quantities of food similar to hamsters.
They're a nocturnal and omnivorous rodent with a lifespan of up to 8-9 years. They naturally live either in colonies and solitude.
Fun fact:
Pouched rats are used to detect unexploded landmines and tuberculosis! Check out APOPO Hero Rats for more information.
Care:
The majority of care advice available applies to both Gambian and Emin's pouched rats.
Housing/Enrichment:
As a large rodent, pouched rats need a lot of space. A pair of pouched rats need an absolute minimum of 1M square of floor space, but most people recommend more given how active and agile pouched rats are.
Few commercial cages are suitable for pouched rats (the XL Savic Royal suite is the only one that we are aware of).
Some people make their own cage by connecting two large multistory ferret/rat cages together or transforming an aviary.
Remember, pouched rats are both intelligent and destructive, making your own cage should be done to a very high standard to ensure it can safely keep your rats inside. Your cage must be made from metal.
Pouched rats are agile, particularly Emin's pouched rats. They're also intelligent and destructive. Their cage should offer plenty of stimulation to keep your pouched rats enriched and encourage natural behaviours. Consider buying many levels, safe branches, ropes, and beds.
A generous layer of safe substrates is recommended as pouched rat urine is very potent, some pouched rats can be litter trained as they generally go to the toilet in the same corner of the cage.
You can also provide opportunities for foraging within the substrate. Check your pet's environment daily when feeding fresh fruit and veg to dispose of rotten foods.
Useful Links:
Socialising:
With Other Pouched Rats:
As previously mentioned, pouched rats can cohabit or live solitary. Personally, we recommend discussing with your breeder (Pouched rats are rarely available to rescue) about the personality of your pouched rat before making a decision to cohabit.
Some pouched rats have been known to kill other rats, whereas others live together well.
With Their Owner:
It's important to note that all pouched rats are considered "semi-domesticated". They're not as domesticated as a Norway rat (commonly kept pet fancy rats). Pouched rats are considered to be strong-willed, often stubborn, individual, cunning, determined, and less predictable.
Pouched rats generally bond to one person and this will usually be a female, or the "leader". Depending on the individual, some pouched rats can act aggressively to everyone but their owner.
Continuing with the topic of aggression, we have mentioned that pouched rats can be less predictable, so they can administer an incredibly powerful bite to someone inexperienced - and even an experienced handler.
They're commonly nocturnal animals and forcing them to change their natural habits isn't recommended. Therefore, you should be prepared to handle them late at night. This usually means your pet pouched rat will be in a better mood than if they've been woken up mid-sleep.
To ensure your pouched rat is kept tame, it's advisable to allow them to free roam for several hours every day - they'll quickly become bored if caged all day. Your pouched rat will need plenty of space to explore, many people offer them the entire house to free roam.
As they have a destructive nature, please, keep a close eye on them when they're free-roaming.
Unlike other rodents, a pouched rat is more than capable to challenge a cat or a dog, and often the cat or dog will come off worse. For that reason, most don't recommend allowing contact between other species.
Diet:
Like with all animals, a healthy diet is an essential way to promote a long and happy life.
There are numerous parts to a pouched rats diet.
Common Health Issues:
As uncommon pets even amongst exotic pet owners, there is limited research into the common diseases of pouched rats in captivity. For that reason, it’s particularly important you find an exotic vet who’s experienced in pouched rats. Here are some issues African pouched rats seem vulnerable to:
There are four species of African pouched rats:
- Cricetomys emini (Emin's pouched rat)
- Cricetomys kivuensis (Kivu giant pouched rat)
- Cricetomys ansorgei (Southern pouched rat)
- Cricetomys gambianus (Gambian pouched rats).
It's difficult to distinguish between the Emin's pouched rat and the Gambian pouched rat, but here are a few features that may help you differentiate between the two:
- Emin's pouched rats are usually smaller (1.5kg), whereas Gambian pouched rats can weigh up to 2kg.
- Emin's pouched rats have a sleeker appearance.
- Gambian pouched rats are grey/brown with a subtle change to a lighter colour around the abdomen, Emin's pouched rats are a significantly 'browner' and have a much more solid difference in colour around the abdomen.
As their name suggests, African pouched rats - informally referred to as 'pouchies'- are native to Africa and are amongst the largest muroids in the world. They're found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa - Emin's pouched rats are more commonly found around the edges of forests.
Unlike many rats, pouched rats have cheek pouches which they use to store large quantities of food similar to hamsters.
They're a nocturnal and omnivorous rodent with a lifespan of up to 8-9 years. They naturally live either in colonies and solitude.
Fun fact:
Pouched rats are used to detect unexploded landmines and tuberculosis! Check out APOPO Hero Rats for more information.
Care:
The majority of care advice available applies to both Gambian and Emin's pouched rats.
Housing/Enrichment:
As a large rodent, pouched rats need a lot of space. A pair of pouched rats need an absolute minimum of 1M square of floor space, but most people recommend more given how active and agile pouched rats are.
Few commercial cages are suitable for pouched rats (the XL Savic Royal suite is the only one that we are aware of).
Some people make their own cage by connecting two large multistory ferret/rat cages together or transforming an aviary.
Remember, pouched rats are both intelligent and destructive, making your own cage should be done to a very high standard to ensure it can safely keep your rats inside. Your cage must be made from metal.
Pouched rats are agile, particularly Emin's pouched rats. They're also intelligent and destructive. Their cage should offer plenty of stimulation to keep your pouched rats enriched and encourage natural behaviours. Consider buying many levels, safe branches, ropes, and beds.
A generous layer of safe substrates is recommended as pouched rat urine is very potent, some pouched rats can be litter trained as they generally go to the toilet in the same corner of the cage.
You can also provide opportunities for foraging within the substrate. Check your pet's environment daily when feeding fresh fruit and veg to dispose of rotten foods.
Useful Links:
- www.shop4petsupplies.co.uk/savic-suite-royal-xl-115-x-675-x-153-cm-l-x-w-x-h-x-w-x-h
- nprs.org.uk/knowledge-base/housing-a-pouched-rat/
- www.ukpouchies.co.uk/care-guide/
Socialising:
With Other Pouched Rats:
As previously mentioned, pouched rats can cohabit or live solitary. Personally, we recommend discussing with your breeder (Pouched rats are rarely available to rescue) about the personality of your pouched rat before making a decision to cohabit.
Some pouched rats have been known to kill other rats, whereas others live together well.
With Their Owner:
It's important to note that all pouched rats are considered "semi-domesticated". They're not as domesticated as a Norway rat (commonly kept pet fancy rats). Pouched rats are considered to be strong-willed, often stubborn, individual, cunning, determined, and less predictable.
Pouched rats generally bond to one person and this will usually be a female, or the "leader". Depending on the individual, some pouched rats can act aggressively to everyone but their owner.
Continuing with the topic of aggression, we have mentioned that pouched rats can be less predictable, so they can administer an incredibly powerful bite to someone inexperienced - and even an experienced handler.
They're commonly nocturnal animals and forcing them to change their natural habits isn't recommended. Therefore, you should be prepared to handle them late at night. This usually means your pet pouched rat will be in a better mood than if they've been woken up mid-sleep.
To ensure your pouched rat is kept tame, it's advisable to allow them to free roam for several hours every day - they'll quickly become bored if caged all day. Your pouched rat will need plenty of space to explore, many people offer them the entire house to free roam.
As they have a destructive nature, please, keep a close eye on them when they're free-roaming.
Unlike other rodents, a pouched rat is more than capable to challenge a cat or a dog, and often the cat or dog will come off worse. For that reason, most don't recommend allowing contact between other species.
Diet:
Like with all animals, a healthy diet is an essential way to promote a long and happy life.
There are numerous parts to a pouched rats diet.
- A Dry Mix: Most keepers use a parrot mix, rat mix with added nuts and seeds, or a chipmunk mix.
- Fresh food: A variety of safe fresh food should be readily available - avoid citrus foods and avocado skin/seeds.
- Occasional treats: cooked chicken, ham, and insects can be a good source of extra protein as pouched rats require more protein than their Norway rat cousins.
Common Health Issues:
As uncommon pets even amongst exotic pet owners, there is limited research into the common diseases of pouched rats in captivity. For that reason, it’s particularly important you find an exotic vet who’s experienced in pouched rats. Here are some issues African pouched rats seem vulnerable to:
- Hormone-linked Aggressive Behaviour: Whilst not strictly a disease, it can be a common occurrence for pouched rat owners to need their pet surgically neutered due to behavioural issues. It’s important to remember, pouchies are not fully domesticated, like many other pets. They have the tendency to still show “unwanted” behaviours towards us. Neutering can help, and it is definitely recommended, but a neutered exotic pet is not therefore domesticated. It’s very important to research common behaviours and what these might mean before committing to a pet. Pouched rats, when they do bite, can leave you with a visit to a hospital.
- Hypothermia: Torpor is described as a decreased rate of physiological activity. The cause of torpor in pouched rats is almost always husbandry related due to improper housing temps. It’s important you maintain a comfortable temperature of around 20-22c.