Stormy - Giant Pouched Rat

[nightwolfiebabe]

arses..... lol



[DianaVita0]

I would like to know where i can find facts on how rats are cleaner then dogs, and cats. There are people that say they're cleaner, but when i look it up there is really no facts. I know you can get rabies from dogs but that's what shots are for. When i try and find facts on rats all i see is how they eat babies and shit in different countries.

[SquirrelsForAll]

She's really beautiful, you've done a fabulous job taking care of her. We've tried to local a GPR in California, but sadly, most people have simply never heard of them.

Nice to see she had a long and healthy life with someone who appreciated her.

[jbar62789]

lol hes scared of heights

[MalikCM]

ohshit!!

[Lyssiebaby92]

I think I saw ur website with stormy

she's adorable =]

[xxxWARRIORS101xxx]

where did you get stormy

i raise rats and i'v had rats my whole life

[trychx]

@jeang13

Wild rats actually live about 6 months due to predators and disease and such. A rex rat is also bred/created due to line breeding -inbreeding so their lifespans are a bit shorter, they will live about 2 years. A lifespan also depends if you got your rat from a breeder who breeds for health and temperment or just a backyard feeder breeder who doesn't keep track of genetics. There may be some sort of rat out there that can live 15 years but a Norway rat lives 2-3 years.

[trychx]

@jeang13 @jeang13 Pouched rats which are much different then your average Norway rat live 5-10 years. The one in this video is Stormy, my Emin's pouched rat and she lived to be 7 years old. Pet rats can NOT live 15 years, the oldest Norway rat in the Guiness book of world records when they were keeping track lived to be 7 years old. You will not get your rat to live to be 10 years old, is is just improbable, i don't know where you read or learned that but sorry you are wrong.

[alexispfister]

Do you know of any breeders in the United States so I might have a magnificent pet such as stormy?

[schmolly971]

I've read your website (Disco's Rats) and it is very interesting! I'm getting a pair of females this december and so it was very informative...Not to mention right now I am hooked on everything RATTY. I spent two days reading everything on the 'Rat Illnesses' page!!! haha. This pouched rat is cool. I've never seen one like that. :D

[jazzyjazz11]

actually they can make humans ill it's to do with something in their urine but indeed this is rare, I love my ratties :) one of them died a few months back she had a stroke and cancer so had to get her euthinased :(

[dcshows1]

wher did you get stormy and how much was he?

[trychx]

@dcshows1

I acquired here kind of by accident i came across and ad for a giant pouched rat and already was addicted to rats so i inquired and got her. She was so great! She lived to be 7 years old. I paid $120 for her and that was before the US ban went into effect and now it's lifted but now they are even more difficult to find and would likely cost 5 times that much. I also paid a distributor price not the price she would have been at a pet store.

[MissKat427]

I realy realy want a Pouched rat but I hear that they are not aloud in the U.S.A :(

Dose any one know if they are?

I love rats and love to take care of them.

[shoponline831]

I recently got a dumbo rex rat. hes about two months old and he;s already the size of a aregular adult rat! IThe guy at the petstore told me he';s gonna be the size of a a rabbit. so he'll porbably be the size of this rat when he's done growing. the best part is his life span. most rats live between 3-5 years. but due to his size he can live from 10-15 years. that's awesome. i've always loved rats. i know they're nothing like their vermin cousins. they're sweet and cute.

[trychx]

pet rats do not live 3-5 years, i have had rats for over 13 years, you are concidered lucky if they make it to 2 and very, very lucky if they make it to 3 years. Just saying don't get your hopes up for 5 years. Just cause a rat is bigger doesn't mean he will live 15 years, thats crazy.

[Sezzastar]

@trychx Yeppp you're right.. my last rat was very very healthy and she lasted just over 3 years. My others all died within 1-2 years.. which is sad.

Also, dumbo rats do not grow to the size of the gambian pouched rat, i have had 4 of these and yes they do grow bigger and have bigger ears than a regular rat, but not that HUGE!

[Ladyblooduk09]

@shoponline831 I can assure you dumbo rats dont grow very big at all. I have some myself and theyve always been smaller than regular rats. They are very cute though.

[bluegrasslass]

She's gorgeous! I'd love a couple of regular rats, but my hubby doesn't like their tails (the big girl's blouse!)

[card969]

That is a cool rat the biggest i have ever seen, i want 1.

[bedupolkerpenguin]

cool rat!! i have a pet rat but shes a regular fancy rat

[atsirhc99]

oh, she's lovely ! so you finally helped her down?

[trychx]

she got down by herself. Sometimes she is a bit timid about climbing down.

[farix1]

This is Giant Mozambique Rat from Africa

[WooFMewMew]

wow its Ben from Willard!!! lol. He is HUGE!!!!!!

[animalover700]

So adorable! :D

[SudicidalMemories]

how long do they life?

[trychx]

They say 8-10 years, but everyone i know who had them as pets never got theirs to live over 5 years. but my stormy is now 1 month from 7 years!

[hollywoodartchick]

I love the sleek, muscular body and cute face! Reminds me of my English rats.

[marcospatrick1996]

dog?

[ckyfan8291]

they almost look like little fat baby kangaroos haha

[lacoeur]

Are they social animals like domesticated rats or do they need to be isolated from other animals?

[trychx]

Stormy gets along with other rats, but mainly the regular rats chase her and that can upset her abit. She doesn't like it when the other animal sit outside her cage when she is trying to sleep either, she starts churbling and barking.

[nmangnus82]

BIG rat !! (btw, does it really have a pouch, or isn't it a marsupial?)

[gryffynda]

The pouches are in its cheeks, where it carries food.

[trychx]

She has no belly pouch, but is called a pouched rat because of the large cheek pouches she has that she fills up with food, much like a hamster.

[tilinger18]

cool

[jmanwwefan]

OMG they r HUGE that scares me!

[Tarzan07330]

i wish they weren't illegal in the U.S. :( they're so cute.

[elleniris]

they are illegal in the US? why?

[Tarzan07330]

They're illegal in the U.S. cuz of a monkeypox scare in 2003.

[monkeypaw1010]

They are legal now, I believe.

[Tarzan07330]

seriously!? in the U.S.?

[monkeypaw1010]

I believe they were legalized in some areas of the U.S.A. as of Sept 2008, but you'll want to check government agencies to make sure.

[Tarzan07330]

sweet. i will have to check into that. thanks.

[monkeypaw1010]

You're welcome. :)

[olf267]

they are legal now.

[Tarzan07330]

thanks. i'm actually in the process of getting one now.

[Dazbme]

it looks like a cangaroo XD

[bedupolkerpenguin]

wow hes like 20 times bigger than my rat

[c1991kit]

whata beast

[OrderOfCrimea]

whoa, a little too big for my tastes, i prefer the smaller rats lol

[linzolizzard]

She is precious! I would love to get one of these rats!

[roark20]

wow she is so cute i love pet rats. the are so smart. are the calm and non agressave cause i might get one.

[MissStaleyHere]

OMG SHES GONNA ATTACK! LYING EGGS IN YOUR TUMMY AND EAT YOUR BRAIN AAAHHHHHHH! WHAT A HORRIFYING EVENT IN THE UNITED STATES!!!!! GONNA BE ALL OVER NEW YORK TIMES AAH RAT KILLING BEAST FROM HELL!!

nah JK cute pouched rat, I've got hooden rats kinda prefer them..... your rat looks like a cangoroooooOOOoOOoo...

[Ratty1100]

I still like normal rats more, lol.

But i really wish that my ratties would be that big...

[crocodilehunter150]

I'll feed that to my snake!!! I really DO NOT LIKE gambian pouched rats! They are an envasive species of rat!! Pecause of them the monkeypox outbreak was transmited to P-dogs!!

[Oreztar]

I'd feed your snake to my rats. Grow up.

[mirrorofsin]

Aww I love your gambian rat :]

[elleniris]

wow! i just learned about these creatures! they are strange and cute. i have had pet rats for many years and love them! is the giant pouched rat much like the regular pet rats... i mean do they act similarly socially and emotional wise? i know it depends on the soul but you know what i mean.

[xXhayleyroxXx]

a petshop in kent? kool :) but £450 is too much :( does anyone know of anywher which sells them cheaper? plzzzz i really love them, my is practically pleading people for info lol

xxx

[Oreztar]

You do NOT want to get one of these from a petshop. You want to go to a proper breeder who breeds for temperament and handles them from a young age, otherwise you're in trouble.

[Deseonfire]

The only time I'd reccomend getting one of these from a pet shop is the earliest age possible to go home. Other wise they could be very aggressive or shy.

[Oreztar]

I'd never reccomend getting any animal from a pet shop, let alone a specialised exotic. Pet shops are like puppy mills; poorly bred animals churned out to make money, yet people are disgusted at puppy mills but still happily go to pet shops. Baffling.

[Deseonfire]

Whenever I get a mammal from a pet shop I ask if I can touch it and put it in the carrier. Most of the rats and mice here are usually sold out for snake food. They don't even tell you where they are getting them from. I'm thinking about breeding rats around here so that I know that the person that buys it is getting a friendly rat that is in good health. The pet store that I have bought rats from are not part of any pet mills that I know of.

[dribom]

No Oreztar, pet shops are worse than puppy mills, because of the happy cutesy front they put forth. How could you sell an animal knowing the filth it came from with a smile on your face?

[SwampCat911]

@Oreztar TAHNK YOU!! AMEN

[yellow2000fluff]

No you just don't want to get yourself one full stop ! They are shit ! They are horrid ! They carry filth & Disease ! People are employed to exterminate them because they are a highly dangerous risk to peoples HEALTH you IDIOT !!!

[Oreztar]

Firstly, these are Gambian rats, a completely different species to street rats.

Secondly, I already own 17 rats and have owned them for 12 years. I run a sanctuary for abandoned rats!

Thirdly, you know nothing about rats. Pet rats are cleaner than dogs, carry no disease and are NO risk to a person's health, cats are more of a threat than a pet rat.

And lastly, even wild rats don't carry as much disease as people like to think. Pigeons carry FAR more.

Educate yourself, you complete moron.

[MrTaipan55]

@Oreztar Idiot! I wish you and your family contract Leptospirosis from your pets (pest) rats.

[Oreztar]

@MrTaipan55 Pet rats don't carry lepto, you moron. I've had rats 14 years and never been ill. There is NOTHING a pet rat can pass on to a human. Dogs and cats are more likely to make you ill than a pet rat. Cat bites have in the past caused people to lose fingers, dogs and cats can give you rabies, a rat cannot. Educate yourself. I worked in vet nursing, cats and dogs are far more of a risk to human health than pet rats. Jesus, are you for real? Do some research on pet rats please.

[Oreztar]

However, thankyou for your amusing, if completely ignorant, comment as it gave me and my rat loving friends something to laugh our arses off about on facebook :) Cheers for the update fodder!

[divaluna06]

Before you go calling people idiots, check your facts. You're merely displaying your own ignorance. Domesticated rats that people keep for pets ARE NOT THE SAME as wild street rats. Domesticated rats do not have diseases. If they did, everyone who had a pet rat would be getting deathly ill, which clearly they are not. Domestic rats are intelligent, affectionate creatures that have been given to kids with autism, etc by professionals. That wouldn't happen if the rats were dangerous.

[VileMisanthropy]

Does any one know a dealer or a site or tell me something on where i can find a pouched rat, my Luci just recently and ive been looking fo ra new companion.

[ratwoman1958]

hi! iv'e traced a pet shop in kent that somtimes has them. tel;01634 849361, ask for simon. they cost £450

[VileMisanthropy]

I liove in Canada though, I think i might have to look for an underground breeder or something, i dont think there legal here.

[ratwoman1958]

no there not. your going to have a job on.if you cant get one stick to a pair of fancy rats, i have 11,and they are all adorable.

[mariemaiakhusrenada]

Where did you go to find a rat like this one?

[pinksugar624]

So they're a bit like you then? Your rat is gorgeous by the way! =]

[pinksugar624]

Well said mate, rodents are awesome! Although so is my dog but anyway I would have a pouched rat anyday, or any rodent. R.I.P Bubble and Squeak!(my two mice)=]

[iwanthalo3]

that is one amazing little (is she little? lol) creature!

[MAPSU]

i've seen gambian rats who can do tricks, and even use a toilet... what's wrong with your rat?

[lenoxballin144]

rats are discusting and scary! throw dat thing away!

[parazitzul]

corect you are right they are carrind desies and threy must die

[UndefeatedGears]

OMG she's gorgeous!! What a beautiful animal!!!!

[hls025000]

It really depends on the rats. I've worked with and owned domesticated rats who were quite sweet and friendly. Most wild rats prefer to avoid people, but those who are used to people don't bother avoiding them.

I wouldn't really wipe you out with a brick or virus. Phobias aside, you at least seem to have a sense of humor. :)

[hls025000]

Eh, it's a generalized embargo on most rodent species that originate in Africa, including Gambian giant rats, prairie dogs, striped mice, and others.  The whole issue is quite complicated, and started actually when prairie dogs that happened to be infected with monkey pox were not separated from the other rodents during shipping.

Once the animals got over here, they apparently weren't quarantined long enough, and I think 47 cases of monkey pox resulted.

[hls025000]

The embargo was supposed to be a temporary measure until they could determine the incubation period of monkey pox and therefore the length of time imported animals should be quarantined. That apparently has yet to be done, because the official wording of the policy still says "until further notice."

[XXslayer34]

haha i appreciate your knowledge on government imposed restrictions on the import of african animals.

[hls025000]

I've read over and over the policy looking for loopholes since I really want a giant rat. They do make exceptions on request for research, educational, and exhibitional purposes. I don't think I qualify since I just want one as a pet.

[hls025000]

She's a beautiful animal. I'd love to have a gambian pouched rat. Too bad they're banned here in the US.

[lordnick1575]

lol i love it

[lordnick1575]

i love rats wot r puched rats like ive kept normal rats but a pouched no ive never onwned pouched

[pinksugar624]

They have pouches in their cheeks and they're bigger than normal rats I think anyway, I've never owned one. =]

[vampiricdeath]

It's adorable. :3

[capitalismkillsart]

I enjoyed your video very much and your rat is lovely!

[OperaGhostess]

Not for those of us who enjoy rats, mice...etc You may be afraid and/or disgusted with them and that's fine. You do not have to like them.

But, there are a lot of people who find these animals adorable and very interesting and think they make wonderful pets. So, it's disrespectful to say things, like you want to wipe them out on a RAT video.

If your that scared of them, why did you watch a video called, Stormy - Giant Pouched RAT?

[symbolicost]

Hey, that a fine looking fellow you've got there. I've been looking for one forever. Can you tell me where you got him?

[andy3576]

I love rats, but man, that's too big even for me. That makes me uncomfortable.

[streak9381]

i'd shit myself if i ever saw one up close. they're running rampant down in the keys (too close to where i am in miami).

[animalsXhaveXrights]

OH MY GOD!I have never seen one of those!I wish i had one!Ive only got a rat about 5 times smaller.

[sadetta11]

would you like to enjoy a world wide community, about giant rats?

[pouchedrattie]

cute! Except stormy looks more like an emin's pouched rat, not a gambian. She has that white belly that gambian rats don't have.

[trychx]

Hello~

Do you have info on Emin's? I have scoured the internet and can only find conflicting info on Gambians and Emin's, some say emin's have a white belly, some say gambian's have a white belly, some say only gambian's have the white tail tip others say both do. I can't seem to find any scientific info or anyone with enough knowledge to tell me what my Stomy is.

-Nikki

[pouchedrattie]

I am the one who used to have Matisse, he passed away last month at 4 years of age. He was definitely an emin's pouched rat.

gambian: (C. gambianus) they're stocky, their coat is rougher looking and their snout is shorter. They are a uniform grey/brown color all over their body.

[trychx]

I have never heard of a Berkshire having a white tail tip, i have had several and they never had the white tail tip, i also work for a small animal breeder and we breed rats and i haven't noticed that. i thought Berkshire is all one color with a white belly and sometimes a spot on the forehead.

[pouchedrattie]

That's the show standard for a berkshire rat, they have the white belly, white paws, and a white tip on their tail. Almost all berkshires I've seen have had some form of white on their tail tips, whether it be half the tail or just the very tip of it. The only time I've seen a rat without the white on their tail but with white on their belly is with an irish (and even then I've seen white on some and ). It's just not as evident on domestic rats as it is with pouched rats but it's there

[pouchedrattie]

emin's: (C. emini) their nose is longer, the fur is much MUCH smoother looking and their body appears leaner as well. They have a very clear line of demarcation between their upper brown torso and their very white/grey underbelly (a gambian does NOT have that.. it's uniform in color). They have a white tip on their tail, similar to a berkshire domestic rat! I've also heard tales from gambian owners than theirs aren't good climbers but my emin's was VERY good at climbing.

[trychx]

I aquired Stormy in 2003 a few months before the Monkeypox scare and Ban went into effect and when the Monkeypox scare happened the authorities -USDA and FDA came and searched the breeder i now work for and the breeder who bred her locations just to make sure no animals were infected or sick, and we got the all clear. Everyone thought she was a Gambian!

-Nikki

[pouchedrattie]

yeah the person who bred my Matisse thought he was a gambian as well, but he was definitely NOT a gambian rat! There were two different species that were imported into the US years ago, and unfortunately many people didn't realize that the emin's and the gambian were two seperate species of pouched rat.

[a1ina]

oh yea i heard about that, ill have to see if thats canadian policy too.. haha a squirrel? thats so cute!

[wuovp]

if its pouched those that make it a marsupial? they all seem to have the tip of their tales white! how much these an adult weigh & what's their life span?

[trychx]

They are called Gambian Pouched rats, because of their cheek pouches. They have very large cheek pouches like Hamsters where they can store their food. They live 8-10 years. Gambians for some reason only clean the tips of their tails, making the tips white and the rest kind of a dirty black. They weight usually under 4 pounds.

[a1ina]

i really want a gambian pouched rat ever since i saw a program on animal planet about them!! are they hard to find? whered you get yours?

[trychx]

Gambian pouched rats are illegal in the U.S.A now due to the Monkeypox scare of 2003. I got Stormy just a few short months before the ban went into effect, she is now 4 years old. She is really neat,a crazy psycho rat, who is more like a squirrel than a rat!

Thanks

[Nessie42]

They are available in the UK but I suspect you are in the USA?