Emin's pouched rat, grapes

Thank you everyone who helped out writing/calling in to their state reps!

http://www.nohr669.com/

-EDIT- SEPT. 2008-
THE FDA LIFTED THE BAN ON POUCHED RATS AS PETS IN THE UNITED STATES!!! If ANYONE in the US still has them, I am VERY interested in two young pouched rats! Either Emin's pouched OR Gambian pouched! THANK YOU!!!

Matisse is an emin's pouched rat, they are RELATED to gambian pouched rats, but are seperate species. He is 4 years old as of 6/07, NOT neutered (vet turned me down back when I got him), and EXTREMELY affectionate. That said, not everyone can or should handle an african pouched rat. They are not domestic animals and do not act like it, either.

EDIT-
Matisse was an emin's pouched rat (Crycetomis emini), a smaller, sleeker relative of the gambian pouched rat (Crycetomis gambianus). The emin's pouched rat has a longer snout, it's fur is very sleek and body is thin and longer. They have a clear line of demarkation from it's dark brown upper body and it's greyish white belly. The gambian rat has a short snout, a bulkier body, is a uniform greyish color, and a bit "rougher" looking fur. My emin's pouched rat weighed about 4 lbs. at his peak, was SOLID muscle, made lots of "churbling" noises (almost like a parrot) and was very playful outside his cage. He was extremely intelligent, scarily so, and figured things out instantly. He was also VERY stubborn, and if he didn't want to do something, there was no way you could make him.

Matisse passed away Summer of 2007 at 4 years 2 months of age. He died sleeping in his hammock... I was devastated.

He was 4th generation captive bred, VERY affectionate, and very much bonded to me (although others could pet and handle him JUST FINE!).

although I had success with Matisse, they're not pets for everyone. These guys are still wild animals, and unless you have experience with BOTH medium sized exotic animals as well as rats, I wouldn't recommend them. Pouchies are strong, destructive, and can do serious damage to a person if that person doesn't know what they're doing. They can also chew through wire cage bars if they put their mind to it, and wires and cabinets are short work for those powerful teeth.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• grapes
• pouch
• pouched
• rat
• african
• emin's

[stikmanfan]

has he or she ever bitten you like to make u bleed or get hurt on accident?

[pouchedrattie]

He never bit me nor anyone else ever, no, not even a nip outside of grabbing my hand with his mouth to try pulling me into his cage. And NEVER painfully NOR intentionally

[khunter9]

lmao looks like hes choking. he looks like a biter too o_o

[pouchedrattie]

...watch my other videos of him. He's never bitten in his entire life, even my son was able to feed him at 2 years of age without a problem. He was just overly greedy when it comes to food.

[Kerrigan2312]

It's bad to feed rats through the cage. He/she may now bite anything that touches the cage, as it will think it's food. You should always open the cage and let it feed from your hand.

[pouchedrattie]

after over four years of alternating feeding as well as putting my fingers in his cage, he never bit. I know about that rule, but you can train rats to sniff first before they grab at whatever's put in their cage. I always do because we always had kids(my much younger brothers first, and now my son). Just offer food and say "treat", then alternate with poking your own fingers in to pet them. EVERY time I pass by the cage, I put my fingers in so they know. cage is next to front door, too.

[katlady5000]

So that is what happened to all my grapes. lol

[st3v33100]

He's so cute. But, i think you shouldn't feed your rat through the cage bars, that will make your rat learn to eat through the cage bars,and sometimes, when you had a children around you, and he poke his fingers through the cage, the rat will bite. I ever had an accident like that. By the way, thanks for this video..

[ChibiFruit]

sooo cute! 

[multishrimpface]

if it sneezes it will be a machine gun

[boybandsrock500]

Good God those rats are so beautiful.

[thekoalak]

Hes like Nom nom nom give me some more mate nom nom nom nom more more !! no nom nom nom nomn nom more !! nom nom nom nom !! Wait i'll put it in my secret place i'll be back in 15s :)

[Wildkayleighkay]

Awww

[WildInternational]

Now I know why theyre called pouched rats lol

[markfilipinia]

if you accidentally set them loose do they comeback like dogs?

[crazziii]

He's like a little vacuum.

[thekoalak]

Owww hes so cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute ! Nurhm nurhm nurhm thank for this video i have now a houle new look about rats