Matisse has a NEW HOME! (emin's pouched rat)
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 3 Jun 2007
-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 in his new cage, grooming my hand.
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.