If it weren't for its cheek pouches, the Gambian Giant Pouched Rat may be more commonly mistaken as a gargantuan Brown Rat

The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat is a very sociable rodent. If hand-raised from an early age, they can become quite gentle and are extremely intelligent creatures. This rat is known to love being cuddled and played with and, like birds, are mesmerized by shiny objects. They will often chew on and detach any jewelry, watches, and the like that may be on the person handling them. These rats, like the majority of rats, love to wrestle with each other and can be kept in both a solitary or group environment, though keeping more than one male may result in territorial fighting. Only experienced owners should attempt to house two or more males together. Non-breeding females, on the other hand, do not seem to carry this territorial temperament. The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat is known to be quite vocal, males more so than females, and often resembles the raccoon in this department. It is not hard to figure out when this creature wants to be left alone, or wants attention. When this breed of rat displays raised fur, much like a scared cat, twitching ears, and begins leaping toward people while in its cage, it is wise to leave the animal be until it has calmed. But, when this wants attention, it will often times approach a person with a lowered head while making gentle, almost questioning squeaking noises. One thing to remember when dealing with the Gambian Giant Pouched Rat, is that when punishing bad behavior, this animal requires a more tender means of punishment as opposed to other domesticated animals. It has been reported that a loud and firm tone of voice while saying "NO" can be quite effective.

The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat has an average adult length of 28 to 35 inches (71 to 89 cm) measured from nose-tip to tail-tip. Once fully grown, it will weigh approximately five to eight pounds (2.3 to 3.7 kg), the majority of this being muscle mass. This particular breed of rat has short, thin fur, that usually has a topside coloring of dark to medium grayish-brown with the occasional reddish-brown ticking. Along the sides and face of this creature, the coloring becomes paler. The underside is normally an off white or creamy color. It is not uncommon for spotting to occur on the topside of this animal. The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat has large cheek pouches, much like a hamster's, that are used for carrying large quantities of food. Some distinguishing characteristics, aside from the pouches, are a long, thick tail that can grow to a length of 11 to 18 inches (28 to 46 cm), and square-ish snout. This creature also has horrible eyesight and relies on its strong sense of smell and auditory capabilities. The lifespan for this rat is approximately six to eight years.

The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat is a native of South Africa and has recently been growing in domesticated distribution. People in South Africa have been keeping this creature as a pet for many decades, but the animals popularity is growing in the US. Since rodents such as these rats can be vectors of disease (such as Monkeypox), imported animals should be avoided if possible. Inspection by your veterinarian and possibly quarantining is also recommended for imported animals. In the wild, these creatures can be found making their homes in dense thickets and forest areas. They are omnivorous and nocturnal rodents, but will often times forage throughout the day, occasionally climbing trees and swimming through ponds to find food.

A Gambian Giant Pouched Rat can be housed in a large two-to three-story ferret cage with solid floors and shelves. This breed of rat has particularly sensitive feet and will not take well to wire meshed flooring.

These rats are normally solitary animals and are best kept either in male/female pairs or individually. Adult males should not be kept together as they are very territorial and will often fight.

Pine and Cedar bedding material is not recommended for this creature. Instead a gentler bedding of aspen chips, animal paper bedding, or straw pellets is recommended. Unscented tissue or paper towels should be provided for nesting material. Cleaning and disinfecting of the enclosure should be done on a regular basis.

Toys should be provided so that the animal does not become bored. Wooden parrot toys work quite well for this purpose because if they are chewed and digested, they should not harm the animal. It is not recommended to give your rat plastic toys as they may cause complications if digested.

Constant supervision should be provided if your Gambian Giant Pouched Rat is allowed to roam about the house. They love to chew and can cause a significant amount of damage, as well as cause injury or death to themselves if they chew on electrical cords or outlets.

The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat can eat good mixtures of puppy or kitten food, fancy rat or parrot mixtures, or monkey chow or lab blocks. A mixture of fresh fruits and vegetables is also recommended, with a wide variety so the animal does not become bored. Things such as corn on the cob, dates, prunes, nuts, and nearly all fruit are good for this creature.

To avoid ringtail and skin problems in a low humidity environment, add fish or fish oil to the diet. The use of a humidifier is also recommened.

The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat is susceptible to respiratory viruses of other domesticated rats, and may not respond well to medications. A veterinarian that is knowledgeable in exotic rodents should be sought out in case of emergencies.

The Gambian Giant Pouched Rat is sexually mature at approximately five months of age, but will commonly not breed until between eight months and one year of age. After impregnation, the gestation period takes approximately 27-36 days, producing a litter of one to five pups. At birth, the offspring have closed eyes that won?t open until about 22 days. The young should be weaned from the mother at about seven to eight weeks. During pregnancy, nursing, and after weaning, a calcium supplement should be provided to ensure proper strength and growth. Remember that if you plan on breeding the Gambian Giant Pouched Rat, a USDA permit is required along with whatever is required from your state, local and/or county government.