So one of my biggest issues with my 3 boys is that I know one day, whether it be in another year or if lucky, 4 more years, they will pass away. That's always been the hardest thing for me, or for any pet owner and that's losing your babies or best friend. So I've done research on rodents, as it turns out I love rodents alot, searching for that special rodent pet that could live longer then average! Esepcially rat or Guine Pig related, and I stummbled upon the giant Gambien Pouch Rat, or as they call it in Africa, the Hero Rat.
I thought these guys were the cutest things! They are litterally big brown rats the size of cats, very smart though can be social aggressive with each other ifnot careful. They do need some work trust wise, but otherwise they are rats, just 2-3lbs bigger lol! In Africa they are called Hero Rats because they are trained to seek out and dig up land mines in areas where civil war still goes on. It's amazing and terrifying the risks these little guys go through, but they are treated with high respect by their soldier bomb human partners, and feed delicious bananas for their efforts.
I did more research about their poltential pet capabilities and came to a rather upsetting conclusion. It is illegeal to import these guys from their native country in the USA because when a breeder from Illionios did so, he had containmenated rats that caused a small out break of the Monkey Pox, which is apparently carried by these guys (not sure how), and since they are bigger rodents they are very capable of carrying rabis as well. That said, the ones that are here in the USA, can be allowed to be sold and breed as pets. In Florida though they are considered a hazard to the native wildlife, what with there not being enough predators to deal with them. So that said, there's no way I could find one here in TX in an exotic pet store.
Why do I bring this up? Well these guys are still rats, they seem so cute and harmless despite all I've read up, but they are not native. Of what right do I have to say I wish I could have one as a pet? They live on a guarenteed average from 5-8yrs of age being the perk I saw about them. And they are so affectionate too as you can see in this video!
[BBvideo 450,375:wgsdhae2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=CFGj1o0W40Q&feature=endscreen[/BBvideo:wgsdhae2]
They are allowed as pets in the UK, they are not an invasive species there apparently unlike in the states. No I don't plan on getting one (probably never could even if I really really wanted to) but is it so bad that I wish I could and I admire them for their large ratty cutiness?
I thought these guys were the cutest things! They are litterally big brown rats the size of cats, very smart though can be social aggressive with each other ifnot careful. They do need some work trust wise, but otherwise they are rats, just 2-3lbs bigger lol! In Africa they are called Hero Rats because they are trained to seek out and dig up land mines in areas where civil war still goes on. It's amazing and terrifying the risks these little guys go through, but they are treated with high respect by their soldier bomb human partners, and feed delicious bananas for their efforts.
I did more research about their poltential pet capabilities and came to a rather upsetting conclusion. It is illegeal to import these guys from their native country in the USA because when a breeder from Illionios did so, he had containmenated rats that caused a small out break of the Monkey Pox, which is apparently carried by these guys (not sure how), and since they are bigger rodents they are very capable of carrying rabis as well. That said, the ones that are here in the USA, can be allowed to be sold and breed as pets. In Florida though they are considered a hazard to the native wildlife, what with there not being enough predators to deal with them. So that said, there's no way I could find one here in TX in an exotic pet store.
Why do I bring this up? Well these guys are still rats, they seem so cute and harmless despite all I've read up, but they are not native. Of what right do I have to say I wish I could have one as a pet? They live on a guarenteed average from 5-8yrs of age being the perk I saw about them. And they are so affectionate too as you can see in this video!
[BBvideo 450,375:wgsdhae2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=CFGj1o0W40Q&feature=endscreen[/BBvideo:wgsdhae2]
They are allowed as pets in the UK, they are not an invasive species there apparently unlike in the states. No I don't plan on getting one (probably never could even if I really really wanted to) but is it so bad that I wish I could and I admire them for their large ratty cutiness?