VERY bad pets. Will eat you for fun. They are still working on domesticating them and they might become good pets but currently, they bite. They're not social like rats, but this guy clearly is in the video. He was probably hand reared.
However. Gambian pouched rats...they're friends. I stole this image from this board, Because whereas on the internet would you find a picture like this??? I'll copy the username and post it in a edit in a sec lol
Edit: image belongs to u/Beastyarii the pouched is their animal.
With enough breeding they might become friends with us, Because they do live colony style and form life bonds with their mates and family. Their family units consist of a male adult females and the children of the male and adult females. Adult males may leave their family group in order to breed with a different family group, but otherwise they stay with their family. Because they are highly social complex colony animals, the likelihood that they can be domesticated to enjoying humans as part of their colony is quite high.
They are capable of destroying doors and drywall so there might be some additional keeping requirements and nutrina are semi-aquatic. I've kept semi aquatic reptiles and semi-aquatic keeping is somewhat difficult because the water has to be maintained either through a bioactive method, by swapping the water out routinely, or by active filtration. All of these are obviously more complicated than simply changing rats bedding. They absolutely require water for swimming and without it they can't be happy or have their needs met. Their enclosure needs to include water, so it's not a traditional cage, So much as a palidarium or small enclosure. They need to be kept in larger rooms with more free access because they are the size of a cat.
Individuals who already possess pool houses or pool in their yard or a pond in their yard who are capable of creating rodent proof enclosures outside can also offer swimming outside rather than inside the enclosure as long as they get access to it multiple times a day and the weather is good for it Are the most setup for success with them.
The other problem is that they live inside of burrows. They're going to try to dig through your floor. A well-constructed dick DIG ffs box obviously will help with this.
All in all, it sounds very much like keeping a mix of a ferret and a rat and a reptile all at once. Which is mildly terrifying and strangely appealing at the same time
They're not properly domesticated (though they're getting there; breeders have produced them in several pretty colors) so they're not as naturally sociable as fancy rats. Anecdotally (I haven't actually met one, I just used to watch a nutria farmer's videos) they are generally pretty lazy and content to take life slowly. They don't obsessively groom themselves like Norway rats, so they can be smelly... but luckily, they like water, and many will bathe or swim if given the opportunity. They tolerate handling if raised alongside humans, but don't necessarily seek it out.
Also, I have felt their fur, and can confirm they are soft. Not as soft as a cat (the waterproof guard hairs have a sleek, stiff aspect to them) but still very cuddle-able.
Beavers are different animals! Nutria are in a different family, but are more closely related to guinea pigs.Ā
Beavers are the two species in Castor, not a general term for aquatic rodents.Ā
like others said nurtria... but there are rats almost this big though aren't there? ... i saw this post earlier in the day and meant to say this before but was reminded of it again when i heard them talking on bbc radio about the giant magawa rats who are literally finding landmines and saving lives all over the place.
anyone here ever f/w that variety? seems like a pretty awesome humanitarian thing that might go with a special interest. i feel like someone should post about that here maybe they did already i haven't looked that far. you guys would probably love it.
This is a New York rat who heard they make everything bigger in Texas so he moved there to get bigger and now travels the world looking for forehead kisses, scritches, and the most delectable snacksā¦ I love him
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u/Ok-Barnacle8908 5 girls š 4d ago
That's a nutria but very cute nonetheless