I NEED to know!!! What is the largest pet rat that is legal in the United States? My dream pet, the Gambian pouched rat, is sadly illegal here. I’ve been doing research, but the information seems inconclusive. The Bosavi woolly rat is my new dream pet, but it doesn’t appear to be domesticated or available in the U.S. Someone help me, please 
Gambian rats are not illegal to own; the ban was lifted after just five years. However, they cannot be imported into the U.S. from other countries. During the ban, which was imposed due to Monkeypox concerns, many owners had their pouched rats confiscated, some were donated to zoos, and others were euthanized. By the time the ban was lifted, the U.S. population of pouched rats had dwindled, and there were no new individuals to replenish it.
I once had an Emin’s pouched rat and regret not taking more when the breeder offered them during the ban. The breeder eventually donated the remaining rats to a zoo, which I believe did not keep them.
Efforts to reintroduce pouched rats into the hobby have so far been unsuccessful. Some attempts included bringing them from Mexico or capturing them in the wild in the Everglades, but these efforts didn’t work out, and the animals were likely poisoned by officials.
During the African rodent ban, the few species that remained included a type of spiny mice (which I bred and found to handle inbreeding better than many other rodents), pygmy mice, and ASF rats (kept mainly as feeders). More species were reintroduced about five years ago, such as different jird species, other spiny mice, African pygmy dormice, zebra mice, and duprasi. However, these populations are at risk of being lost again. I’m currently maintaining bushy-tailed jirds, and I know others who have duprasi, Shaw’s and Persian jirds, Nile spinies, and golden spinies. Unfortunately, zebra mice seem to be gone again, as I haven’t seen any since 2020. Springhares were brought in, but their status is unclear, and jerboas, which are challenging to breed in captivity, may never return.
One large rat species occasionally seen in the U.S. is the cloud rat. They are quite different from pouched rats and require a large, zoo-like enclosure.
Wow, thanks for the detailed response! Maybe I’ll try to get my hands on a Gambian pouched rat 
. The cloud rat isn’t an option for me, though. Are there any other large rats that are legal in the U.S.? Or do you know what the largest rat available as a pet is?
Depending on where you live, you might be able to obtain a license for a nutria rat, although they’re not commonly bred as they are an introduced species. They do, however, tame quite easily.
There aren’t many rat species available in the U.S. Acacia tree rats are one option, though they’re not particularly large.
Pouched rats were quite unique. If you’re interested, I can share what it was like to own them. While they were among the best pets I’ve ever had, keeping them happy was challenging.
They’re very destructive and highly intelligent. My pouched rat would get bored easily if I wasn’t actively engaging with him. Being nocturnal, he was constantly making a mess and needed constant enrichment. One night, I let him free roam in the bathroom, and he chewed a huge hole in the baseboard, tore into the drywall, and scattered insulation foam everywhere.
He could learn tricks quickly, used the toilet, walked on a leash outside, and bonded deeply with me. He even tried to pull me into his cage with him! He slept on my lap during the day but had a habit of peeing where he slept, so occasionally I’d get peed on if he was deeply asleep.
His nose rubbed raw from being confined in his cage while I worked night shifts. I had to take him to the vet during the ban, and the vet said he couldn’t return due to the restrictions. It was a tough time, with many pets being confiscated and owners living in fear. Despite their size, pouched rats aren’t as large as people think; mine weighed around 3 pounds, mostly due to his long tail.
Since then, the closest I’ve come to a similar experience is with prairie dogs. They follow me around, bond strongly, and are quite smart. They’re legal in some states and easier to obtain. They share some of the personality traits I loved in domestic rats.
Wow, pouched rats sound amazing but also like a lot of work! I’m probably not in a position right now to take care of one. It seems like you’ve had some really cool pets. What’s been your favorite pet to own?
If you’re specifically looking for rats (the genus Rattus), the common Norwegian rat is the largest and most readily available option. For larger rodents, it depends on your state. In my state, both capybaras and giant crested porcupines are legal. Nutria, which are somewhere between a rat and a beaver, are also legal here but require a permit. I also have Patagonian maras, which belong to the cavy family along with capybaras and guinea pigs. They’re about the size of a terrier and are wonderful pets. They are also legal in my state.
I was looking into norwegian rats! I think they would be the most suitable for me.
How are patagonian maras as pets? Are they difficult to keep?
I want a rat too! There’s a pet shop near me that sells Norwegian rats. I’m not sure what they eat around here, but they’re really big!
Really? Where do you live? I’ve been searching online for Norwegian rats but haven’t been able to find any!