People usually search “masked rat” when they’re trying to identify a small rodent they’ve seen, or they’re weighing up whether a “masked” rat could be kept as a pet. The trouble is the name gets used loosely, and it can point to entirely different animals depending on who’s speaking.
In Australia, most references to a “masked rat” in a wildlife context tend to circle back to native Rattus species—animals protected by law, with keeping rules that vary by state. If you’re thinking about a pet, the first job is sorting out which animal you actually mean, and whether it’s legal (and sensible) to keep one where you live.
First: “masked rat” isn’t a clear species name
The draft you provided mixes details from different animals and locations. For example, it describes a rodent “native to Africa” and then later says it’s “native to Australia”, and it also claims “masked rats are one of the most popular pet rodents”, which doesn’t match Australian pet reality or wildlife laws.
In Australia, when people say “masked rat”, they may be thinking of a native rat species (genus Rattus). One species sometimes pulled into this confusion is Rattus tunneyi (pale field-rat), which is Australian and has a patchy, reduced range compared with its historical distribution.4
Are “masked rats” native to Australia?
Some rats are native to Australia, but that doesn’t automatically make them suitable—or legal—to keep as pets. In New South Wales, for instance, native mammals are protected and you generally need a specific licence to keep any native mammal, with only a very short list of permitted species for private keeping.1, 2
Queensland also regulates keeping protected native animals through a licensing framework, and animals not listed as exempt/authorised are prohibited from being kept or traded under those licences.6, 7
Quick reality check
- If someone is offering you a “native masked rat” as a pet, ask for the exact species name (Latin name) and paperwork showing it was legally bred and sold.
- Never take a wild rat from the bush or your backyard. It’s illegal in many places and dangerous for the animal and you.2
What about “masked rats” described as African?
Some “masked rat” descriptions online resemble African rodents (often very different animals again), including large pouched rats kept overseas by specialist keepers. These are not the same as Australian native rats, and they are not a routine, mainstream pet in Australia. Even where they are kept elsewhere, they’re described as a long-term commitment compared with typical domestic rats.5
Identification notes (why the draft’s description doesn’t line up)
The draft claims a “small and slender body” at 100–200 g with a “mask-like marking”, then later gives 30–50 g and says the animal is native to Australia and New Zealand. Those figures and the “mask” description don’t consistently match a single well-defined Australian species, and “native to New Zealand” is also a red flag—New Zealand’s rodent story is dominated by introduced rats, not native pet “masked rats”.
If you’re trying to identify a rat you’ve seen, the most reliable approach is to use a state fauna atlas or museum resource, and match location + habitat + body size + tail length + coat colour. For Rattus tunneyi specifically, the Atlas of Living Australia provides an authoritative species profile and conservation listings by jurisdiction.4
Keeping a rat in Australia: legality comes first
Rules vary by state and species. As a concrete example, NSW allows only two native mammal species to be kept as pets under a licence (and they must be captive-bred). If your “masked rat” isn’t on the permitted list, you can’t legally keep it in NSW.2
Queensland has a licensing system for keeping protected native animals, and it’s explicit that prohibited animals can’t be kept or traded; you need to check the relevant category lists before acquiring anything described as “native”.6, 7
Health and hygiene: the quiet risks people miss
Rats (wild and domestic) can carry diseases that affect people. One of the more important examples in Australia is leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through contact with the urine of infected animals, including rodents. Risk rises with exposure to contaminated water, mud, and soil—especially after heavy rain and flooding.8
Simple precautions make a difference:
- Wash hands after cleaning cages, handling bedding, or touching food bowls.
- Cover cuts and scratches before handling rodents or soiled materials.
- Clean and dry enclosures regularly; avoid aerosolising dust from soiled bedding.
So… should you get a “masked rat” as a pet?
If you mean a native Australian rat: in most cases, the answer is “not as a casual pet”, because legality and sourcing are the hard constraints, and reputable captive-bred pathways are limited.1, 2
If you mean a domestic rat (Rattus norvegicus), which is the common pet rat: that’s a different conversation entirely, with well-established husbandry guidance, predictable temperament, and widely available vet experience.
If you tell me your state/territory and what you mean by “masked rat” (a photo or the seller’s species name helps), the advice can be made specific and accurate.
References
- NSW Environment & Heritage – Native animals as pets (licences and permits)
- NSW Environment & Heritage – Mammal keeper licence (permitted native mammals)
- ABC News – Why hamsters and gerbils are illegal as pets in Australia (biosecurity risk context)
- Atlas of Living Australia – Rattus tunneyi (Pale Field-Rat) species profile
- Rat & Mouse Club of America – African Giant Pouched Rats as pets (overview, lifespan context)
- Queensland Government – Keeping native animals (licensing overview)
- Queensland Government – Licences to keep, use or display native animals (framework details)
- Queensland Government (Queensland Health) – Leptospirosis (rodent-linked health risk)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom