short tail opossums

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Short-Tail Opossums

Read what our customers have to say about us ....

I recommend this company to anyone who has an exotic pet. It gives useful information on the animals and has a wide selection of toys, food, books, and cages suited for your specific pet. It ships out rather quickly and offers discount coupons to me regularly through email. The prices are very reasonable as well. When I need anything for my pet, I always order from The Exotic Nutrition Company.

Nichole G.

I thought it was very easy to find what I was looking for on their website. The product received was in good condition and received it in a good time limit, for the shipping I picked. Everybody of course thinks that shipping is high priced. I definitely thought the price of the item was real reasonable. Overall I guess I would rate this company Very Good. Thank You.

Bonnie B.

I just had to let you know that Exotic Nutrition's canned Insectivore Diet is the *only* commercial diet I have found that I feel good feeding my short-tailed opossum, my foster ones, and it's the only food I recommend to those who have adopted STO's from our rescue. Until this came along, I had to prepare my own because every brand I managed to find was full of byproducts, low-quality/inappropriate protein (pig--even obligate carnivores develop health problems on a pork based diet. I can only imagine what it could do to an insectivore), and other unimpressive fillers (old bakery products. Seriously. I am not feeding any of my animals stale donuts.) And many of these others were charging high prices for inferior food. Thanks for carrying species-appropriate, high quality foods. I get so sick of seeing animal fat in the diets of herbivores, pork byproducts where there should be chicken meat and insects, alfalfa where there should be timothy, etc. I'd rather pay more for the right ingredients, though often it doesn't cost any less to feed the trashy byproduct/filler/cheap ingredient foods most companies sell. I'm pleased to find a place that values the health of our animals and understands that high-quality diets equal better health and longevity. Our many rescued exotics thank you!

Veronica N.

The products that this company has are excellent. All my pets are healthy and happy (and I have tried many different companies, when my pets did not end up healthy or happy). I always know that my order will arrive quickly and safely, with no open packages and no leaks. The food is always fresh, too!

Marsha C.

OPOSSUM DEPARTMENT

OPOSSUM COMPLETE is a balanced vitamin fortified feed that contains the all the nutrition necessary for growth, reproduction and development. Formulated with the help of animal nutritionalists and breeders. Suggested for Opossums weanling through adult age. INGREDIENTS: Blood meal, soybean meal, Wheat flour, meat & bone meal, soybean meal, pork by-products meal, corn oil, corn gluten meal, dextrose, tomato pomace, blueberries, papaya, adult insects, insect larva gut-loaded with spirulina and canthaxanthin, tallow, cane mollasas, dried beet pulp, yeast culture, L. Acidophilus, S. Faecium, S. Cerevisiae, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, copper sulfate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, thiamine monoitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D. vitamin E supplement, zinc oxide, biotin, folic acid, niacin supplement, pyridoxine HCL, dehy alfalfa meal, pantothenic acid, riboflavin supplement. OPOSSUM COMPLETE

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: CRUDE PROTEIN (MIN) .... 35.01% CRUDE FAT (MIN)..........14.07 % CRUDE FIBER (MIN)....... 17.5% CRUDE FIBER (MAX).......4.43 % VITAMIN A (MIN)....9042.52 IU/LB. VITAMIN D (MIN) 2150.0.00 IU/LB. VITAMIN E (MIN) 80.34 IU/LB. CALCIUM .249% PHOSPHORUS .384% ASH 3.59% SELENIUM 0.154 PPM.

Contains long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids and phospholipids, respectively.

Opossum Complete Diet 16 oz. - $14.95

Opossum Complete Diet 5 lb. - $44.95

New ... INSECT-EATER DIET (Canned Food)

The Exotic Nutrition company has pioneered the next generation of species specific diets for exotics. The first canned diet specifically made for Insectivores. Ideal Sugar glider & Opposum food. Contains whole insects ... Crickets, grasshoppers & mealworms along with chicken, fruits, vegetables, vitamins & minerals! Click for more information

Insect-Eater Diet 11 oz. single can - $8.95

Insect-Eater Diet 11 oz. cans (6 PACK) - $49.90

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Insect-Eater Diet 11 oz. cans (12 PACK) - $98.00

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Short-Tail Opossum / Scientific Name: Monodelphis domestica

Background:
The Short-Tail Opossum is found mainly in Brazil and adjoining countries of Bolivia, Paraguay, and Chile and there are 17 different species. The Monodelphis domestica, described here, was imported into the United States from Brazil in 1978 by the National Zoo and introduced into the pet market in 1994. Brazil has now closed their borders to exportation, so those available for pets are all bred in captivity.
In their native countries they live close to humans and are frequently found living in houses. Natives call them "cachita" and consider them to be good luck. They readily welcome them as they have a great appetite for unwanted pests such as insects, rodents, and even scorpions.

Description:
   A mature Short Tailed Opossum will reach a body length of about 4" - 6" (10 - 15 cm) with a tail that is about 1 1/2" - 3" (4 - 7.5 cm) and will weigh between 2 - 5 ozs (60 - 150 g). The males are about 25% larger than the females.
   The fur is a thick velvety gray-brown on top with a lighter tone underneath. They have a hairless prehensile tail used to grasp and balance while climbing. It is also great for carrying nesting materials and other things, but it is not weight bearing. They have a muzzle quite like a rat, with very sharp teeth. Their ears are large, very thin skinned, and sensitive to sound and their eyes bulge out giving them good night vision. The front legs are shorter than the hind legs. They have a life span of about 4 to 8 years.
   Babies are born premature, pink, and hairless. They are helpless, latching on to a nipple on their mothers stomach where they will stay until they are further developed.

Environment:
The Short Tailed Opossum is an escape artist, and must be kept in a secure enclosure. A 10 gallon or larger aquarium with a secure lid or a narrow-mess wire cage work well. Provide corn cob, Care Fresh litter, or shavings (though not cedar) for bedding and a nest box with some nesting materials such as cotton or shredded paper.
For exercise and entertainment they will need things to climb on such as branches, ropes, or parrot ladders, and you can also give them a small hamster wheel. For some fun you can include such things as clay flowerpots, pvc tubes, and other places for them to hide. They need a draft free warm environment. Keep the temperature between 68° - 88° F. and at least a 50% humidity, a little on the warmer side is best for mothers with babies.
They are neat clean little critters and will usually pick a corner of their enclosure for a bathroom. They can even be trained to use a litter-box, which makes cage cleaning much easier. Short Tailed Opossums are basically odor-free and their cage only needs to be cleaned about once a week.

Care and feeding:
   Provide your Short Tailed Opossum with fresh water daily in a water bottle. For younger opossums that are not too strong, one without a steel ball works best.
   In the wild they eat insects, fruits, and vegetable matter. You can provide them a similar diet by offering mealworms, crickets, pinkie mice, fruits, vegetables, and breads.
   You can also offer them a Exotic Nutrition's Opossum Complete, this is a diet specifically made for Short-Tail Opossums. Supplement this by offering treats of crickets or mealworms a couple times a week as well as small amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Other treats can include such things as hard boiled egg, scrambled egg, tuna, canned cat food, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruits need to be cut up into small pieces so they can pick them up easily. Some quick and easy fruit options are the small Mott's Applesauce; Mixed Berry, Strawberry, or Tropical Blend fruit cups; or baby foods.

Social Behaviors:
A Short Tailed Opossum can become a friendly docile pet that can easily be handled by people and is curious, active, and entertaining.
Because they are naturally solitary animals, they should be housed individually. The only time they should be put together with other opossums is when they are being bred, and then for only a short time. Cage mates will eventually become aggressive toward one another, possibly killing each other. Young opossums should be housed separately by the time they reach 9 weeks of age.

Handling and Training:
If handled from a young age, a Short Tailed Opossum can become a loving gentle pet that generally will not bite. A good age to acquire your pet is between 3 and 4 months of age, though even some adults will adjust to being handled. They are friendly and inquisitive. Both males and females make equally good pets.

Activities - Exercise and Play:
The Short Tailed Opossum is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. Be sure to give it lots of things to climb and perch on, such as branches, parrot ladders, and ropes. They will also enjoy a hamster wheel to run on.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Short Tailed possums are sexually mature at about 4 to 5 months of age. They will breed in any season, and can have up to 4 litters a year. When you introduce a pair, only keep them together for about 12 days.
   The gestation period is about two weeks and the female will have a litter size of up to about 13 babies. Unlike most marsupials, the female does not have a pouch so the new born babies, pink and hairless, will firmly attach themselves to a nipple on their mother's stomach. The mother will spend the majority of her time in the nest. At about 4 weeks of age, they young will begin to wander about the nest. They will cling to the fur on their mothers back and ride around with her when ever she leaves the nest. They will be weaned at about 8 weeks of age.
   Sometimes there can be up to 16 babies, but when the mother only has 13 nipples, babies that did not attach will not survive. Also, if a baby becomes detached, the nipple is enlarged and the baby will be unable to re-attach.

Ailments/Treatments:
Short Tail Opossums are very hardy little creatures. However, if not taken care of properly they can become ill. Most ailments are preventable simply from taking proper care of the animal. One reported health problem that can occasionally occur is a prolapse. You can treat your pet with ivermectin twice a year to help prevent this, but be sure to check with you veterinarian for this and any other illnesses.

Availability/Purchasing your Short Tailed Opossum:
Find a reputable breeder or retailer to purchase from. It is best to get one that is fairly young - between 3 and 4 months of age.
One thing to take into consideration before you decide to purchase your Short Tailed Opossum is does your veterinarian treat exotic pets? Not all vets do, so you might want to check and make sure that there is a vet in your area that will treat your pet in case he gets sick.