How to Care for a Baby Brazilian Opossum

Short-tailed opossums, or Brazilian opossums, make entertaining pets. Unlike other Marsupialia, the Brazilian opossum does not have a pouch on its belly to carry its young. Instead the babies attach themselves to a nipple and clutch the mother until they are about 4 weeks old. Weaning happens at 8 weeks, and this is when you may find baby opossums to purchase. The Brazilian opossum, introduced into the pet trade in 1994, is domestically raised in the United States, as Brazil has closed its borders to exportation. These interesting pets are also useful in the home because they eat household pests such as roaches, spiders and rodents.

Things You'll Need

  • Extra large hamster cage
  • Exercise wheel
  • Shredded bedding
  • Water bottle
  • Hammock pet bed
  • Feeding dishes
  • Fresh fruit
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Soft dog or cat food
  • Crunchy dog or cat food
  • Ferret or Hamster food
  • Fresh raw smelt
  • Chicken livers
  • Raw chicken
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a reputable pet dealer who is selling truly weaned babies no younger than 8 weeks old.

    • 2

      Buy an extra large hamster cage with the bars closely spaced.

    • 3

      Buy a hamster wheel for the opossum to exercise in. Opossums are nocturnal and need to exercise. A wheel will allow your pet run for hours at night.

    • 4

      Hang a pet hammock or provide a small nesting box up high in the cage for your pet to sleep in. Opossums rarely use the bathroom where they sleep, but a cloth hammock can be washed if accidents happen.

    • 5

      Provide shredded bedding in the bottom of the cage such as shredded paper towel or shredded wood. Avoid cedar or aromatic shredded wood as this can be harmful to the pet. You will know when to change the bedding, but most people pick out "used" areas daily in order to keep the cage clean.

    • 6

      Feed your opossum the correct balance of nutrients; this can mean the difference between a healthy life or one of misery from ailments such as metabolic bone disorder or weak immune systems. Opossums are omnivores, meaning they eat everything: vegetables, fruits and protein. For protein, you can feed insects such as crickets or worms, roaches (that are bought, not wild) baby mice or even adult mice when the opossum is older. Raw chicken, chicken livers, boiled eggs and smelt also are favorites. Canned cat food or dog food also can be fed, but you will notice how smelly the cage becomes with these. You can also use baby food when fresh fruit is hard to find . You can find baby food apple sauce, mangoes, peaches, pears and other flavors. Supplement foods with calcium or feed them calcium-enriched fruit-flavored yogurt.

    • 7

      Provide fresh water daily. Use a water bottle without a steel ball for the youngsters.