How to Own a Pet Opossum

The opossum is becoming a more and more popular choice for a pet these days, as people find out about their calm, friendly, clean, intelligent and non-destructive demeanor. Keeping an opossum as a pet, however, requires a little more care and knowledge than keeping most rodents, or even a dog or a cat. Read on to learn more.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Varied foods for a proper diet
  • Veterinarian
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Instructions

  1. Own a Pet Opossum

    • 1

      Find out if you are able to own a pet opossum where you live, since many areas have stricter laws and guidelines when it comes to exotic animals. Contact the animal control authority in your county or municipal district and find out any requirements concerning opossum ownership.

    • 2

      Decide upon an enclosure to house your pet opossum. Opossums are escape artists. They can gnaw through wood, wire and most other conventional material used to make cages. Large aquariums made out of glass actually work well, as long as the lid is secure and offers plenty of ventilation. Use nesting materials, such as tissue paper and corn cob litter to line the bottom of the aquarium.

    • 3

      Try to keep only one opossum per enclosure, unless we're talking about a mother and her babies. Opossums tend to be solitary animals out in the wild, and don't like having to share quarters with other opossums.

    • 4

      Locate a veterinarian who will treat an exotic animal such as an opossum before you obtain your new pets. Many vets are choosy about what type of animals they will treat, often due to insurance regulations. Opossums are animals who can have a variety of health problems, so this is essential.

    • 5

      Learn more about the extremely varied diet of the opossum, which is essential to its health. Opossums are omnivorous, and need a mixture of meats, fruits and vegetables in balanced proportions. A few people believe that cat or dog food works well with opossums, but they actually need insects, snails, earthworms, carrion, birds, grasses and leaves, berries and seeds. Variety is definitely the key when it comes to a healthy diet for your opossum. Help with your opossum's diet can be found on online resources such as The Opossum Page (see Resources below).