The Care of Short-Tailed Opossums

The short-tailed opossum is a diminutive animal that grows to approximately 6-inches in length, or about the size of a common gerbil or hamster. The opossum comes in a variety of colors, including brown, rose, spotted and ivory. With time, it will allow the owner to hold it and accept food from his hand. Caring for a baby or adult short-tailed opossum involves providing the animal with the proper environment and food.

Things You'll Need

  • 10-gallon aquarium
  • Metal screen
  • Substrate
  • Water bottle
  • Shallow food bowl
  • Hedgehog food
  • Fresh fruit
  • Grubs, mealworms, wax worms and small earthworms
  • Wooden toys
  • Hamster wheel
  • Ropes and vines
  • Small hiding hole
  • Thermometer
  • Heating pad
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Provide the short-tailed opossum with at least a 10-gallon aquarium. Place a metal screen over the top of the aquarium to prevent it from escaping. Cover the bottom of the aquarium with a 2-inch layer of crushed corn cobs or pine chips.

    • 2

      Mount a gerbil or hamster water bottle to the side of the aquarium and provide the short-tailed opossum with a fresh supply of water every day.

    • 3

      Place a shallow food bowl inside the enclosure and feed the short-tailed opossum 1 tbsp. dry hedgehog food daily. The food will provide the short-tailed opossum with the nutrients it requires.

    • 4

      Supplement the short-tailed opossum's diet with daily treats. Provide the opossum with diced fresh fruit, including banana, pears and grape. Live grubs, mealworms, wax worms and small earthworms are also a treat for the opossum. Place the food inside the enclosure and remove any leftovers the opossum cannot finish at the end of the day.

    • 5

      Provide the opossum with sources of entertainment, such as wooden toys, a hamster wheel and ropes and vines to climb. A small nesting box will provide an activity for the short-tailed opossum as well. The animal will take substrate from the floor and place it inside the box.

    • 6

      Keep the enclosure at a constant temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a thermometer inside the enclosure to monitor the temperature. If the temperature falls below 70 degrees, set a heating pad under part of the enclosure to raise it back into the acceptable range.