Exotic Care - Brazilian Short Tailed Opossum (STO)
Description
Brazilian Short Tailed Opossums (Monodelphis domestica) are small exotic marsupials(yup, relatives of the kangaroo). They are one of the few without a pouch. They are solitary animals and should only be housed alone. Housing more than one in the same cage can/will result in fighting and death of one or both opossums.
STO's reach a maximum size comparable to a large gerbil or hamster. They have an average lifespan of about 5 years, but have been said to live up to 8 years. When choosing a short tailed opossum, be sure to purchase from a reputable breeder.
Cage / Habitat
STO's are very active animals during the night. The more space they have the better. I suggest staying away from those cages that have plastic tunnels. These tunnels can be hard to clean, and most of those cages are too small for STO's. A 20gallon or larger aquarium would be ok(40gallon would be great). Wire cages are fine too, make sure wire spacing is 1/2" or less. A wheel and many things to climb on and play with should be included in the cage. A water source and food dish are also needed.
Nutrition / Diet
STO's are omnivores that mostly eat insects, rodents, and fruit in the wild. Their diet should be low in fat and high in protein. A dry food mix of quality dog, ferret, hedgehog, sugarglider, and cat food should be offered daily in a food dish - get a small bag of each type of these foods, then mix in a tupperware and serve mixed. Dry food should be always available, STO's will eat as they are hungry. Fruits and veggies should also be given often. Plain grilled chicken, low fat beef, eggs, steam veggies, and other healthy 'human' foods can be fed as treats. Live foods such as crickets, other insects, and pinky mice should be fed sparingly(once or twice a week). STO's are very water dependant; make sure they have a clean water source at all times.
Hygiene
STO's do not require bathes or any type of cleaning. They are pretty clean animals and they groom themselves often. STO's have very little odor. It is best to use a hanging nesting/sleeping area. STO's don't go to the bathroom in their nesting area, so hanging this will provide a clean place for your STO to sleep. Your STO's cage should be cleaned at least once a week, more if necessary.
