Description
Scientific name: Monodelphis domestica
Life span: Up to 2- 6 years
Short-tailed opossums are the smallest didelphidae that have a body length of 10- 15 cm. Male adult weights range from 90- 155 g, while female weights fall between 80- 100 g. The majority of opossums have light gray colored fur, although there are certain species that have more reddish-yellowish colored fur. Their tails are semi-prehensile, bare, and rat-like. Although the tail is hairless and its length varies, it is typically half that of the body. They have very sharp teeth and the muzzle is similar to other rodents. The short-tailed opossum has large ears that help to identify sounds. They have big eyes. They prefer to feed on small insects and rodents.
Native Region/Habitat
Short-tailed opossum is native to the forests of Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. They inhabit grounds, grasslands, scrublands, and tropical forest areas.
As Pet
Behavior/Temperament
Short-tailed opossums can be amiable and submissive if they are nurtured from an early age. They are inquisitive, lively, and amusing and are simple for humans to manage. they make the finest lonely pets due to their propensity to fight with members of their own species. Cage partners will get hostile toward one another and may even murder one another. A couple of short-tailed opossums ought to only be maintained together for reproductive purposes, and even then, only temporarily. They behave well with people, there doesn’t seem to be a distinction between the sexes; both sexes make excellent pets since they are both curious and sociable. Unlike other marsupials, they lack a pouch for raising babies. When their young are born, which are exceedingly defenseless and preterm, they cling onto a breast on their mother’s belly and remain there until they are fully matured.
Care/Grooming
Short-tailed opossums should be housed in enclosures that are as escape-proof as feasible. A cage made of wire with a fine mesh or an enclosure with a strong grip would work nicely. The enclosure’s temperature should be maintained at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally required to keep your pet busy and excited are branches for perching and climbing. Ladders and parrot climbing toys are great for opossums, but make sure they are non-toxic and untreated with pesticides. In order to make enclosure maintenance simpler, install a litter pan in the corner where the short-tailed opossums typically choose to relieve themselves. These creatures don’t produce a lot of smells, and their enclosure only has to be cleaned each week.
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