Brazilian Short Tailed Opossum Care
Published February 26, 2011 | 
I’ve had many questions on how to care for these animals. This quick video explains some of the basics. Here is some repeated + more information. Brazilian Short Tailed Opossums: In nature STO’s could be considered scavengers. They will eat a variety of things from fruits, veggies, nuts, and insects, to small rodents. They are small animals only reaching about 5″ body length. Cage – STO’s love to run around. Provide the largest cage possible. 1/4″ or 1/2″ bar spacing. Inside the cage you need a wheel, food dish, water bottle, and sleeping area/hide. Food – For their food dish which should be kept full at all times: Dog food, cat food, ferret food, sugar glider food, hedgehog food. “Treats” such as fruits, veggies, worms, chicken, or rodents should be fed 3 to 4 nights a week. *If you feed rodents – please only feed pinkie or fuzzy mice live. Adult mice pose a threat to your STO. My STO’s have been raised on live foods. Lucy was born in my house, and she has eaten live rodents since she was 3 months old. She is a trained/experienced hunter. ***I am one of the few STO owners who feeds LIVE rodents! If you purchase a STO from a pet store or another breeder it is unlikely they have ever eaten a live rodent! This puts them at a MUCH GREATER risk of being bitten/hurt/killed by the mouse as they are un-experienced and may not know what to do! STO’s as pets: STO’s are wonderful pets! They can really connect/bond with their human. Some people even carry their STO’s around with …
25 Responses to Brazilian Short Tailed Opossum Care
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how much are they?
@zeeb12345 hehe, well, I have owned chamelions in the past, they are very cool. I wouldn’t mind having another
Chinchila’s I’m not sure about though. They seem a little twitchy/jumpy. I like calm pets that can be handled.
a little off topic, but u should get a chinchila and a chamelion
awww Lucy is sooo cute ^.^
you look after them so well =)
Animal hoarding?
@yarielito123 do some research online, and get info from many places, never just listin to one source as most of the time many people think different things. Get information from many sources and make up your mind.
nice opossum dude
i just came from a pet shop and it was the first time i saw one but it said tht aspen bedding or wateveru calle it lol it was fatal and to not feed it cat food. so idk .
@earthling1984 I know, I was paying attention, it’s a really good idea. You just have to get sooo much.
@realityisforever there is no real good STO food on the market. I mix cat, ferret, dog, hedgehog, sugar glider, and sometimes even other foods so they get a rounded nutritious diet.
Oh my gosh. That’s so many different types of food.
@WeirdAille yes, as long as bar spacing is 1/4th inch or less.
It sounds like a large rat cage wouldbe good for them!
@popup854 no, not really at all. Long as the cage is kept clean, there is pretty much no smell.
do they have a oder , because i have two sugar gliders and they have a strong order
do they have a oder , because i have two sugar gliders and they have a strong order
@BeautifulRaiin Sto’s are very coordinated. Kind of like a squirrel. They haven’t had any problems in the 8 years or so I have owned them with these wheels. I have never noticed any problems keeping them in the same room.
Im interested in breeding my STO. I read online, you can’t keep the male and female in the same room cuz they will smell eachother and want to breed But I noticed in your video you do have them right next to eachother, that doesnt bring up and issues? AIso, was told and found through research you werent supposed to use the type of wheels I see in your videos because it can damage thier feet, true or untrue? whats your recomended nesting material?
Im interested in breeding my STO. I read online, you can’t keep the male and female in the same room cuz they will smell eachother and want to breed But I noticed in your video you do have them right next to eachother, that doesnt bring up and issues? AIso, was told and found through research you werent supposed to use the type of wheels I see in your videos because it can damage thier feet, true or untrue? whats your recomended nesting material?
Are you a breeder? Or do you keep them as pets?
these animals look really cool
@earthling1984 hah ok.
@bananatree94 no, they don’t disrupt my life
um are you a pet hoarder? lol
If it’s a risk to feed mice to your opossum, then why do it? Mice are wonderful, loving and social critters, and it sickens me that people buy them for food, especially if they’re not absolutely necessary for their pet’s diet. That being said, this was a really good video – nice and informative.
@CPR901 not right now, hopefully soon I will.