Virginia Opossum...

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AttackFish

Feeder Fish
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Apr 10, 2007
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I have become very interested in Opossums, and have been reading about them quite a bit, I stumbled apon a website that sells all sorts of exotic animals and found that they infact sell virginia opossum.


I have read numerous care sheets about cpative care of opossums and they seem like a very fun animal to keep, and from pictures i have seen, they are very loving animals.

But, I was just wondering if anyone here as kept Virginia/Short-tailed Opossum?

Please no rude comments on Opossums. ;)
 
AttackFish;1015642; said:
I have become very interested in Opossums, and have been reading about them quite a bit, I stumbled apon a website that sells all sorts of exotic animals and found that they infact sell virginia opossum.


I have read numerous care sheets about cpative care of opossums and they seem like a very fun animal to keep, and from pictures i have seen, they are very loving animals.

But, I was just wondering if anyone here as kept Virginia/Short-tailed Opossum?

Please no rude comments on Opossums. ;)
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I have never kept them as pets but I have worked with them before and I would not recommend them to someone who doesn't have a lot of experience in dealing with wild mammals. They have not been domesticated and still carry much of their wild instinct. Also, they have a DEVASTATING bite. Ever look at the jaws and teeth on these things? They stink pretty bad too and aren't very friendly with most other animals. I noticed too from your profile that you're 15. What would you do with this animal when you decide to go to college or start a life on your own? Not trying to say that you wouldn't care for it but I know from experience that growing up is hard enough without the responsibility of a high demand pet. When I was younger my mother and I worked in animal rescue and saved a number (100's) of exotic animals to later be placed in good homes. It was really hard for me later on to spend time with my fiance, work, keep myself in shape, go to school and care for all of the animals so I had to find homes for them and move on. I never thought about this when I was 15 or 16 and in a way I wish I would've. I had to give up my pot belly pig because, plain and simple, you can't keep a pot belly pig in an apartment with your fiance. I suggest just leaving certain animals in the wild and this is one of them.
 
If they havent been domesticated, Then how is it that hundres of people can keep them as pets? And a healthy Opossum should NOT have an odor, and bathing will most likely not help as most of the time odor meens there is an internal problem.

And I'm not getting it now, nor do I plan too, I plan to aquire it when I am a legal adult.
 
Nevermind... do some research. Obviously my opinion will mean nothing as you just questioned everything I stated so why even ask?
 
I have been doing research. If this is just going to become a controversy, I might as well ask a mod to lock this thread.
 
Yeah I don't think you'll get a lot of people agreeing with you that opossums make good pets. I'm not against keeping exotic animals I just think that some don't make good pets and this is one of them. Only speaking from hands on personal experience.
 
I know most of the time they do not make good pets, but the place I plan to buy them from http://www.ratkateersrodentry.com , offers captive bred, and bottle fed babies. They also provide TONS of information on all of the animals they sell, and links to numerouse other care-sheets.

I do believe I am up to the task of keeping the animal. I am constantly reading up on them more and more to be sure that I can provide a good home for such an animal.


Also, as you seem to have alot of expierence with working with rescued animals whats your opinion on Raccoons as pets, Not saying I will have a Raccoon, I would just like your opinion on them.


But about Opossums, From what i hear they make good captives, and are very loving animals if treated right and fed a well balanced diet. Also, Opossums are Not known to carry rabies from what I have read about them.
 
Also, Instead of an Opossum, I think I would be better off with Two female Sugar Gliders, they have the look of an opossum(wich I think is AWESOME) and they make much better pets. ;)
 
AttackFish;1015838; said:
Also, Instead of an Opossum, I think I would be better off with Two female Sugar Gliders, they have the look of an opossum(wich I think is AWESOME) and they make much better pets. ;)
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I agree with this. Sugar gliders would make better pets. As far as raccoons go, I wouldn't go in somebodies home if I knew one was in there lol. Have you checked out the South American short tail opossums? They do make great pets and are much smaller and easier to care for. I am aware that a lot of places offer bottle fed babies but I have seen even these sweet bottle fed babies grow up a bit, hit sexual maturity and decide they don't like being a pet anymore. I guess this could be avoided by spaying or neuturing (sp?) though.
Also, the Virginia opossum is completely different from a short tail opossum. The short tail opossums actually do make great pets.
Short tail
3451.jpg

Virginia
Opossum.jpg
 
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