This is a newborn gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) joey.
These opossums are from South America, and as New World marsupials, they are closely related to the Virginia opossum that is found in North America.
However, unlike the Virginia opossum and many better known marsupials, this species lacks a pouch.
The babies just cling to their mother’s teats.
These opossums are relatively commonly kept as laboratory animals, and sometimes, they are available on the pet market.
Unlike Virginia opossums, these animals are quite small.
They aren’t much larger than a hamster!
And because of their small size, they are often recommended as a pet, even though they aren’t available or legal in all parts of the country.
They certainly would make a better pet than Virginia opossums. Virginia opossums aren’t as easy to care for, and although they have an eclectic diet, it is pretty hard to get the right balance for optimal nutrition.
However, gray short-tails have their own commercially available and scientifically formulated food.
So it’s a much better choice for a pet.
Cute little critters – I used to have a couple as pets. They’re very entertaining, active (especially at night), and don’t have a strong odor. Mine were adults when I got them, so they weren’t very hand-tame but still fun to watch.
Like pretty much every other exotic pet, they’re illegal in my state.
Come to West Virginia, EVERYTHING is legal.
Want a tiger?
You can have one!
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hello! this is urgent! I hope you can help! we just returned with our opossum (sto) about 2 weeks ago… we picked her up to hold her tonight and she had 7 pups attached to her belly!! we had NO idea she was pregnant and have no idea what the proper care is for a nursing mom or for the babies as they grow! will she eat them? what is the first thing we feed them once they’re weened? do they ween at 8 weeks? we know they’re solitary animals but are siblings prone to fighting as they get older? please please help us ! please email me at remikoyl@aol.com please and thank you!