Gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Short answers

Gray short-tailed opossum: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 150×100×100 cm per animal or pair (floor area according to Austrian regulation point 7.2.1: 1.5 m² per pair for short-tailed opossums; it also requires 2.5 m enclosure height for all opossums, which is tailored to zoos). Laboratory housing in rat cages is not animal-welfare-compliant for permanent keeping. Escape-proof with fine mesh or glass, climbing branches and several sleeping shelters.

Gray short-tailed opossum: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–27 °C (laboratory colonies usually 26–27 °C; Austria requires at least 15 °C for southern opossum species) – room temperature at the upper end, if necessary a heat mat with thermostat under part of the enclosure.

Gray short-tailed opossum: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not needed – nocturnal; a fixed 12-hour day-night rhythm is enough.

Gray short-tailed opossum: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: Usually 2–5 years, occasionally longer.

Gray short-tailed opossum: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–27 °C (laboratory colonies usually 26–27 °C; Austria requires at least 15 °C for southern opossum species) – room temperature at the upper end, if necessary a heat mat with thermostat under part of the enclosure.

Humidity

50–60 % (Austria: at least 60 % for southern opossum species; laboratories over 50 %); do not keep too dry.

UVB

Not needed – nocturnal; a fixed 12-hour day-night rhythm is enough.

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 150×100×100 cm per animal or pair (floor area according to Austrian regulation point 7.2.1: 1.5 m² per pair for short-tailed opossums; it also requires 2.5 m enclosure height for all opossums, which is tailored to zoos). Laboratory housing in rat cages is not animal-welfare-compliant for permanent keeping. Escape-proof with fine mesh or glass, climbing branches and several sleeping shelters.

Substrate

5–10 cm of small-animal litter, hemp bedding or a soil-leaf mix; plus plenty of nesting material (hay, paper, leaves) for sleeping nests.

Feeding

Food

Mainly animal protein: insects (crickets, cockroaches, locusts), high-quality cat or insectivore food, boiled egg and lean cooked meat; plus some fruit and vegetables. Dust insects with calcium-mineral powder.

Feeding interval

Feed daily in the evening, remove leftovers in the morning; check weight regularly.

Key facts

Adult size

Head-body length 10–18 cm, tail 5–9 cm (about half the body length); weight 60–150 g, males noticeably larger.

Life expectancy

Usually 2–5 years, occasionally longer.

Origin

South of the Amazon in Brazil, eastern Bolivia, northern Paraguay and northern Argentina; rainforest, scrubland and farmland, often also inside houses.

Protection status

No wildlife-protection papers needed, not on the EU invasive species list; not threatened according to the IUCN.

Brumation

None – keep warm all year.

Cohabitation

Solitary. Short-tailed opossums are loners; adults kept together permanently often fight, sometimes to the death. Put together only briefly for mating.

Notes

A marsupial without a pouch: the young hang freely from the teats for about two weeks. Important laboratory animal (first marsupial genome sequenced). Rarely kept in Germany; literature on pet keeping is scarce – ask experienced keepers or zoos.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog) (Atelerix albiventris) – Intermediate
• African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) – Intermediate
• Chinchilla (long-tailed chinchilla) (Chinchilla lanigera) – Intermediate
• Common degu (Octodon degus) – Intermediate
• Fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) – Intermediate
• Cairo spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) – Intermediate
• Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) – Intermediate
• Barbary striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 150×100×100 cm per animal or pair (floor area according to Austrian regulation point 7.2.1: 1.5 m² per pair for short-tailed opossums; it also requires 2.5 m enclosure height for all opossums, which is tailored to zoos). Laboratory housing in rat cages is not animal-welfare-compliant for permanent keeping. Escape-proof with fine mesh or glass, climbing branches and several sleeping shelters.), substrate (5–10 cm of small-animal litter, hemp bedding or a soil-leaf mix; plus plenty of nesting material (hay, paper, leaves) for sleeping nests.), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.