Baby Opossum - just Arrived

[Rhapsody]

I just got a baby possum at my front door that was brought in by the dogs over night and by the time the home owners saw it the poor little guy was very cold..... I just have a little FV to share with him until my new order arrives in a few days, therefore, I am wondering if the GM recipe will be ok for him until then...... he is about 1 to 1.5 mths old --will prob require some tube feeding at first.

weight: 90 grams

:thankyou

[Milo's Mom]

Rhapsody, I have no idea, wish I did.

Bumping this to hopefully get it some attention.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Hey guys I'm no expert but I am sure I saw in a thread that I've read...I've read so many don't know which:dono that the goats milk is universal...can be used on all species ...wish I knew who posted sorry:thinking

[Jackie in Tampa]

Hey guys I'm no expert but I am sure I saw in a thread that I've read...I've read so many don't know which:dono that the goats milk is universal...can be used on all species ...wish I knew who posted sorry:thinkingprobably me... it is:)
goats milk is great and used all over the world to raise all sorts of critters.
I am no means a possie geek though...but I would use it if I needed too.

[magna]

Know a lady that raises the Brazilians and does some rescue on regular ones..GM is fine and will work great, we have one now that was given GM and she is beautiful....STO's are pretty darn cool, Chaffee is my wifes baby. VERY VERY clean and has used a litter pan since we got her.

[quagmire]

:worthless

How cute is the bugger? :D

[Rhapsody]

Here is your PIC......... :)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/Rhapsody_1/DSCN1898_zps9eb30877.jpg

[kastillo]

Awesome Rhapsody, now I can cooridinate with you on possie info.

Mine's 100 grams.

Feeding cat food, fruits, veggies, and FV day one.

Any suggestions?

[Rhapsody]

Keep in mind that while Protein is a friend to squirrels to much Protein is a death sentence to possums...... and besides the protein they get in their daily food, extra protein should only be feed to them once a week in the form of boiled chicken or boiled eggs (save the chicken bone for them when around 3 mths) --if you have Facebook here is an Basic Opossum Care Page I started.

Opossum Care:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Opossum-Care/468773769812948

And in case you do not have an Facebook account here is the Peters Food that is approved for Opossums by the National Opossum Society" (NOS) --its what babies 200 grams and bigger should start to each (about 1/3 cup per feeding)... babies that weigh less than 200 grams should stay on Fox Valley.

PETERS FOOD:
For Opossums 200 grams & bigger

1 cup dry Cat Chow
1 cup blended Mix Vegetables
4 TBSP Vanilla Yogurt

*add --1 Apple Berry (baby food jar) when recipe doubled

........ feed morning & night - 1/3 cup per each
........ add a little water if thick, before feeding
........ feed with assorted vegetables and mim. fruit
........ feed extra protein 1x wk (chicken, boiled egg or salmon)

*cooked chicken bones or neck can be given for calcium

FYI - I always add the jar of baby food to my mix for the sweet flavor.

[kastillo]

Yes I do have FB.
:thankyou Rhapsody.
How often do I formula feed a 100 gram baby?? It took 6cc last night.
How much formula to feed?

I will get the ingredients. Do I blend it all together or feed separate??

[Rhapsody]

How often do I formula feed a 100 gram baby?? It took 6cc last night.
How much formula to feed?

I will get the ingredients. Do I blend it all together or feed separate??I like to feed them at least every 6 hours at this weight until they are around 200-250 grams and can go on the morning & night feeding --I would feed the possum until the belly is full, but not round or to tight.

With the Peters Food the only item you blend is the bag of mix vegetables once its thawed (1 lb bag will do) per batch..... then you stir the ingredients together, leaving the jar of baby food for last so it gives the entire food an over all sweet taste that the possum will like and eat.

[kcassidy]

Peter's recipe is awesome.

This past fall I started feeding mice to the Opies, I was using chicken, but like this much better. Well not really I hate feeding dead feeder mice, but it is what they would get in the wild.

I get my mice from http://www.hare-today.com/ (incase anyone is interested)

Your Opie is adorable.

[quagmire]

Here is your PIC......... :)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/Rhapsody_1/DSCN1898_zps9eb30877.jpg

Cute! Thanks for sharing and good luck!

[Rhapsody]

All cleaned up and waiting for his night feeding..... :Love_Icon

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/Rhapsody_1/RSCN1913_zps6e9299ce.jpg

[skippy]

WOW!
How cute.
That's the photo needed to lure the potential possie rehabbers in to signing up for the job! Those shiny ears and adorably pink nose.
How sweet.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

I do things differently with my opossums. I try to get them lapping formula as soon as possible and then let them lap as much as they want 3 times a day. Some people leave formula in, but it will spoil and they are ususally good about drinking it right away, so I just put a lid in their cage and fill it up and keep filling it as they lap it til they're full. Then take the lid out and put in their regular food.

I do not blend up my possums food, they should be able to chew up their food. Start with grapes, they love them. Then I give Bil-Jac moist dog food with yogurt, which gets them chewing. Then add in finely diced fruits and veggies and slowly increase the sizes of the pieces as they grow. The nice thing about opossums is that they don't suck, so you don't have to worry about them choking on the grapes like with baby squirrels. If I have a group of 6 or more, I'll give a half a hard boiled egg each day so everyone gets a little extra protein each day (and leave the shell on because it's important that they get calcium with their protein).

[newsquirrelmommy]

OMG he is absolutely adorable:Love_Icon

[Rhapsody]

AN updated pic of "Perry the Possum"


http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/Rhapsody_1/RSCN1958_zps3b5fc302.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rhapsody_1/media/RSCN1958_zps3b5fc302.jpg.html)

[kastillo]

Very cute!! I wish I only had one. Just got stuck with 7 little ones plus the other older one. I'll have to show you a pic of the little ones they are sooo cute!

Are you still syringe feeding yours, or will it lap out of a bowl/lid??

[kastillo]

:goodpost
I do things differently with my opossums. I try to get them lapping formula as soon as possible and then let them lap as much as they want 3 times a day. Some people leave formula in, but it will spoil and they are ususally good about drinking it right away, so I just put a lid in their cage and fill it up and keep filling it as they lap it til they're full. Then take the lid out and put in their regular food.

I do not blend up my possums food, they should be able to chew up their food. Start with grapes, they love them. Then I give Bil-Jac moist dog food with yogurt, which gets them chewing. Then add in finely diced fruits and veggies and slowly increase the sizes of the pieces as they grow. The nice thing about opossums is that they don't suck, so you don't have to worry about them choking on the grapes like with baby squirrels. If I have a group of 6 or more, I'll give a half a hard boiled egg each day so everyone gets a little extra protein each day (and leave the shell on because it's important that they get calcium with their protein).

:goodpost

How old/ big do you release your opossums??

[Rhapsody]

Are you still syringe feeding yours, or will it lap out of a bowl/lid??We are working on lapping out of a lid...... but he did take his first bite of Peters Food tonight and he loved it...... so I will probably start to soak his Peters Food in the FV and feed them to him that way........ and he can learn to lap and eat at the same time. :)

[Rhapsody]

How old/ big do you release your opossums??Possums are released per there size and weight........ they need to be at least 9-12 inches from head to rear in length and any where from 1,000 to 2,000 grams in weight --I tend to go for the higher level range in each category to give my possums the best possible chance at survival.

Release them in a good wooden area where other possums live, with lots of brush for hiding and a vast water supply.

[Chickenlegs]

Lucky, lucky you--a POSSUM!!!!!! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[kastillo]

Possums are released per there size and weight........ they need to be at least 9-12 inches from head to rear in length and any where from 1,000 to 2,000 grams in weight --I tend to go for the higher level range in each category to give my possums the best possible chance at survival.

Release them in a good wooden area where other possums live, with lots of brush for hiding and a vast water supply.

Holy Cow!! 1-2 thousand grams?!?!
That's like 2-4 pounds.
The wildlife center the next county over releases theirs when they are the size of a dollar bill.
Maybe we have smaller possums here, but lordy, I don't think I can keep them till they are that big.

[Rhapsody]

Holy Cow!! 1-2 thousand grams?!?!
That's like 2-4 pounds.
The wildlife center the next county over releases theirs when they are the size of a dollar bill.
Maybe we have smaller possums here, but lordy, I don't think I can keep them till they are that big.
You can always go with the lower end of the scale.... with the possum being 9 inches long and weighing 900 to 1000 grams.
Just make sure they are healthy, have no sores on them (paying special attention to the tail) and they can catch and eat live insects.