Short-tailed opossum

Distribution & habitat

Found in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, this species uses a variety of wooded and open habitats. It searches at ground level and in low vegetation.

Behaviour & activity

Adults are generally solitary and can be territorial. Scent marking and a well-developed sense of smell are important in communication, including encounters during breeding.

Diet & foraging

An opportunistic omnivore, it eats insects and other small animals as well as fruit. Its natural diet differs substantially from that of a grazing or seed-specialist rodent.

Life cycle & reproduction

Gestation is exceptionally short, around two weeks. The tiny, undeveloped young depend on their mother for milk and protection. Male scent signals can stimulate female reproductive activity. Much of the detailed knowledge of this species comes from studies of captive animals.

Collection history

Our first animals were pets, before we later began breeding them. The early attempts involved some difficult lessons about aggression and introductions, but experience brought more frequent success. After a break from keeping the species following 2018, we welcomed a new trio in January 2026.

Our current animals

We currently keep one male and two females, acquired as recently weaned youngsters from a private collection. They are bold individuals who readily hand-feed and, during supervised time with us, may settle into a pocket or hood.

Housing

We use front-opening glass enclosures with mesh tops for ventilation. We have also used wooden vivariums in the past. Although predominantly ground-dwelling, our animals readily explore branches and logs, so we provide climbing opportunities as well as plenty of usable floor space, leaf litter and multiple nest boxes.

A soil-based substrate works well for us. We have found that individuals often choose particular corners as toilet areas, making those spots easier to clean or fit with a small litter tray.

Enrichment

Leaf litter provides plenty to investigate. Offering a variety of live insects encourages sniffing, searching and hunting through different parts of the enclosure. We also scatter suitable nesting material for them to gather and carry in their tails, which remains one of our favourite behaviours to watch.

Feeding in our collection

Our current feeding routine includes high-protein cat and kitten kibble, wet cat food, a variety of live insects and occasional defrosted rodents or chicks. We also use insectivore foods and selected supplementary foods, with small amounts of fruit.

Behaviour & compatibility

Our animals are mainly active at night, although the scent of fresh livefood can bring them out earlier. Personalities vary, and their confidence with us does not mean they are reliably compatible with other opossums.

One important lesson has been that an apparently settled pairing may not remain compatible. Aggression can develop quickly, so we treat introductions and breeding encounters cautiously and monitor individuals closely.

Breeding experience

We previously bred this species successfully, but have not done so since 2018. In autumn 2026 we are beginning breeding attempts with the current animals and hoping for winter litters.

The role of male scent signals in stimulating female reproductive activity is an important part of their biology. Published research has helped us understand why introductions need more planning than simply housing a pair together.

Future plans

We hope to breed from the current animals and exchange youngsters with other keepers to bring in additional bloodlines and establish further pairings.