White Eared Opossum

[Staffswild]

Hi All,

anyone know if any zoos have the white eared opossum - or virginia opossum?

I have just been given a female for my private collection and don't think i have seen any around in the zoos?

Thanks for reading

Mark

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Very nice indeed vanishingly few places in Europe have opossums, due to their short lifespan - it's a group I've never been fortunate enough to see myself. At the moment I only know of one collection in Denmark holding a presumed Virginia Opossum; the last one in a public collection in the UK died a couple of years ago now. Short-tailed Opossums are slightly more common, but again none are found in the UK to my knowledge.

I'd be interested to see any photographs you may have taken of your new acquisition

 

[Nanook]

Very nice indeed vanishingly few places in Europe have opossums, due to their short lifespan - it's a group I've never been fortunate enough to see myself. At the moment I only know of one collection in Denmark holding a presumed Virginia Opossum; the last one in a public collection in the UK died a couple of years ago now. Short-tailed Opossums are slightly more common, but again none are found in the UK to my knowledge.

I'd be interested to see any photographs you may have taken of your new acquisition

There are actually quite a number of Short-tailed Opossums in private hands in the UK.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

There are actually quite a number of Short-tailed Opossums in private hands in the UK.

Oh, I know that - Staffswild was asking about opossums in zoos though.

 

[stubeanz]

Unfortunately white eared and virginia opposums are slowly dying out in Europe, we just can't seem to breed them well for some strange reason.

I believe it could possibly be something that they naturally are receiveing in the states but that is not found here?!? Perhaps changes in pressure?

I used to keep a pair of Virginias but nothing could persuade them to breed sadly.

I also currently keep a male short tailed opposum

 

[Chlidonias]

I used to keep a pair of Virginias but nothing could persuade them to breed sadly.

do you know how old they were? Many marsupials are naturally short-lived of course, but they also stop breeding well before they reach "old age". If you got your pair as adults they may have already past their breeding age limit.

 

[stubeanz]

do you know how old they were? Many marsupials are naturally short-lived of course, but they also stop breeding well before they reach "old age". If you got your pair as adults they may have already past their breeding age limit.

We had them from a young age, they were around the size of a guinea pig when we got them, they only lived for 3 and 1/2 years unfortunately but this is average for the species. I wish they had a longer lifespan, 10-20 years would be great as they are beautiful animals and tame very well!

I have since found out that in the wild the males will fight for the females breeding rights, maybe that is the secret, get more than one male and it may induce breeding behaviour.