Text Box: Virginia Opossums are great pets that love to cuddle, gets scratches and relax with the whole family. Our Virginia opossums are known for their good health and gentle, friendly disposition. Virginia Opossums commonly sleep during the day and naturally are active at night. They prefer a slower paced house and a quiet place to sleep during the day. All of our babies were born and bottle raised at our facility and will come to you very well socialized and ready to make great companions. Text Box: Helen's Little Critters Text Box: Ferret Care and Facts: Average Lifespan: 4-6 years Diet: Fresh fruits, crickets, mealworms, yogurt, poultry, cereal, whole grain breads. Do NOT feed your opossum cooked beef, dog or cat food. Size at Adulthood: Around 6-8 pounds, house cat size. Minimum Cage size: When opossums are around 5 months old they will require full run of the house. Keeping them caged for long periods of time will cause distress and aggression. Text Box: Virginia Opossum Text Box: Frequently Asked Questions: Q:Do they have scent glands or a smell? A: No they do not have scent glands or a smell. They are naturally a clean animal that routinely cleans themselves. Q: Do they require any vaccinations? A: No vaccinations are needed. Q: What is their general personality? A: Slow paced, likes to be held and caressed Q: How are they with other pets? A: I would only introduce a opossum to same sized household pets. Larger animals like large dogs may frighten them. Q: Can I take my opossum outside? A: Yes, it is recommended to leash train them before you venture outside. Without a leash they can climb trees and might not come down. Q: Should I get two, so my opossum wont be lonely? A: No, Opossums are solitary and do not like another opossums company. Q: How do I make my opossum bond to me? A: Our baby opossums are adopted at 8 weeks of age, and they will require several daily hand feedings until they are about 10-11 weeks old. Hand feeding is imperative for the bonding and socialization of your baby opossum. It is also very important that you spend more than 1 hour a day with your opossum by getting it out to play during the evening. Q: Will my opossum bond only to one person? A: Generally the opossum will bond with everyone in the house that handles it regularly. It can become agitated by strangers if you do not introduce it to any “new” people during the first 6 months. Q: Can I let my opossum run free in my home? A: Yes, opossums must have free roam of the house or a large section so they don't become aggressive from being locked in a cage all day. Q: Can they be potty/litter trained? A: Yes, they can be trained to use a litter box just like a cat.