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Brush
Tailed Possum
(Trichosurus vulpecula)
Notes From Robbie Crouch
Personality Notes:
- I think the best thing I can do is give you a general description
of my experience with the brushtails. They have different personalities
just like any other animal. They are nocturnal so that has to be considered.
The tame ones will come out when their owner is around, especially if
you bring them a treat. They do have very sharp claws that need to be
trimmed if they are to be handled. If that is started as a baby it isn't
that hard a task. They can be very loving. I wasn't allowed to handle
my animals for a while after surgery and it was very apparent that this
distressed my young female. Any time she heard my voice she was on the
wire of her cage trying to get into my arms. They could be pets within
reason, but that is true with all wild animals. They can be housed outside
year round even in the colder climates.
- I don't think the older ones would make a good house pet. They would
probably chew on everything. I do keep the younger ones in the house
in a large cat cage when they aren't out roaming around. They will play
with other animals. In fact my older female was bought from a lady that
let her pug dog nurse her until old enough to wean. She gave me pictures
of her riding on the dogs back when I purchased her.
Care Notes:
- The brushtails do have scent glands under their chin but I don't find
their odor offensive.
- I have a friend that said hers lived into the teens.
- They do enjoy interaction. Especially the young ones will play with
any baby animal I have in the house at the time. I have had baby brushtails,
coati's, fennec foxes, shelties, and muntjac all playing in the house
together. The brushtails can climb up the inside of the chimney so you
have to watch that (voice of experience).
- Basically they are a very playful animal.
- They can be very destructive to furniture, curtains, etc.
- Their claws are very sharp and strong. Trimming helps a lot but there
is also the problem with them being startled. I still would not advise
declawing. Their feces is firm so that isn't really a problem. They
don't seem to have a habit of going when on your shoulder, etc.
- I have never tried to litter train one so that is a question I can't
answer. I have a feeling it wouldn't work because they are usually on
the wire or a limb when they go.
- I think they could be trained with limited success.
- My brushtails are housed in a 10x20 cage. That size seems to be adequate.
- As with all animals the larger the cage the better.
- I feed my brushtails a variety of fruits and vegetables along with
romaine, grape vines, tree limbs, whole wheat and raisin bread, etc.
- I have never vaccinated mine so I can't advise on that. It is possible
it would be the same vaccine that would be used for our native opossums.
- The best age to get one for a pet is as young as possible. They do
bond to their owner. As for a breeder I don't think it would matter.
They are one animal that I don't think being hand raised interferes
with breeding.
Interview with
Christine D
Positive
attributes of the species?
They can be very gentle, loving pets. They have a very soft fur that is
sold as pelts. It is compared to a mink as they are nonstatic. They are
easy keepers eating almost anything.
Negative
attributes of the species?
Although they are gentle pets, their claws are VERY sharp. Because the
quick is almost at the tip of their nails, it's next to impossible to
trim them. And because they climb/cling to everything, having them as
pets, clinging to you with those sharp claws is very painful. They are
also not legal to be imported into the USA anymore, so getting them is
extremeley difficult, if not impossible as I can't find anyone else that
owns any, and I have found no zoos in fact that have them. As pets, it's
hard to get close to them as they are nocturnal and enjoy their sleep.
They also only have one baby at a time. Some of my offspring has become
aggressive once I put them in their outdoor enclosures as well. And.......
what is the first thing you do when you wake up? Well they do too.....
pee! So if you get them up to handle them, be prepared to be peed on.
What
is their average life span?
The books say 6-7 years old, but I've had mine over 8 years now, and he
is still going strong and might I ad, still producing joeys.
How
well do they interact with people?
If given lots of attention, they are great. I used my one female for my
petting zoo, and let everyone pet her, but had to keep a distance in case
they got close to her nails. They don't use the nails in defence, only
to climb with.
How
easily do they train?
I've never tried to train them.
What
type of housing do they need?
I keep my adults outside in chain link fencing compounds. I have several
branches in there for them to ckimb on. I also have their beds made of
plastic storage containers with a hole in it. I put a smaller one inside
a larger one and tightly stuff straw inbetween the two of insulation.
I secure these beds to the top of their roofs. I have a roof over their
entire pen and during the winter I put up wind break panels all all sides.
What
do you feed them?
They eat almost anything, but love leaves and bark. I also feed them fruits,
vegtables, and occasional eggs and wheat bread as treats.
How
do they interact with other household animals?
They really don't pay much attention to other pets. Because they are nocturnal,
they are usually sleeping during the day and if woke up just look for
someplace to go sleep. I've got dogs and cats and they really don't care
one way or the other about them.
How
destructive are they for an average household (gnawing, climbing, etc.)?
I haven't witnessed any destructive behaviours, but I move mine outdoors
when the weather is right and they have matured enough. They don't chew
on the wooden frames of their pens nor do they dig.
Are
there any problems associated with their nails?
See above, yes, they are very very sharp and impossible to trim shorter
because of the quick being at the tip of the nails.
Do
they have any potentially offensive odours?
There are no odors
How
messy are their dropping and can they be litter trained?
They have what looks like large rat droppings. Easy to scoop up in a pooper
scooper.
What
vet care should be expected?
I've never had to take one to vet. I decided to take one to vet once because
I was not sure it was acting right. They traquilized it and it NEVER woke
up again. Come to find out, when it's hot outside, they tend to go into
like a heavy sleep and don't like to be woke up. I've had them do this
several times since and as soon as it cools down, they act normal again.
So I suggest, never take them to vet unless you have to!
At
what age would it be best to get one?
I pull them from mom between 4-5 months of age. As soon as they start
drinking from a cup (usually one month later) is when I would recommend
a new owner to get one, if thats not possible then as early as possible.
I believe that with all exotic babies.
What
personal traits should someone keeping them have?
I guess just realize that they are nocturnal and like to sleep during
the day. My one female don't seem to mind me waking her up during the
day for visits, but the others get grumpy and 'hiss'.
Other
consideration for owners of them?
These possums don't 'bottle feed' as typical babies or joeys do. They
won't suck on nipples. So I use a syringe. After about a month of feeding
this way, then they will start drinking out of a little cup. The main
concern and only concern with these wonderful animals are their claws/nails.
I call the joeys 'my little velcro pets'. They like to cling onto everything
including bear arms and such. Even such little babies, they will draw
blood from their nails. Handling the adults you can alway count on seeing
blood unless you wear long sleeves. Like I said earlier, they don't use
their claws in anger, they just like to climb/cling. I imagine in the
wild and for protection they may use thier claws, but I've never seen
that. They are extremely hard to find these wonder animals to see or purchase.
I know, I've been searching for years for an outside male to breed to
my offspring, but have only run into those that used to have them. They
are also illegal to import into the USA.
All of my statements here are from MY experience only. I have found only
one book written about them and it's from a lady in Australia that rescues
them. Whatever I am doing, I must be doing something right, as they keep
reproducing and my old boy is OLD and still has what it takes. |
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