Introduction to Rehabilitating the Virginia Opossum 1/13

OPOSSUM DEVELOPMENT CHART

Stages Development and Care

Stage 1: (1-30 days old) Babies under 20 grams are impossible to save. Born embryonic and the size of a
birth - 4 weeks raison, mouths are sealed and the esophagus is paper thin. Tube feeding these
babies will tear the esophagus and cause internal damage.

4 weeks Babies around 25 grams, skin turning grey as fur is starting to emerge, mouth
opening, will need to be tube fed every 2 hours with 2 feedings during the night.
Incubators are needed with additional heat under the container to provide a warm,
moist environment.

Stage 2: (30-42 days) Young opossum begin to release mothers nipples at this age.
Weight: 20-45 grams.
Diet: See Formula Chart
Frequency: Feed every 3-4 hours. This age is much easier to hand feed from a syringe, but
may need tube feeding.
Amount: 1.5-2 cc
Stimulate: before or after feeding
Heat: External heating pad under the plastic container.
Housing: Incubator for needed moisture. Bedding should be ravel free.

Note: Young opossums that have been tube fed are extremely hard to teach to lap
on their own. Opossums will indicate readiness to lap when they begin to refuse
the tube (try to spit it out or pull it out with their hands.)

Stage 3: 7-8 weeks old An 8-week-old opossum is comparable to a placental mammal at birth.
(49-56 days)
Weight: 45-100 grams
Diet: See Formula Chart. Make sure they are staying hydrated.
Frequency: Provide fresh water in a separate dish constantly.
Offer fresh formula 4-5 times per day. Dry Omnivore chow (crushed) should be
left out at all times, change as needed.
Opossums are learning to come out of a nesting area and lap formula on their
own. You will need to give additional formula from a syringe until they are
lapping enough on their own from a bowl.
Amount: 2.5-5.0 cc
Stimulate: Gradually back off as you see the young going more on their own. Have a
shallow tray of water available as a toilet. Clean frequently.
Heat: Still may need to supply external heat for younger or compromised babies.
House in large container with a warm nest box in the corner allowing the young
Housing: to move around. Provide a feeding area with drinking water dish and a potty
dish. They begin climbing at night so dont give them a cage that is tall enough
for them to fall and hurt themselves. Keep an eye on their tails and skin to make
sure they are not dry, cracked or scaling. An incubator may be necessary until
eyes are opened. Bedding should be ravel free.
Introduction to Rehabilitating the Virginia Opossum 1/13

Stages Development and Care

Stage 4: 10 weeks to pre- From the time the young are eating on their own until they are old enough to be
release (70+ days.) moved to an outside cage. There will be a lot of growth during this time.
Weight: Approximately 100-400 grams
Diet: See Formula Chart. Wean off of formula between 300-400 grams.
Frequency: Make sure the young are getting Omnivore Chow (may begin as a mush.)
Dry chow should be available at all times.
Fresh foods offered 2-3 times per day. See Diet Sheet for list of foods.
Fresh water morning and night.
Amount: Veggies - 1 cup/day, Protein 1 serving=1 tablespoon, Yogurt 1 tablespoon,
*Fruit as a treat only.

Stimulate: Not needed. Using a tray with water as a toilet area.

Heat: Warm blankets in nest box, no external heat needed.
Housing: You will need to change your caging as the animals grow. The larger they get the
more they will want to climb and move around at night. Cage wire should be
small. A cardboard box, lined with ravel free cloth, can be attached to the upper
corner of a cage with branches crossing back and forth from the door of the box
to the bottom of the cage. Cages will need to be cleaned twice a day.

DO NOT OVERCROWD OPOSSUMS. If need be, use more than one cage.
NO LONGER ABLE TO MIX NON-SIBLING GROUPS OF OPOSSUMS.

Stage 5: This stage is the outdoor stage.

Weight: 350 grams - release
Diet: Make sure they are getting Omnivore Chow with the
correct proportions of vegetables, yogurt/protein (with calcium) and fruit.
Provide fresh drinking water twice a day.
Frequency: Provide fresh food twice a day. Dry Omnivore chow available at all times.
See Feeding Charts
Amount:
Stimulate: Not needed
Heat: No external heat source needed.
Housing: Do not over crowd opossums. Caging should be made out of by welded wire
or by 1 inch welded wire. The IWRC and the NWRC list the minimum
standard cage for an outdoor cage to be 10x12x8. There should be one or two
next boxes that are lined with pine straw, leaves, or straw. Fill the nest box full
and let the animal bury himself or throw it out. The cage will need to be cleaned
often.

Stage 6: Release
Release opossums when they are between 9-12inches from nose to base of tail.
They should weigh between 1.5-2 lbs (650-1000 grams).
Their aggression will play a part on how soon they can go.
Check for clear weather for several days.
Find a wooded area that has a good water source and is away from roads, dogs,
cats and people.
Release just before dark. If you have done your job right they will take off
without a thank you.

The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) has published the revised standards (2012) for caging
size for opossum. Please, note these new requirements:
Infant: 10 gal. aquarium-the small plastic container is lighter.
Nursing/pre-wean: 3 x 3 x 3 cage/plastic container
Juvenile outside: 10 x 12 x 8
Adult outside: 10 x 12 x 8
Introduction to Rehabilitating the Virginia Opossum 1/13

Virginia Opossum: Feeding Schedule

Weight Amount Frequency

20gm to 65 gm .05cc X gm wt every 3 hours - from 6 am to 12

midnight
(tube feeding preferred)

50gm .05cc X gm wt Stop last evening feeding and

offer bowl of formula instead.

65gm-100 gm .05cc X gm wt every 6 hours-4 times daily

approximately 8am, 12pm, 4pm,
8pm.

100 gm and up .05cc X gm wt every 6 hours-Young completely

weaned from hand feeding and
eating on own. Offer soaked
chow in formula and a small
bowl of dry chow.

150 gm and up Continue above, but begin to

offer separate dish of veggies.

200g .05cc X gm wt Soaked chow in formula every

12 hours. Increasing solid food
choices, veggies, protein, fruits.
Offer a bowl of dry chow 24
hours a day.

300-400g .05cc X gm wt Wean off all formula. Monitor

closely-Should be eating a
variety of solid foods and
chow.

Currently, for opossum babies under 45 grams, we are mixing Zoologic Milk Matrix 33/40 mixed at a
1:1.5 ratio (powder/water) in 175 degree F water and allowed to sit for 4 hours before using. Mixing it this way
allows the babies to get more fat and may help with both absorption and decrease the risk of diarrhea. Be sure the
formula is completely dissolved and is not too hot when given or the baby will be burned. FoxValley 32/40 mixed
1: 2 may also be used. Add probiotics, including yogurt, to the formula just before feeding babies and discard any
leftover. Do not overfeed as this can cause bloat and diarrhea. Monitor the babys stomach for a milk line or to see
that it is comfortably rounded following a feeding and not over extended. Feed by weight!

For young that are over 45 grams, we offer Fox Valley 25/30 Virginia Opossum 45+ grams mixed 1:2.
Once babies reach 100 grams, mix formula: 1 cup powder, 2 cups water, 1 tsp baby chicken food, 1 raw egg, 1
tablespoon plain yogurt with active/live cultures. You can use this for 24 hours (keep refrigerated and reheat only
what you need for each feeding. Anything remaining after 24 hours must be discarded.

NOTE: Formula companies frequently change the way the formula is processed. This does not change the
ingredients. HOWEVER, it may change the way wildlife digest the formula. Keep this in mind if you have
problems with many babies not thriving. Check with other rehabbers to see if others experience problems.
Introduction to Rehabilitating the Virginia Opossum 1/13

Opossum Diet: Weaning through Adults

MAZURI OMNIVORE ZOO FEED A-free feed daily--can offer both dry and wet.

Vegetables: -1 cup total-choose a few from this list and offer daily. Variety encourages good nutrition.
*Leafy greens (i.e. *Kale, *Collards, *Mustard) Broccoli #Cauliflower
#Brussels Sprouts #Carrots (small amount) #Zucchini
#Squashes #Snow Peas #Snap Peas
^Green Beans *Swiss chard #Cucumbers
^Eggplant ^Okra Lima Beans
Sprouts Water Chestnuts Fennel
Green, yellow and orange peppers #Mushrooms ^Cabbage
#Sweet potato ^Turnips #Beets
#Parsnips Jicama ^Radishes
Edible flowers (nasturtiums, rose petals, rose hips) wheat grass *Dandelion
*watercress *endive *beet greens
*parsley *Turnip Greens *Yellow wax beans
Clover *Spinach (1 leaf only) #Corn
#Pumpkin #Asparagus #Tomato

Protein: 1 serving = 1 tablespoon. Variety encourages good nutrition. Protein is always offered with its
calcium source.
Consider offering animal-based proteins 4 times per week and a bean/nut/insect/grain protein 1-2 times per week.
Chicken wing with bone (cooked or raw) Ricotta Cheese (low fat) pinky mouse
Egg with shell (scrambled or raw) Salmon (with bones Mozzarella (low fat)
Mealworms (12 large) Superworms Crickets
Legumes (serving is 2-4 beans, must be cooked to prevent bloating)
Pine nuts Nuts (pecans, walnuts) Acorns
Grains cooked (wild or brown rice, Kashi, etc.)
Oatmeal- Old Fashioned, cooked, sprinkle with some cinnamon for flavor and added health benefits.

Yogurt: give a tablespoon daily of a LIVE CULTURE yogurt. If you give fruited yogurt, then consider this the
fruit serving for that meal.

Fruit: this is considered a treat. Serving size is small:

^Grape (1-2, cut in half)
#Banana (1/3)
Strawberry (1 berry)
*Raspberries (5 berries)
#Peach (1/8 size piece)
^Apple (1/8 size piece)
#Blueberries (5-6 berries)
#Melons (1 ounce)
*Papaya (1 ounce)
#Plums (1/8 size piece)
#Pear (1/8 size piece)
Cranberries (5-6 berries)
*blackberries (5 berries)
#Cherry (1 piece)

Key: *High calcium to phosphorus ratio (this is a good thing!)

^Moderate calcium to phosphorus ratio
#Poor calcium to phosphorus ratio (feed in small amounts or pair with high cal:phos choices)

Supplements:
Brewers Yeast (NOT baking yeast)-1/2 teaspoon on food will increase appetite and general intestinal health

The former lists are suggested foods. You do not have to give every food listed every day -variety is the way to a balanced diet
and optimal health.

Opossums have taste preferences and can be picky eaters. If you have concerns regarding their vegetable intake, puree the foods
together for a week then reintroduce the vegetables cut into small pieces. You will have fewer problems with picky eaters if you
introduce a variety of vegetables first. Make sure they are eating the chow and vegetables before introducing protein or fruit.
MONITOR each opossums food intake daily to verify that each animal is eating a variety of foods and not just the sweat
treats!
Introduction to Rehabilitating the Virginia Opossum 1/13

Always Introduce Formula Slowly

Feedings Water Formula*

1 and 2 50% water and 50% LRS** None

3 and 4 75% 25%

5 and 6 50% 50%

7 and 8 25% 75%

9, ect None 100%

*Formula is mixed per directions, then diluted with additional water (LRS) for the initial 8 diluted feedings

**LRS= Lactated Ringers Solution

Incubator Setup
What you will need:
1. Two heating pads.
2. One medium towel, one small wet towel and a washcloth
3. Clear plastic container (approximately 10inches high) that has slots cut out on lid or wire top
4. Something similar to a pre-folded diaper (or flannel baby blanket folded several times)

How to set up:

1. Set a heating pad to low and place a medium size folded towel on top of the heating pad.
2. Place the clear plastic container on top of the towel/heating pad.
3. Place a folded baby flannel blanket down on the bottom of the plastic container.
4. Place slotted lid or lid with wire in the top on top of container.
5. Place a small, wet towel/diaper on top of the lid.
6. Place on top of the wet towel, the second heating pad (set on medium). *You will need to check and rewet the
towel/diaper as it starts to get dry. This needs to stay moist, but not dripping water into the container.
7. After container gets warm and steamy, place the opossums inside and cover with a washcloth or blanket. Check
them often to be sure they are warm.

Exercise Wheel: http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/opossum_exercise_wheel.htm