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Anonymous
I've been thinking about acquiring a new pet soon. I've kept a number of rodents and reptiles before, and was thinking about something a little different.

I've been reading up on the short-tailed opossum, and they seem like pretty fascinating animals. I also know of some local breeders. I do not need information on care, as I will be doing my own research, but...

Has anyone here had one of these little guys before? Was it a good or bad experience? Any cool anecdotes?
>> Anonymous
second'd.
I posted a thread about these little guys last night and I am too interested in getting one. Possibly.
>> Anonymous
My friend had one. Said it was a totally awesome pet until randomly it bit the crap out of him, requiring him to get stitches.
>> Anonymous
>>141931

Aren't their teeth really small?
>> Anonymous
>>142201

I do believe they do something called "gnawing". Rabbits are also considered to have pretty small teeth, but that didn't stop a particularly vicious fucker from leaving a 3cm scar on my wrist.
>> Anonymous
>>142206

Rabbits have decent-sized teeth which, similar to rodents, constantly grow throughout life, so they have to gnaw to keep them ground down. They eat and chew hard substances, so their jaw strength and bite power is pretty high, too. 'Possums aren't rabbits or rodents, they are insectivore marsupials, so they don't have to (and are not equipped to) gnaw.
>> Anonymous
its basically a fancy rat, enjoy your stitches.
>> Anonymous
Are your Possums Opossums? The Virginia Opossum is an omnivore and inflicts painful bites, but I don't know about much ripping or gnawing.
>> Anonymous
>>142625
Original stitches poster here - we've had virginia opossoms and a short-tailed opossum. Never been bit by the virginia ones - those make really really good pets... Short tail was fine until it suddenly bit for no apparent reason.