"Is It Okay My STO Only Eats...?"

Questions About STO Diets

By Molly Kalafut

short-tail opossum eating from a tablespoon

The only food questions I hear more often than "Is it okay that my STO won't eat..." are questions that start "Is it okay that my STO only eats...". Most of the time the short tail's diet is fine! As long as they exercise regularly, receive enough protein and not too much fat they're usually absolutely healthy.

"Only Eats" Questions

My STO only eats dry food, is that okay?
My STO only eats fruit, is that okay?
My STO only eats meat, is that okay?
My STO only eats dry food and insects, is that okay?
My STO only eats fruit and insects, is that okay?

"Only Eats" Questions

My STO only eats dry food, is that okay?

Yes. This is unusual because most short-tailed opossums love live insects. It may be more common in a very young STO that is picky about food, or an older adult STO who has only been fed dry food and may need to be slowly introduced to other types of food.

Their nutritional needs should be met if the dry food has 30%+ protein, at least 10% fat and up to 5% fiber.
Calcium is important so consider adding a calcium/vitamin supplement.
It is important to keep offering insects, fruit, small pieces of meat, egg or tofu regularly - they'll probably eventually find some they like.
STO in particular usually develop a taste for insects eventually.

My STO only eats fruit, is that okay?

Yes. This is unusual and mostly occurs only in young short-tailed opossums who haven't figured out yet that they love insects (which provide protein not found in fruit). But, most STO will eventually eat insects after they figure it out.

The main concern is encouraging them to eat enough protein.
Offer insects and bits of meat, egg, tofu or avocado at least 1x per week to give them a chance to eat more protein.
Try leaving dry food in the cage all the time anyway in case they decide to try it.
Alternate between offering crickets and mealworms. They may figure out "if it wriggles eat it" or "if it jumps eat it".
Refresh the dry food dish at least once per week to keep it from going stale.
Try offering a different dry food brand every few months, they may find one they like.

My STO only eats meat, is that okay?

Yes. While many people think of short-tailed opossums as insectivores, literature on marsupial nutrition describe them as omnivorous. It suggests insects are probably just easier to catch and more plentiful than small rodents in the wild. They are perfectly suited to meat and insects in their diet. Some STO avoid fruits and vegetables and will only eat bits of meat and insects. They can do just fine on this diet with a few cautions.

Try to minimize fat content and encourage exercise.
Offer insects low in fat. Crickets have less fat than mealworms and mealworms have less fat than waxworms.
Chicken and turkey are leaner than beef or ham.
Provide an exercise wheel and plenty of room and branches in the cage for climbing.
Encourage your STO to use the clear roll-around hamster/gerbils balls for exercise. Some STO love using them while others don't.
Continue offering fruits and dry food on a regular basis.

My STO only eats dry food and insects, is that okay?

Yes. They receive enough protein, fat, fiber and calcium from dry food and insects to stay healthy. Keep offering a variety of fruits occasionally anyway.

My STO only eats fruit and insects, is that okay?

Yes. They eat insects and fruit in the wild, and there isn't a lot of dry pet food sitting around Brazilian forests. For sufficient protein offer insects, egg, tofu or avocado at least 1x per week. My first STO refused to eat any dry food, and he was very healthy.