Water
For Short-Tailed Opossums (STO)
By Molly Kalafut
Short tail opossums are tropical animals that rely on water, and reportedly die very quickly without water. Even a simple case of diarrhea can be life-threatening. Owners need to make sure STO always have access to fresh, clean water. Most owners provide a water dish, a water bottle or both. Both water bottles and dishes need to be checked frequently that they are fresh and working properly.
Unlike rodents and most small animals, STO have weak jaw muscles so they lap and lick at the water in water bottles rather than suck on it. While some people worry water bottles are too difficult for them to use, owners have reported success using every kind of water bottle.
My short tail opossum has a plastic water bottle with metal drip spout. As a backup when we go on trips I add a plastic bottle with a metal ball. Depending on how the cage is set up, he sometimes has access to a reptile waterfall for water also. It's pretty to look at, nice to listen to and Mister Possum loves to climb on it and drink from it. I have tried to use water dishes with my STO, but they always end up using it as a toilet instead. So I've given up and use water bottles instead.
Water Sources
Many owners report success with a variety of sources:
- Plastic/Glass Water Bottle with Metal Ball
- Plastic/Glass Spout Water Bottle (I think they drip and leak a lot)
- Plastic Lickable Water Bottle (CritterTrail Bottles)
- Water dishes (ceramic, metal, plastic)
- Reptile Waterfalls
- Reptile Misters
Some of the preferred brands for water bottles include Lixit, Oasis, Redi and Hertz. All the different water dishes work, particularly ceramic because they are difficult to tip over. Heavy plastic or metal dishes also work well.
While tap water is fine, some owners prefer to use bottled water to ensure there are no added chemicals. Some owners add water-soluble vitamins, minerals or calcium supplements. It is recommended that water is changed frequently to deter bacteria from growing, and make sure any water bottles/dishes are cleaned and sterilized regularly.
Water Poll
A poll in 2005 of the short-tailed opossum Yahoo group provided these results about how STO owners provide water for their short tail opossum:
- 53% - Plastic Water Bottle (With Metal Ball)
- 20% - Plastic Water Dish
- 13% - Plastic Water Bottle (Without Metal Ball)
- 13% - Ceramic Water Dish
Preventing Dehydration Tips for the Paranoid
Many short tail opossum owners are very, very concerned about providing water for their pet. Many websites warn that short tail opossums can die in less than 24 hours from a lack of water, but keep in mind that it is very rare for pets to die from accidentally under-watering. Dehydration is mostly a problem for STO that are escaped and loose in the house rather than a well-tended pet. In fact many STO get much of the moisture they need from fruit, insects and other moist foods, so even if their water bottle is empty for a few hours it's not likely to cause a crisis.
But I understand the worry! So here are some suggestions to put your mind at ease about your short tail opossum's water:
- Every time you open the cage (to play, add or remove food, etc) tap the water bottle tip or touch the end to make sure water flows easily
- Shake/tap water bottle before putting in cage to make sure water flows
- Look for air bubbles rising in water bottles while STO drinks
- Leave moist foods available frequently, like applesauce or banana
- Use both a water dish and water bottle
- Use multiple water bottles
Training STO To Use A Water Bottle
It is usually easy to train a short-tailed opossum to use a water bottle. They are very smart and figure it out easily. At first when they are young it is advisable to use both a water bottle and a water dish. After you've seen the STO drink several times from the water bottle, it is safe to take the water dish out. You may wish to leave a dish of high-moisture food (applesauce, bananas) in the cage for several days. Some STO even develop a clear preference for the water bottle rather than the water dish.
If your short tailed opossum is too shy to drink in front of you you can try listening at night for the sound of the water bottle. If you have other small pets you're probably familiar with the sound of an animal drinking from the bottle because it has a distinctive noise.
Or, if you're still concerned your STO still doesn't know how to drink from the water bottle consider dabbing some of their favorite moist food (like applesauce or banana) on the spout. In the morning you should be able to tell if your STO has licked off the food or not...if they have licked it clean, they probably noticed the water dripping.
Conflicting Information
Much of the confusion over short-tailed opossums and water bottles come from the two books/booklets that have been on the market for a number of years.
To quote Just Playin' Opossum by Dr. Naomie Poran: "they should only be given the free-flowing water spouts without the metal balls."
To quote "M. Domesticus" by Pat Storer & Betty Thomas: "A water bottle with ball bearings in the spout seem to work best."
I hope to settle this debate once and for all! I have personally watched my short-tailed opossums successfully use both types of bottles with no problems, and many owners report using both with no problems either.
