Leena Watts
Opossums are omnivores, and their diet varies depending on the season and environment they inhabit. They will eat practically anything they can find, from insects to fruits and grains. Opossums are also known to feed on dead animals, and they require a certain amount of calcium and phosphorous in their diet to prevent metabolic bone disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Type | Omnivores |
| Food Sources | Small rodents, insects, worms, slugs, snails, frogs, birds, vegetables, berries, nuts, fruits, grains, bird seeds, garbage, pet food, shellfish, snakes |
| Calcium | High amounts required |
| Commercial Food | Commercial cat and dog food alone are not adequate diets for opossums but can be a staple |
| Home-made Food | Homemade diets are not recommended if a reputable commercially available product is available |
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What You'll Learn
Opossums are omnivores
Opossums feed on a range of items, including insects, rodents, birds, eggs, frogs, plants, fruits, and grains. They are known to eat dead animals, including roadkill, and have been observed feeding on carrion, or the corpses of dead animals. This behaviour can sometimes lead to opossums being run over on roads themselves. Opossums also require a high amount of calcium in their diet and will eat calcium-rich foods such as low- or non-fat yoghurt, kale, cabbage, collard greens, and bok choy.
The diet of an opossum can vary depending on the season and the environment it inhabits. When in human habitation, opossums may eat garbage, pet food, and birdseed. They are also known to raid well-tended gardens and chicken houses, eating chicken eggs and other foods they find. Opossums will eat practically any food source they can access and are not picky eaters.
Opossums are beneficial to humans in several ways. They help control unwanted pests, such as rodents, cockroaches, snails, and slugs. They also have a low risk of carrying rabies and are resistant to the disease. However, opossum faeces can sometimes carry the eggs of parasites that may cause illness in horses if they contaminate their food and water.
The dietary habits of opossums can have an impact on their health. For example, a low-calcium diet can lead to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), a complex condition that can cause issues with the skull, mouth, and tongue, and affect other organ systems. Providing a high-quality, balanced diet with sufficient calcium and a proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is essential for the well-being of captive opossums.
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They eat a variety of foods
Opossums are omnivores, so they eat a wide variety of foods. They are known to have a remarkable ability to find food and then remember where it is located, even outperforming rats, rabbits, cats, and dogs in their ability to recall the location of food in laboratory tests. Opossums have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell and hearing, which helps them locate food. They are also equipped with sharp claws, which they use for digging, climbing, and capturing prey, and a long tail that aids them in climbing.
Opossums will eat practically any food source they can find and gain access to. They feed on small rodents, insects, worms, slugs, snails, frogs, and birds. They also eat vegetables, berries, nuts, fruits, grains, and garbage. When found in human habitation, opossums are known to eat pet food and birdseed. Opossums are also resistant to rabies and rarely carry the disease.
Opossums have a high need for calcium in their diet, and a deficiency can lead to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) or nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. A proper diet for an opossum should have a calcium to phosphorous ratio (Ca:P) of 1.5:1. Calcium-rich foods that can be included in their diet are low- or non-fat yogurt, kale, cabbage, collard greens, and bok choy. It is recommended to feed opossums meat with bones, as they consume the entire animal in the wild.
The diet of an opossum can vary depending on the season and the environment they inhabit. They do not store any food and will forage all year round, so they stay active throughout the year without hibernating. Opossums are beneficial to humans as they help control unwanted pests and feed on pests such as rodents, cockroaches, snails, and slugs.
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They eat insects, rodents, birds, eggs, and fruits
Opossums are omnivores, so they eat a variety of foods, including insects, rodents, birds, eggs, and fruits. They also feed on worms, snails, slugs, snakes, and frogs. Opossums are known to have a remarkable ability to find food and remember where it is located, often returning to the same food sources.
As scavengers, opossums will eat practically any food source they can find and access. They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell and hearing, which helps them locate food. They are also equipped with sharp claws that aid in digging, climbing, and capturing prey. Opossums are most active at night and constantly move in search of food.
In the wild, opossums feed on insects, rodents, birds, and other small animals. They also consume eggs, fruits, grains, and vegetables. The diet of an opossum can vary depending on the season and the environment they inhabit. For example, opossums found in human habitations are likely to eat garbage, pet food, and birdseed.
Opossums also require a certain amount of calcium and phosphorous in their diet, with a specific calcium-to-phosphorous ratio of 1.5:1. A lack of calcium in the diet can lead to health issues such as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Commercial cat and dog food can be a part of an opossum's diet but should be supplemented with other foods to ensure a balanced and nutritious diet.
Young opossums stay in their mother's pouch for around 80 days before they are mature enough to scavenge on their own. During this time, they rely solely on their mother's milk for nutrition.
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They have a high calcium requirement
Opossums are omnivores and scavengers, and they will eat practically any food source they can find. They are known to feed on dead animals, insects, rodents, worms, snails, slugs, birds, eggs, frogs, plants, fruits, grain, vegetables, and nuts. They also eat garbage, pet food, and birdseed when they inhabit human spaces.
Opossums have a high calcium requirement in their diet. A low-calcium diet can result in a decrease in blood calcium levels, leading to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), a complex and potentially fatal condition. MBD causes changes in the skull, affecting the opossum's ability to use its mouth, and can progress to cause immobility and death. The tongue may also protrude from the side of the mouth. The rate of development of MBD depends on the severity of the calcium deficiency and the age and health of the opossum.
To prevent MBD, it is important to ensure that opossums receive a sufficient amount of calcium in their diet. The desired calcium to phosphorous ratio (Ca:P) for opossums is 1.5:1. Calcium-rich foods such as low- or non-fat yogurt, kale, cabbage, collard greens, and bok choy can help meet their calcium needs. In some cases, calcium supplementation may be recommended, especially in advanced stages of MBD. However, caution must be exercised to avoid over-supplementation.
While commercial cat and dog food can provide a balanced dietary staple, it is not sufficient on its own and should be supplemented with other foods. The Opossum Society of the United States (OSUS) recommends a diet that is 90% high-quality, completely balanced cat or dog chow and 10% supplementary foods such as fruits, vegetables, yogurt, sardines (with bones) packed in water, chicken wings, eggs, and low or non-fat yogurt. It is important to note that opossums should not be fed meat without bones, as they need to consume the entire animal, including bones, to meet their calcium requirements.
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Commercial cat and dog food is not adequate for opossums
Opossums are omnivores, and their diet consists of a variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, grains, insects, birds, eggs, rodents, and dead animals. While commercial cat and dog food can provide a balanced dietary staple for opossums, it is not sufficient on its own and should be supplemented with other foods.
Commercial cat and dog food alone do not meet the specific nutritional requirements of opossums. Opossums require a certain amount of calcium and phosphorus in their diet, with a specific calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (Ca:P) of 1.5:1. A deficiency in calcium can lead to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), a serious and potentially fatal condition for opossums. Commercial pet food may not provide enough calcium to prevent this disease.
Additionally, opossums have unique dietary needs that commercial cat and dog food may not address. For example, opossums typically consume the entire animal when they eat prey, including the bones. This provides them with essential calcium and other nutrients that may be lacking in commercial pet food.
Furthermore, opossums have specific dietary needs that can be challenging to meet with commercial cat and dog food alone. The OSUS (Opossum Society of the United States) recommends a diet that is 90% high-quality, completely balanced cat or dog chow and 10% supplementary foods such as fruits, vegetables, yogurt, sardines packed in water, chicken wings, and eggs. This ensures that opossums receive a diverse range of nutrients and prevents them from becoming overly reliant on a single food source.
In conclusion, while commercial cat and dog food can be a part of an opossum's diet, it should not be the sole source of nutrition. A varied and well-researched diet is essential to ensure the health and well-being of these unique creatures. Improper nutrition can lead to serious health issues, including MBD, which can cause immobility and even death. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with experts and follow recommended dietary guidelines to provide opossums with the care they need.
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Frequently asked questions
Opossums are omnivores and will eat a variety of foods, including fruits, nuts, grains, insects, snakes, frogs, birds, eggs, rodents, and dead animals.
The ideal diet for an opossum is a balanced one with sufficient calcium and a proper calcium to phosphorous ratio (Ca:P). Commercial cat and dog food can provide a balanced dietary staple but should be supplemented with calcium-rich foods.
A poor diet can lead to serious health issues for opossums, including Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which can cause immobility and even death if not corrected.
