
How to Feed a Baby Possum & How to Teach a Baby Possum to Eat
Weight (in grams) | Average Amount of Formula to Feed |
10 grams | 0.5cc |
25 grams | 1.0cc |
50 grams | 1.75-2.75cc |
100 grams | 5.0cc |
What do you feed a baby possum?
A possum that is at least 7 inches long (from nose to tip of tail) is actually old enough to be on its own. If you want to feed a possum this age, you can give it water and diced fruits and veggies. Smaller Possum babies need to drink diluted, powdered formula, and when they get a little bigger, they can eat mashed fruits and vegies or baby food.
What is the best Formula to make for a possum diet?
Formula: A. 1 can evaporated milk, 1 can water, 1 large egg yolk B. 1 cup 2% milk, 2 egg yolks, pet vitamins, 1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt (always use same flavor) Always add calcium supplement. Possums frequently have calcium deficiencies which cause deformities.
How long can baby possums drink milk?
Newborn baby possums drink their mother’s milk until they are between 80-90 days old. Orphaned baby possums can drink Pedialyte, powdered formula (Esbilac), and some water. Not very long unfortunately.
What to do if you find a baby opossum?
However, if you find a baby opossum and the circumstances call to feed them as an urgent or vital requirement, you can adopt the following guidelines while feeding your nocturnal marsupial.

What kind of milk can you give a possum?
Do not offer cow's milk. You may offer Pedialyte diluted 1:2 with lukewarm water for the first two feedings 3-4 hours apart. Then you gradually introduce Esbilac (puppy milk substitute) over the next 24 hours. Feed with a dropper or syringe.
Can you feed baby possums kitten formula?
don't try to “bottle feed” an orphaned opossum like a kitten. First of all, the kitten and puppy milk you can get from petco are not what Marsupials drink. Secondly, opossums do not suckle like kittens and puppies, they swallow and later lap.
Can baby possums drink puppy milk?
"Opossums are probably the most expensive animal that we get in to raise," Environmental Studies Center Biologist Susan Clement said. That's because they're on a special formula. Baby opossums drink Esbilac, a puppy milk replacer.
How do you take care of a wild baby possum?
Help for Baby OpossumsKEEP YOUNG OPOSSUMS WARM. ... Place the box in a warm, dark, quiet area away from people and pets.If the opossum's eyes have not opened yet, please get it to a licensed rehabilitator as soon as possible.More items...
What do you feed an abandoned baby opossum?
If a possum is old enough to have left its mother's pouch, it is old enough to find its own food and eat it. You can leave out scraps or even insects and slugs for it to eat. The possum will do so in its own time.
How do you bottle feed a baby possum?
1:426:51How To NURSE Feed a BABY OPOSSUM! | Our First Creature ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow some of you may be thinking hey that looks like it's old enough to to Eve solid food on its ownMoreNow some of you may be thinking hey that looks like it's old enough to to Eve solid food on its own but actually we've tried to feed her solid food she hasn't eaten any of it we've tried moistening
Can possums eat yogurt?
Do not feed meat without the bone. Calcium is best obtained from the diet. Feed calcium-rich foods such as low or non-fat yogurt, kale, cabbage, collard greens, bok choy, etc.
Can possums have goat milk?
Her online research revealed that baby opossums should not not be fed goat or cow's milk.
What can I feed possums?
The best way to ensure your Opossum is getting the proper nutrients is to feed them a quality pellet diet like Insectivore-Fare, supplemented with lots of fresh vegetables and occasionally meat, eggs, insects, or plain low-fat yogurt as an added protein source.
How often do baby opossums need to eat?
every four hoursFollow the manufacturer's instructions to mix and feed the baby every four hours. The amount of formula given at each feeding will vary depending on the baby's size. For opossum babies weighing 10 grams, feed .
How can I tell how old a baby possum is?
Ask where the opossum was found, if it was brought to you. If it is a kit still attached to the mother's teat, it is under 2 months old. They are born pink and slowly develop hair. The amount of fur covering its flesh can help estimate a kit's age inside the two-month window if it is still attached to the teat.
Can a baby opossum survive on its own?
If you find a baby opossum: If NO, opossums that are at least 8 inches long from tip of nose to the base of the tail (do not include the tail) and weigh more than 7.25 ounces or 200 grams are old enough to survive on their own in the wild and do not need human intervention.
Can you feed baby possums cat milk?
What to feed baby possums? Once they are big enough to leave the pouch, baby possums can eat just about everything. You can feed them dog and cat food in moderation. You could also feed them insects like cockroaches, worms, slugs, and snails (one of their favorite foods).
Can possums eat cat food?
Due to this fact, possums readily eat the skeletal remains of rodents and other roadkill animals. Unfortunately, possums are also known to eat dog food, cat food and table scraps. It's not uncommon to happen upon a possum rummaging through your garbage cans.
What can I feed possums?
The best way to ensure your Opossum is getting the proper nutrients is to feed them a quality pellet diet like Insectivore-Fare, supplemented with lots of fresh vegetables and occasionally meat, eggs, insects, or plain low-fat yogurt as an added protein source.
What do possums drink?
Opossums drink water in a manner not too different from that of many other animals -- by lapping it up from available water sources. Some possums retrieve their water out of openings in trees. Others get their water by drinking groundwater seepage that collects in woodsy areas.
Formula
The best formula to give these animals is a formula specifically designed for baby possums or marsupials. There are a few formulas that have been designed specifically for baby possums, or marsupials.
Mothers milk
When possums are born they are not well equipped to find their own food, this is why they have to latch onto their mother in order to get nourishment. The mother possum acts as a placenta, the babies are kept in the pouch and are still growing while in the pouch
Water
All animals need water, possums included. If a possum drinks milk from its mother, or formula, it still needs to drink water.
How long can a possum survive without its mother?
Baby possums are not self-sufficient, these animals need to be fed, warmed, and toileted by their mothers. The term toileted refers to the process where the mother helps the animal urinate and defecate.
What do possums drink?
Adult possums can drink almost anything. They are opportunistic feeders meaning that they will eat almost anything, it also means they will drink anything that they can. These animals will benefit from having fresh water daily, in fact, they need fresh water daily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, baby possums will be able to drink baby possum formula, the milk offered by their mothers, as well as water.
What do possums eat?
A fifty toothed possum can now munch everything. Chopped grapes, melon, apple and berries will form a 5% portion of the meal. Chopped vegetables- will comprise another 5% of the diet of this nocturnal mammal. Egg with shell, preferably scrambled, sardines, and tuna would be the meal of choice.
How long does it take for applesauce to stop feeding possums?
Applesauce could be ingested in a possum whose size is more than 4 inches, as he is now able to consume such things, but care should be taken that this type of feeding will discontinue within 24 hours.
How long does formula milk last?
The formula milk continues by increasing time intervals between feeding till the age of 7 weeks. Be cautious that the milk flows slickly without struggle. Remember, overfeeding can kill the animal. Formula continues now with a shallow depth utensil from which the animal can drink on its own.
Should I feed my baby opossum?
Should I Feed a Baby Opossum I Found? It is not recommended for the average person to feed baby opossum, as a baby opossum is difficult to handle. They are too fragile and can die if proper care is not given.
Can neonatal opossums drink milk?
It is not suggested to give any type of milk to the neonatal opossum that still has its eyes closed, because they need to be stimulated to urinate by wiping their genital organs with a damp cloth, first. Secondly, they require hydration to survive.
What to feed an opossum in rehab?
A calcium/phosphate supplement powder should be sprinkled into food to prevent calcium deficiencies common to opossum babies in rehab. STAPLE - 90% of diet - Puppy chow, kitten chow, baby food chicken or small pieces of chicken, turkey, or other meat. Remember they are carnivores.
What do opossums need?
Offer gruel and a wide variety of solids. Worms and crickets are fun at this age. The opossums will make a "clicking" sound to communicate.
How to rehydrate an animal?
A good rehydrating solution can be made by mixing the following: 1 pint of boiled (or distilled) water - 1 teaspoon of sugar - 1/3 teaspoon of salt. WHAT TO FEED:
Can an opossum be rehabilitated?
Any opossum baby found wandering without its mother should be taken into rehabilitation. Opossum mothers will not retrieve lost youngsters. Until you are able to contact and place the orphan with a permitted Wildlife Rehabilitator, you can follow these CARE INSTRUCTIONS to give the infant the best chance for survival.