If I could talk to the animals....If pets could really understand

[Crow]

What I would like to say to my opossums....

Dear little possums,

I know that you are excited at having been put together so that you can make and raise babies. I know what a joy this must be to you, at least until the babies arrive. I would appreciate it very much if in this special time you could take a few moments to consider the following requests.

1) I am not an intentional voyeur. Kindly do not force my eyes to see that which is repugnant by drawing my attention using equally repugnant noises. If you will keep the sound level below that of the nearby fan turned onto it's highest setting, I will be thankful.

2) The exercise wheel is communal property. However, in consideration of your expressed wishes I will be purchasing another one shortly. In the meantime please refrain from any furthur marking of ownership of said item with dung.

3) Two large possum butts will not fit into one tiny possum house. Growling, hissing, shoving, and squabbling will not alter this. I have provided for your use not one, not two, but three possum houses. Please opt for individual housing.

4) Three dishes of food have been provided for your use. Each contains the exact same food as the others. None is more special or fresher or better food than any other. There is no need to hiss at each other and try to use the same dish and end up knocking the contents upon the cage floor.

5) This may seem picky to you, possums, but eating one mouse is acceptable. Eating one mouse in the form of two halves because each of you wants the mouse the other has been given and you choose to play tug-of-war with each mouse in succession is repulsive. Eat the mouse you were given and leave the other to eat his or her mouse in peace. You are not being cheated. The other mouse is not better. They are exactly the same.

[Nang]

What I would like to say to my opossums....

Dear little possums,

I know that you are excited at having been put together so that you can make and raise babies. I know what a joy this must be to you, at least until the babies arrive. I would appreciate it very much if in this special time you could take a few moments to consider the following requests.

1) I am not an intentional voyeur. Kindly do not force my eyes to see that which is repugnant by drawing my attention using equally repugnant noises. If you will keep the sound level below that of the nearby fan turned onto it's highest setting, I will be thankful.

2) The exercise wheel is communal property. However, in consideration of your expressed wishes I will be purchasing another one shortly. In the meantime please refrain from any furthur marking of ownership of said item with dung.

3) Two large possum butts will not fit into one tiny possum house. Growling, hissing, shoving, and squabbling will not alter this. I have provided for your use not one, not two, but three possum houses. Please opt for individual housing.

4) Three dishes of food have been provided for your use. Each contains the exact same food as the others. None is more special or fresher or better food than any other. There is no need to hiss at each other and try to use the same dish and end up knocking the contents upon the cage floor.

5) This may seem picky to you, possums, but eating one mouse is acceptable. Eating one mouse in the form of two halves because each of you wants the mouse the other has been given and you choose to play tug-of-war with each mouse in succession is repulsive. Eat the mouse you were given and leave the other to eat his or her mouse in peace. You are not being cheated. The other mouse is not better. They are exactly the same.

Loved this . . .:lol:

[Timothy Leary]

Nice

how many do you have? How hard are they to raise?

[Teallaura]

You're trying to take all the fun out of being 'possums. And this after you threw one at Faramir in order to start a fight!


:hmph: Hypocrite!

[Crow]

I've got two Brazilian short tailed opossums at the present, but it looks (and sounds) as if there may be more fairly soon....

They make nice pets, except when they're breeding, when they become repulsive.

About the size of a large hamster. Easily tamed, easily kept, and clean--they littertrain!

Breeding them is the tricky part. It's as if you fed a gremlin after midnight. Like all opossums they are solitary by nature and require that the breeder understands their instinctive behaviors, which are very similar to Virginia opossums. If you don't understand how their pea size minds work and don't provide the proper set up they will fight to the death. Captive breeding is difficult. You have to go through several days of litter switching, cage switching, set up the correct cage conditions, etc. I wouldn't be breeding them except they're kinda rare in the exotic pet circles and several people I know want them.

[Teallaura]

Oooo, cool! The only 'possums I've ever deat with are between the size of a medium cat and bigger than a big cat - not great pets given their temperments (sweet but feisty), but they are cute.

[Crow]

Oooo, cool! The only 'possums I've 3ver deat with are between the size of a medium cat and bigger than a big cat - not gret pets given their temperments, but they are cute.

The big possums have great temperments. This is a picture of me with a wild possum that stayed with me over the winter recovering from a near-fatal dog attack.

[Teallaura]

Yeah, I edited to make it clearer - that feisty side makes them a lot of trouble...Okay, that and having a 'possum killer dog (on a chain so it's the 'possum's own fault) and way too many cats.. 'Possums aren't the most social things...)

[Crow]

They're like about any wild animal. They'll defend themselves if they feel threatened and can't run, but if they know that you aren't going to harm them, they're nice. Miss P would take over my bed on occasion and steal from my plate if I didn't watch it, but it's rare that you get a grown wild animal who wants to sleep with you and sit on the couch with you and who eats from your hand. Every possum I've even come in contact with has been clean and affectionate and had a great personality.

Except, of course, for Thirsty....